Sterling Manufacturing, based in Lancaster, Massachusetts, acquired Leominster-based Albright Technologies in 2019 for its silicone molding capabilities and manufacturing space. It has since invested over $2 million to convert Albright into a full LSR production facility with additional thermoplastic capabilities for its customers. The expansion is part of ten years of consecutive growth since new leadership took over in 2011.

In 2008, John Gravelle sold the Mar-Lee Companies, and after a three year non-compete, bought Sterling in 2011 with most of the leadership joining the new company. Over the next 10 years, the company grew with key investments that included switching the machinery to all-new ENGELs, adding and expanding cleanrooms, upgrading quality capabilities, and bringing in both scalable and high production jobs. It paid off with a soaring 600% to 700% increase in sales.

But all of this growth soon led to the need for more space.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sterling under new leadership.

Smooth expansion into the silicone market In January 2019, Sterling purchased Albright Technologies of Leominster, Massachusetts. This acquisition added LSR capabilities to their list of offerings, particularly for the medical and aerospace segments — the bulk of Sterling’s business — and gave them an additional 40,000 square feet of production space.

“We saw the opportunity to not only add silicone capabilities and a facility that would allow us to expand our growth at Sterling, but to also grow the silicone business itself by offering full-scale production,” said Stan Bowker, president of Sterling Manufacturing.

Albright was already world-renowned for its prototype and R&D capabilities for the silicone market but focused mainly on short-run development projects and tooling for the LSR space.

“The other appeal was Albright’s commitment to ENGEL, much like our own,” Bowker states. “And when we bought Albright, ENGEL was there with silicone offerings that made the transition even smoother.”

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the Albright acquisition.

The Albright expansion saw the addition of three new ENGEL machines that included a 130 US ton e-victory hybrid machine for silicone production plus two victory hydraulic machines for thermoplastic runs — a 55 US ton and a 130 US ton. All three machines are the ENGEL tie-bar-less design, which provides unobstructed access to the mold mounting area.

“A 130-ton hybrid silicone machine was our first machine purchase for Albright’s new cleanroom. It also included an ENGEL viper linear servo robot with an automation package,” added Bowker.

The e-victory hybrid LSR production cell at Albright provides efficient and flexible processing of liquid silicone in a single, fully automated step.

The more than $2 million expansion at Albright includes two cleanrooms, one each for thermoplastic and silicone applications, an updated compression silicone molding room and a new white room with automation for thermoplastic production. The company also plans to hire 10 to 15 more employees over the next two years.

The cleanrooms at Sterling and Albright are ISO Class 8 certified.

“We’re excited to grow in the silicone market, and ENGEL has been there every step of the way with their best-in-class machinery solutions,” Bowker said.

Lasting partnership with ENGEL “We’ve had a strong relationship with ENGEL for over 25 years of our careers. Their diverse offerings and innovative solutions — from small tonnage cleanroom machines to large tonnage and two-shot, as well as vertical and silicone machines — allow us as a custom molder to provide our customers with a wide array of production capability choices,” Bowker explained. “They’ve been a big part of our success.”

David Girioni of Girioni Associates, who provides ENGEL’s sales representation for Sterling, agreed.

“From the very beginning in 2011, Sterling’s loyalty speaks volumes of the power of both ENGEL’s technology and dedication to its customers,” he said.

Sterling has been a loyal ENGEL customer for more than 25 years.

A runway for future growth As they reach their 10th anniversary this year, the leadership at Sterling Manufacturing looks to a future of sustained growth.

“We’re very excited about the opportunities Albright will bring us moving forward,” Bowker said.

The expansion has ultimately given Sterling a larger presence in the Northeast market.

“Four cleanrooms, a compression room, a tool shop, two automated white room areas plus the extra space of an additional facility with its LSR capabilities — all backed by ENGEL’s injection molding technology — gives us the runway we need to take off into further growth and success,” Bowker said.

Sterling/Albright serves the Medical, Military/Aerospace, Pharmaceutical, Industrial, and Consumer markets with a combined total of 35 injection/LSR molding machines ranging from 28 to 550 US tons. The company offers high-volume, fully automated manufacturing, including automated assembly and in-mold decorating as well as unique tooling and mold solutions. Specialty processes, in addition to LSR, include multi-material, micro and insert molding, as well as value-added decorating.

In 2019, Sterling was awarded Supplier of the Year from one of its largest BioScience customers.

ENGEL North America From facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, ENGEL North America offers its customers a single source for design and manufacture of injection molding machines for thermoplastics and elastomers, a full range of technology modules for plastics processing and a full scope of automation solutions. With nine production plants in Europe, North America and Asia (China and Korea), and subsidiaries and representatives in more than 85 countries, ENGEL with headquarters in Schwertberg, Austria, provides its customers the global support they need to compete and succeed with new technologies and leading-edge production systems.

Are you interested in injection molding, looking for the right equipment or just want to learn more about ENGEL? 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us by filling out the form, giving us a call at +1 (717) 714-3235 or by contacting us by email. 

For more information, visit engelglobal.com.

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