By Bill Bregar
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Published: July 1, 2014 2:38 pm ET
Updated: July 1, 2014 2:45 pm ET
Image By: Shini Plastics Technologies LLC
Kevin Allred, regional sales manager for automation, left, says Shini Plastics Technology will offer a full range of robots and other products.
SUWANEE, GA. — Taiwanese auxiliary equipment maker Shini Plastics Technologies Inc. has opened a 40,000-square-foot U.S. facility near Atlanta to handle sales and service of Shini robots and hot runners in the United States.
It marks the introduction of Shini robots to the U.S. market. The U.S. operation is named Shini Plastics Technologies LLC.
“We’re selling a full range of servo-robots and sprue pickers, and our prices are very good, compared to our competition,” said Kevin Allred, regional sales manager for automation. “We’re going to offer high quality. We have U.S. standards on controls and mechanical.”
Shini runs three factories in China, one in India and at its headquarters in Taipei, and has a sales office in Stuttgart, Germany. The company does all manufacturing of its robots and hot runners.
Shini drew about 100 people to an open house at the technical and logistic center in Suwanee, north of Atlanta, on April 4. Cathy Wu, general manager, said Shini bought the building two years ago, making a solid commitment to the U.S. market.
The building is a former cabinet factory, so it boasts a large showroom with wooden floors, like-new offices — and even hotel-quality bathroom fixtures. Wu said Shini was able to move right in, without even needing to paint the walls.
In May, Shini installed a 120-ton injection molding machine, which the company will use to show off its robots.
Allred said that, for the U.S. market, Shini is targeting robots to run on presses in clamping forces from 40-500 tons. But Shini will keep robots in stock in China, for the United States, for presses up to 2,000 tons, he said.
“What we’re promoting out of here is the automation. The hot runner is the automation of the mold, and the robot is the automation of the molding machine,” Allred said.
Image By: Shini Plastics Technologies LLC
Shini's new U.S. operations are housed in a former cabinet factory with a large showroom.
Shini will continue its 10-year relationship with Budzar Industries Inc., the Willoughby, Ohio-based manufacturer of heaters and chillers and temperature control equipment. Budzar President David Young met Shini at the 2003 NPE show, and the following year, Budzar began the exclusive U.S. sales of Shini auxiliary equipment. Shini’s product line includes granulators, gravimetric blenders, conveying equipment, chillers and mold temperature controllers. They are sold under the Shini USA division of Budzar. Auxiliary equipment veteran Kevin Chudyk is sales manager of the Shini division.
“It’s been very good. There’s no reason to stop a good thing. So that contract and that business is solid,” Allred said.
Allred said Budzar will continue to handle Shini auxiliary equipment, including the robots and hot runners, businesses that are now run out of Georgia. Shini’s Atlanta-area operation also will stock auxiliary equipment for Budzar.
Allred, who worked for Southeastern Polymer Machinery, a Georgia-based manufacturers’ representative firm, and robot maker Wittmann Inc., joined Shini last fall.
Shini of Taiwan is celebrating its 45th year in business. | 
