Press release sent on behalf of LS Mtron.
Replacing a single injection molding machine (IMM) can be a big decision. Replacing an entire fleet is another matter entirely – so choosing the right supplier is critical.
American Molding Technologies (AMT) of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, met the challenge of replacing a dozen old IMMs head on, investing a year’s worth of research to make sure they made the right choice.
And in choosing LS Mtron, AMT – run by President Nick Kalouris and his vice president son George – found a supplier who feels as close as family.
So successful is the partnership that, going into 2025, AMT planned to expand its initial trio of LS Mtron IMMs with as many as 10 more, including a 180-ton machine and more 310-ton machines, all electric. AMT has already realized 15% to 30% productivity increases with LS Mtron’s machines.
A Winning Team is Born
After studying IMM suppliers around the world — including some of the biggest and best-known equipment makers in the plastics industry — AMT found its solution very close to home.
During a visit to an industry trade show in 2023 in Chicago, AMT visited the booth of LS Mtron, the Korean IMM powerhouse that is steadily growing and expanding its services throughout North America. That visited cemented AMT’s decision, George Kalouris recalled, because as he said, LS Mtron offers:
- Machines that are “top-notch and world class.”
- Service that is close by. “It’s easy to get spare parts and onsite service quickly.”
- Partnership that provides “everything we need. The LS team takes the time to know their customers and are always there to support them.”
Building an American Dream
Nick Kalouris came to the US from Greece in 1979, at 18 years old. He founded American Gasket Technologies (AGT) in 1986 as a gasket manufacturer. Having expanded over the years into die cutting and thermoforming, AGT by the early 2000s began encountering poor-quality injection molded parts from China. They decided to expand into injection molding and bought a company called CD Concepts in 2008, renaming it American Molding Technologies (AMT).
Three of Nick’s four children, George, Mike, and Elleni, are active in the business and grew up helping around the shop floor. George became Vice President of AMT in 2015 and oversees the division. Nick considers all of AGT’s and AMT’s employees family. “We have employees here that have been with us for over 30 years,” he said. “We are loyal to our employees, and they return that loyalty. It’s truly a family business.”
AMT brought the Kalouris family enhanced capabilities in injection molding, profile extrusion and toolmaking, but most of the equipment was outdated and needed upgrading. Because most of the 15 IMM’s the company inherited from CD Concepts were old – the newest made in 1990 – modernizing equipment became job No. 1, and that began with the decision to source US-made molds locally.
The Kalourises quickly began producing more parts at customers’ request – “hundreds of products, for everything from point-of-purchase accessories to home goods, so we needed to build new tools,” George said. AMT began using Chicago-area mold makers for their new tooling, and eventually opened their own toolroom to build and maintain molds in-house. Today, even with six mold builders on staff, AMT must still outsource some mold building to local area shops.
In 2023, the decision to invest in state-of-the-art IMM’s was made, and the transition began with the purchase of the first three LS Mtron machines.
Big Customers, Big Jobs
Point-of-purchase parts are a critical part of AMT’s repertoire. AMT runs custom and captive molding jobs on its LS Mtron IMMs, producing parts for housing/construction, aerospace, marine and other industries. Eco-Shims, for which AGT holds the patent, are another hit with big-box retailers.
“We maintain an inventory of 200,000 square feet of in-stock product for immediate shipping,” George explained. “We have more than 25 years of experience serving some of America’s largest corporations — and to do that, we insist on state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment to assure our customers the highest-quality products. Our direct manufacturer-to-retailer model for custom molded products in particular demands that we get dial in our processes just right to deliver accurate products on time.”
When serving some of the biggest names in the Fortune 500, “you really need to provide top-notch products and service, and we need a strong team behind us to do this – again, that’s where LS Mtron shines.”
Smart Choice for a Smart Future
LS Mtron had the right product line to meet those challenges, said Paul Caprio, president of sales for LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA.
“AMT needed high-tech machines with Industry 4.0 capabilities,” Caprio explained, “everything from remote diagnostics to communications with auxiliary equipment. They ordered three machines from us — two 310-ton all-electrics and a 500-ton. We delivered one machine stock and the others as build to order.”
And that’s just the start, added Peter Gardner, president of LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA.
“We expect them to order a full fleet over the next few years. They wanted a partner for the long haul — and they felt like we were the best fit because of our technology and service.”
With three LS Mtron IMMs operating at its 120,000-square-foot plant in Addison, Illinois, and as many as 10 more on the way (the production floor can hold 18 machines), AMT has realized a profound return on its investment. The robot-equipped plant will be expanded in 2025 as AMT looks to embrace collection of manufacturing data in real time with Industry 4.0 equipment.
Since AMT’s production plant is minutes from LS Mtron’s tech center in Wood Dale, Illinois, LS Mtron service engineers Chris Unseth, Jose Villanueva and Brian Heugh are able to work closely with them.
LS Mtron’s service “goes well beyond selling the molding machine,” Kalouris enthused. “They can and do help us in many other ways.” Added Gardner: “We’re proud of the level of trust we’ve built with AMT – and build with all our customers. Our solutions extend far beyond the sale, which adds an entirely new level of value to our equipment.”
For more information about LS Mtron and its molding machines, visit www.lsinjectionusa.com or call 800-843-1672.
About American Molding Technologies
American Molding Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2008 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. AMT has become a leader in the injection molding industry by providing innovative and cost-effective solutions. Having more than 27 injection molding machines ranging from 75 to 700 tons, AMT supplies multiple plastic solutions, including eco-shims, flanges, crates, hangers, custom products and many more products.
About LS Mtron Injection Molding Machines
LS Mtron is part of the LS Group, a South Korean-based conglomerate with over 25,000 employees, annual revenues of over $30 billion and profit of approximately $1 billion. LS Mtron Injection Molding Machines (LS IMM), a division of LS Mtron, was started in 1969 by South Korean tech giant LG Corporation, one of the world’s largest plastic molders. Founded initially to satisfy their own production needs for injection molded components used in their world-famous TVs, appliances, electronics,
and other products, today LS IMM produces around 3,000 machines per year, not only for use by our network of LS-related and LG-founded companies but also for thousands of molders around the world.
Beginning with the development of Korea’s first injection molding machines, LS IMM prides itself on quality, service, and fast deliveries. The combined strength of the LS family of companies allows us to solve many of the world’s supply-chain challenges.
Because of this, LS IMM can provide new custom molding machines to our customers in North America in just 100 days from casting to cargo, or even faster from our stocked inventory.
