We are expecting an ice storm this Saturday lasting through Sunday with temperatures dropping into the teens for the following week.  This will likely cause hazard road conditions as well as likely widespread and extended power outages for several days.  Currently, we expect to close by 2PM Saturday, 1/24/26 and will advise on reopening the following week depending on conditions.  Our parking lots will be salt brined to help melting with temps above 20 deg.  Our status will be published here on the website, facebook/instagram social media, and on WFMY sporadically.  The plant number is 336-873-8700 or in emergency contact Dean Lail at 336-953-9335.    A good checklist for ice storm preparation at home can be found here:
 https://southernstatesinsurance.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-an-ice-storm/

See more on our website regarding general disaster preparedness at: 
www.saponaplastics.com/emergency-preparedness.html

Please be careful going to and from Sapona Plastics using your best judgement.  

We have recently added 3 new presses bringing the total to 27 presses across 2 plants. 

At plant 2 we added a Nissei FNX460III (500 USTons) advanced hybrid injection molding machine combining the best of hydraulic power (durability, high pressure) and electric efficiency (energy saving, precision).  The core technology of the machine allows servo-controlled hydraulic flow for on-demand power, reducing energy use and improving control.  This brings our number of 400-500 Ton range presses to 9.

At plant 1 we replaced a 400 Ton with a new Nissei NEX360V-140LE (400 USTon, 37.1 ounce) All Servo Electric Machine.  Nissei NEX are high-performance, all-electric injection molding machines known for their speed, precision, energy efficiency, and compact footprint, featuring advanced toggle clamp for fast cycles, wide daylights for large molds, and smart controls for easier, stable operation.

At plant 1 we are replacing one our first presses, a 1998 Van Dorn 120 Ton HT, with a new Nissei NEX110IV-18E, (120 USTon, 6.1 ounce.)   This brings our total of all-electric presses to 19.

At plant 1 we are replacing the 720 Ton Toshiba from 2001 with a Nissei FVX660III-400L (720 USTons, 134 ounce) Large Hybrid (Direct-Pressure Clamping).  This new machine has high rigidity, straight clamping, excellent injection performance, energy saving (up to 55%), low noise, and enhanced workability.  Our team likes that is is low profile and the two piece design allowed us to fit it into a tight space.  This machine comes with the familiar Tact IV controller allowing us to focus on large-scale, high-performance molding with efficiency.

The clamp mechanisms on each machine ensure uniform mold contact pressure, prolonging mold life and supporting stable, high-cycle molding.

In addition to the new presses, we have installed a new bridge crane that will improve worker safety and reduce changeover timel. This covers 10 presses at plant 1 with a 5 Ton capacity.  The system was installed by Engineered Systems Inc.

Seagrove, NC — Sapona Plastics is proud to announce that we have successfully achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification of our integrated environmental management system, an accomplishment audited by NSF. This significant milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices within our operations.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team members whose hard work and commitment to excellence made this achievement possible. Their efforts, combined with the exceptional leadership from our management, have fostered an environment of continuous improvement and adherence to our environmental obligations.

We also want to acknowledge the invaluable support from the Manufacturers Association of Plastic Processors organization, which hosts the annual EHS Summit. This event inspires us and many others in the plastics industry to enhance our efforts in preventing pollution and improving environmental practices. Our participation has driven the implementation of initiatives such as recycling aerosol spray cans, preventing banned items from entering landfills, and ensuring compliance with stormwater pollution prevention no-exposure permitting.  We also follow Operation Clean Sweep best practices for preventing plastic pellets from escaping into the environment. 

A special thank you goes to our auditors from NSF, whose diligent review and documentation confirmed our system compliance not only to ISO14001 but also recertification at the same time to ISO9001:2015. Their expertise has been crucial to the certification process. Additionally, we are grateful for our partnerships with Asheboro Recycling, Republic Services, Noble Oil, L&L Cleaners, ReWorld, and many other supply chain partners for their assistance and active participation in our sustainability initiatives. Together, we are making a positive impact on our environment and community.

“I can honestly say we improved significantly. Our quality, environmental, and safety systems have always been very good,” said Dean Lail, CEO. “This certification is a testament to our collective efforts and commitment to environmental excellence.”  We continue to develop a database of environmental impacts that reveals the many positive aspects of modern plastics manufacturing.

For more information on Sapona Plastics and our environmental policies, please visit our website at www.saponaplastics.com

About Sapona Plastics
Sapona Plastics is a rapidly growing provider of injection molding and assembly of plastic products for diverse industries including telecommunications, consumer goods, and industrial markets. Established in 2004, Sapona Plastics has nearly 160 employees, 27 molding machines, and two plants totaling 142,000 square feet.
Our policy is to maintain effective systems and continuously improve to assure total satisfaction and compliance.  Our mission is to provide plastic injection molding and assembly services. Sapona Plastics is committed to implementing practices and products to balance economic viabiliity, environmental protection and social equity.  Sapona Plastics is committed to preventing pollution and reducing any adverse environmental impacts from our manufacturing activities, products, and services. We will continually improve the environmental health and safety system to enhance environmental and safety performance.

Owen Maness is a graduate of Southwest Randolph High School.  He will be joining Sapona in the tool shop to become a journeyman toolmaker after rotating through a variety of positions within the company in his pre-apprenticeship.  Owen already has experience with Sapona having started an after school job in assembly at plant 2.  We are glad to welcome Owen, one of the future leaders of our company.