Core Molding Technologies Inc's Business Segments

Core Molding Technologies and its subsidiaries operate in the plastics market in a family of products known as “reinforced plastics.” Reinforced plastics are combinations of resins and reinforcing fibers (typically glass or carbon) that are molded to shape. Core Molding Technologies is a manufacturer of sheet molding compound ("SMC") and molder of fiberglass reinforced plastics. The Company specializes in large-format moldings and offers a wide range of fiberglass processes, including compression molding of SMC, glass mat thermoplastics ("GMT"), bulk molding compounds ("BMC") and D-LFT; spray-up, hand-lay-up, and resin transfer molding ("RTM"). Additionally, the Company offers reaction injection molding ("RIM"), utilizing dicyclopentadiene technology.

SMC is primarily a combination of resins, fiberglass, fillers, and catalysts compounded and cured in sheet form, which is then used to manufacture compression-molded products, as discussed below. The Company also sells SMC to other molders.

The Company incorporates a sophisticated computer program in the process of compounding various complex SMC formulations tailored to meet customer needs. The program provides for the control of information during various production processes and data for statistical batch controls.

Closed Molded Products

The Company manufactures plastic products using compression molding, resin transfer molding and reaction injection molding. As of December 31, 2016, the Company owned 51 molding presses in its Columbus, Ohio facility (16), Matamoros, Mexico facility (20), Gaffney, South Carolina facility (10) and Winona, Minnesota facility (5). The Companys molding presses range in size from 250 to 5,000 tons.

Compression Molding of SMC - Compression molding is a process whereby SMC is molded to form by matched die steel molds through which a combination of heat and pressure are applied via a molding press. This process produces high quality, dimensionally consistent products. This process is typically used for high volume products. Higher volumes justify the customers investment in matched die steel molds.

Large platen, high tonnage presses (2,000 tons or greater) provide the ability to mold very large reinforced plastic parts. The Company believes that it possesses a significant portion of the large platen, high tonnage molding capacity in the industry. To enhance the surface quality and the paint finish of our products, the Company uses both in-mold coating and vacuum molding processes.

In-mold coating is the process of injecting a liquid over the molded part surface and then applying pressure at elevated temperatures during an extended molding cycle. The liquid coating serves to fill and/or bridge surface porosity as well as provide a barrier against solvent penetration during subsequent top-coating operations.

Vacuum molding is the removal of air during the molding cycle for the purpose of reducing the amount of surface porosity. The Company believes that it is among the industry leaders in in-mold coating and vacuum molding applications, based on the size and complexity of parts molded.

Resin Transfer Molding (“RTM”) - This process employs two molds, typically a core and a cavity, similar to matched die molding. The composite is produced by placing glass mat, chopped strand, or continuous strand fiberglass in the mold cavity in the desired pattern. Parts used for cosmetic purposes typically have a gel coat applied to the mold surface. The core mold is then fitted to the cavity, and upon a satisfactory seal, a vacuum is applied. When the proper vacuum is achieved, the resin is injected into the mold to fill the part. Finally, the part is allowed to cure and is then removed from the mold and trimmed to shape. Fiberglass reinforced products produced from the RTM process exhibit a high quality surface on both sides of the part and excellent part thickness. The multiple insert tooling technique can be utilized in the RTM process to improve throughput based upon volume requirements.

Direct Long-Fiber Thermoplastics ("D-LFT") - D-LFT molding employs two molds, typically a core and a cavity, similar to matched die molding. This is a process for compounding and molding thermoplastic materials with "long" fibers (typically, 0.5 inch or longer). Engineered thermoplastic pellets and performance additives are compounded in a screw extruder, to which chopped reinforcements (typically, glass fibers) are added and further extruded. A "charge" of material is cut to a precise weight, and this "charge" is directly moved to a compression or injection-transfer process, where it is molded into a finished part. The process allows for direct processing of the compounded material, bypassing the expense and delay of producing an intermediate product (pellets or sheets) as is used in other fiber-reinforced thermoplastic molding processes. The D-LFT process is an attractive option for products that have complex geometry, require high strength and stiffness and benefit from the recyclability of a thermoplastic resin.

Reaction Injection Molding (“RIM”) - This is a process whereby a composite is produced through the injection of a two-component thermoset resin system utilizing dicyclopentadiene (“DCPD”) technology. DCPD technology involves injecting a liquid compound into matched die aluminum molds to form the part. In this process the mold is prepared, closed and the liquid compound is injected into the tool then cured. Additional finishing is required when the part is designated for top coat painting. The RIM process is an alternative to other closed mold processes for mid-volume parts that require a high level of impact resistance.

Open Molded Products

The Company produces reinforced plastic products using both the hand lay-up and spray-up methods of open molding at our Batavia, Ohio and Matamoros, Mexico locations. Part sizes weigh from a few pounds to several hundred pounds with surface quality tailored for the end use application.

Hand Lay-Up - This process utilizes a shell mold, typically the cavity, where glass cloth, either chopped strand or continuous strand glass mat, is introduced into the cavity. Resin is then applied to the cloth and rolled out to achieve a uniform wet-out from the glass and to remove any trapped air. The part is then allowed to cure and removed from the mold. After removal, the part typically undergoes trimming to achieve the shape desired. Parts used for cosmetic purposes typically have a gel coat applied to the mold surface prior to the lay-up to improve the surface quality of the finished part. Parts produced from this process have a smooth outer surface and an unfinished or rough interior surface. These fiberglass-reinforced products are typically non-cosmetic components or structural reinforcements that are sold externally or used internally as components of larger assemblies.

Spray-Up - This process utilizes the same type of shell mold as hand-lay-up, but instead of using glass cloth to produce the composite part, a chopper/spray system is employed. Glass rovings and resin feed the chopper/spray gun. The resin coated, chopped glass is sprayed into the mold to the desired thickness. The resin coated glass in the mold is then rolled out to ensure complete wet-out and to remove any trapped air. The part is then allowed to cure, is removed from the mold and is then trimmed to the desired shape. Parts used for cosmetic purposes typically have a gel coat applied to the mold surface prior to the resin-coated glass being sprayed into the mold to improve the surface quality of the finished part. Parts produced from this process have a smooth outer surface and an unfinished or rough interior surface.

Assembly, Machining, and Paint Products

Many of the products molded by the Company are assembled, machined and prime painted or topcoat painted to result in a completed product used by the Companys customers.

The Company has demonstrated manufacturing flexibility that accommodates a range of low volume hand assembly and machining work, to high volume, highly automated assembly and machining systems. Robotics are used as deemed productive for material
handling, machining, and adhesive applications. In addition to conventional machining methods, water-jet cutting technology is also used where appropriate. The Company also utilizes paint booths and batch ovens in its facilities. The Company generally contracts with outside providers for higher volume applications that require top coat paint.