Silicone molding plant owners expect growth in production, jobs in York

Isolde Boettger said she and Michael Maloney started their silicone molding business in Canada 16 years ago with two machines “and a lot of enthusiasm.”

Silcotech Carolina, the company’s first U.S. location, opened a 22,500-square-foot silicone injection molding plant in the East York Industrial Park in York earlier this year. It opened a plant in India in 2009.

On Friday, dozens of York County business leaders and elected officials showed up to learn about the business and tour the building.

The company makes custom silicone parts, mostly for the health care and medical device industry, said Maloney, president of the company. It also makes silicone parts used in automotive devices, electronics, packaging and consumer goods.

Some of the silicone parts it makes include breathing masks, baby bottle nipples, valves, ear plugs for hearing protection and cell phone covers.

Boettger, vice president of the company, said Silcotech added one to three silicone injection machines each year at its first plant in Bolton, Ontario, Canada.

Now, she said, there are 29 machines there.

“We anticipate a similar growth in South Carolina,” Boettger told business leaders during a ribbon cutting with the Greater York Chamber of Commerce and York County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

She said the York site, with about 50 employees, has six silicone injection machines, with room for 14 more machines. It has enough property in York for a second building with space for 20 more machines, for a total of 40, she said.

“It certainly is our goal to continue to grow the business,” Maloney said.

S.C. Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster, who attended Friday’s events, called the company “a perfect example” of what he sees as “a renaissance in South Carolina.”

York County Council member Robert Winkler said the technician jobs at Silcotech “are an example of exactly what we look for when we try to find businesses to come to York County.”

Boettger said the technicians hired by the company have rigorous training on how to operate the silicone injection machines.

She said most of the employees have come from the plastics molding industry and are trained by Silcotech on silicone molding.

Boettger said the company chose to build its plant in York because of a business-friendly environment in South Carolina, a skilled work force and a convenient location for its operations.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Silicone molding plant owners expect growth in production, jobs in York."