Lompoc Company Looking to Move to Santa Maria - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Lompoc Company Looking to Move to Santa Maria

LOMPOC - When DenMat announced it was moving its Santa Maria manufacturing facility to Lompoc and taking along dozens of employees, it was a major loss for Santa Maria's economy. 

But the Lompoc company DenMat is forcing out of its home on West Central Avenue now has its eyes on moving to Santa Maria. 

"We're a contract manufacturer of plastic goods, injection molding, thermal molding, custom packaging, product development", says owner Jason Montello, "we do it all in house." 

Despite the recession and sluggish economic recovery, business has been booming at Central Plastics, up 30 percent over last year. 

"We're seeing a lot of big movement from overseas as far as everybody wanting American-made products", Montello says, "we're seeing a lot of growth in terms of manufacturing in general of plastics, toys are growing, custom-packaging is growing and everybody is getting tired of Chinese goods, we're able to be more competitive and provide a better product."

DenMat negotiated a deal with Central Plastics to vacate its sprawling plant on West Central Avenue, the company is now looking for a new home in Santa Maria, and the sooner the better. 

"I need something that is 20,000 square feet or greater", Montello says, "and about 2,000 amps of power." 

Also uncertain at this point, how many of Central Plastic's 25 to 30 skilled employees will make the move as well. 

"Many of them live in Lompoc and have been here 15 years plus", Montello says, "so we're kind of up in the air about what's going to happen, whether they are going to want to move or what's going to happen."  

Central Plastics has to be out of its current location in Lompoc by October 1, 2012. 

Montello says he expects to shutdown operations for at least a couple of months to complete the move to Santa Maria.