The Challenge

A local manufacturer of animal insemination products was looking to reshore production of a critical extruded plastic tube that had previously been sourced elsewhere. Bringing the component closer to home offered opportunities to improve supply-chain reliability, shorten lead times, and gain greater control over product quality.
The customer already had an established relationship with our team. We were producing several injection-molded plastic components for them, giving us a strong understanding of their quality expectations, applications, and manufacturing requirements.

The challenge was that the new component required a different manufacturing process: plastic extrusion.

Investing in the Right Extrusion Technology

To support the reshoring initiative, we expanded our manufacturing capabilities with a Bausano extrusion line specifically suited to producing the tubing required for the customer’s animal insemination product.

The addition of the Bausano equipment represented more than a new machine. It allowed us to extend an existing customer relationship beyond injection molding and provide a domestic source for a component that previously depended on an outside supply chain.

The extrusion project and equipment investment were also featured by Plastics Technology, highlighting the expansion of our plastics-processing capabilities and the role the new extrusion technology played in supporting production.

The Solution

Our team worked with the customer to transition the extruded tubing into local production. We evaluated the component’s material, dimensional requirements, tolerances, and end-use application and then developed the tooling and processing conditions required for repeatable production on the Bausano extrusion line.

The project included:

• Developing and qualifying the extrusion process
• Establishing tooling and production parameters
• Controlling tube dimensions and consistency
• Validating the finished tubing against customer requirements
• Integrating extrusion into an existing injection-molding supplier relationship
• Establishing a reliable domestic production source
• Because we were already producing injection-molded components for the customer, the project also created an opportunity to consolidate more of their plastics manufacturing with one proven local supplier.

The Results

The Bausano extrusion line enabled the customer to reshore production of an important tubing component used in its animal insemination products.

The project delivered several benefits:

• Reshored manufacturing of a previously outsourced component
• Reduced supply-chain exposure through local production
• Shorter and more predictable lead times
• Greater visibility and control over quality
• Faster communication and problem-solving
• Supplier consolidation across both injection molding and extrusion
• Additional domestic manufacturing capacity to support future demand

From Injection Molding Supplier to Manufacturing Partner

This project illustrates how an established supplier relationship can evolve when customer needs change.

We began by manufacturing injection-molded plastic components for the customer. When an opportunity arose to bring an extruded component back to domestic production, we expanded our capabilities with a Bausano extrusion line and developed the process needed to manufacture the tubing locally.

The result was more than a successful part transfer. It created a stronger domestic supply chain and gave the customer a manufacturing partner capable of supporting multiple plastic-processing technologies under one roof.

Reshoring Through Manufacturing Capability

Successful reshoring often requires more than simply moving an existing tool or purchase order from one supplier to another. It can require new equipment, process development, technical collaboration, and a manufacturing partner willing to invest alongside the customer.

In this case, the combination of an existing injection molding relationship, investment in Bausano extrusion technology, and collaborative process development turned a reshoring opportunity into a scalable domestic manufacturing solution.

Injection Molding + Bausano Extrusion + Local Manufacturing = A Stronger Domestic Supply Chain