By Roger Renstrom
CORRESPONDENT
Published: November 13, 2013 12:58 pm ET
Updated: November 13, 2013 1:13 pm ET
Image By: Syntech Development and Manufacturing Inc.
Solar panels at Syntech Development and Manufacturing Inc. in Chino, Calif.
CHINO, CALIF. — Syntech Development and Manufacturing Inc. of Chino increased clean room injection molding capabilities and is installing solar panels atop an elastomeric-coated roof.
For capital investments, SDM spent about $750,000 in 2012 and plans on $685,000 this year, said Bob Hobbs, president.
"We are putting a renewed emphasis on marketing and direct sales," said industry veteran Eddie Montelongo, who joined SDM in June as director of sales. SDM has a new corporate logo, professional facility and product illustrations and, soon, a revamped website using search-engine-optimization tools.
In January, SDM installed six new Toyo Si-V series Smart Molding-brand presses of 35-200 tons in its 1,600-square-foot Class 100,000 clean room. The room also houses three other Toyo injection molding machines of 35-150 tons.
Outside the clean room, SDM operates six Toyos of 35-395 tons.
In making adjustments, SDM sold two Shinwa Seiki presses, one each of 50 and 200 tons.
In an energy-saving initiative, SDM began talking with Midwest Roofing and Solar Inc. in early 2013 and agreed in June on a project to install about 500 polycrystalline 156-series panels that are projected to capture 176 kilowatts of solar energy.
"That will generate enough energy for about 70 percent of their overall usage," said Daryl Trew, co-owner of Midwest in of Gardena, Calif. The system should be operational by early November.
Western Colloid S.C. Inc. of Los Angeles supplied the ElastaHyde white reflective water-based acrylic coating to top a granulated cap-sheet roof.
Wesco International Inc. of Pittsburgh delivered panel mounting systems from Centrosolar Group AG's Renusol America unit in Atlanta.
SDM owns the solar installation and obtained incentives through Edison International subsidiary Southern California Edison Co. along with grant, rebate and depreciation programs.
On the marketing side, SDM debuted a new display at the Design-2-Part contract-manufacturing trade show in Pasadena, Calif., held Oct. 9-10.
In early 2013, SDM hired Tony Alvaloz as manufacturing manager.
SDM employs 34 including three mold makers, a computer-numerical-control programmer-operator and a mold designer. The firm owns its 28,000-square-foot facility.
The tool room has Haas CNCs, a Hansvedt CNC electric discharge machine, a Fanuc wire EDM, Bridgeport mills and Harig surface grinders.
A Dimension fused deposition modeling unit is available for rapid prototyping.
SDM reports 2012 sales of $3.1 million and projects $3.2 million this year, said Hobbs, who is in his 19th year as the company's president.
SDM is certified under ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 and registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a manufacturer of medical devices. That category accounted for about 60 percent of SDM sales with most for medical neurosurgery components.
Electronics and consumer products are SDM's other key end markets.
The business started in 1994 as a mold shop and added injection molding in 1998. | 
