Bay Plastics Machinery Opens New Tech Center in Michigan to Expand Manufacturing and Workforce Development
8,000-square-foot facility strengthens U.S. equipment manufacturing, pelletizer refurbishment, plastics recycling support and technical training while creating new opportunities for skilled manufacturing professionals.
BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, October 22, 2026 – Bay Plastics Machinery has inaugurated a new 8,000-square-foot Tech Center in Bay City, Michigan, marking a significant investment in its manufacturing infrastructure, customer service capabilities and workforce development initiatives.
The facility, located at 3515 N. Euclid Ave., officially opened on October 21, 2026, during a grand-opening event attended by approximately 150 guests, including company executives, customers, industry representatives, government officials and workforce training partners.
The new Tech Center is designed to increase the company’s capacity to manufacture, refurbish and service pelletizers and other machinery used in plastics compounding and recycling operations. It will also serve as a dedicated environment for equipment testing, technical demonstrations and practical training for employees, customers and industry partners.
The investment comes as Bay Plastics Machinery experiences growing demand for its pelletizing equipment, maintenance services, machinery repairs and replacement parts. By expanding its operational footprint, the company aims to improve service responsiveness, strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and provide customers with greater access to technical expertise.
The project has been in development for approximately two years and represents another step in the company’s long-term growth strategy. Over the past year, Bay Plastics Machinery has recruited approximately five additional employees, including two professionals in its service department, bringing its total workforce to 55.
Jason Forgash, President and CEO of Bay Plastics Machinery, highlighted the importance of the expansion in supporting U.S. manufacturers and plastics recyclers.
“We’re proud to support U.S. manufacturers and recyclers. Over the past year, we’ve expanded our mobile service capabilities, with team members serving customers across the Midwest and Southeast by picking up equipment, making repairs and returning components to customers’ plants. As demand for these services and our pelletizers increases, we needed more space.”
The new facility is expected to strengthen the company’s ability to serve customers across the United States while supporting the growing requirements of plastics processors seeking reliable equipment, maintenance solutions and specialised technical services.
Strengthening Equipment Manufacturing and Plastics Recycling Support
The Tech Center represents an expansion of Bay Plastics Machinery‘s capabilities in the plastics processing equipment sector, particularly in pelletizing technologies and machinery used in compounding and recycling applications.
Pelletizing systems play an important role in plastics manufacturing by converting processed polymer materials into uniform pellets that can be used in subsequent manufacturing operations. In plastics recycling, these systems help transform recovered and reprocessed plastic materials into reusable feedstock for the production of new plastic products.
As manufacturers and recyclers increasingly focus on material recovery, resource efficiency and the development of circular production systems, dependable pelletizing equipment and maintenance services remain important components of industrial operations.
The new facility provides additional manufacturing and refurbishment space, allowing Bay Plastics Machinery to support equipment requirements while expanding its service infrastructure. It will also accommodate testing activities that enable machinery to be demonstrated and evaluated under practical operating conditions.
A complete strand pelletizing line has been installed at the Tech Center and operated throughout the grand-opening event, giving visitors an opportunity to observe the company’s equipment and technical capabilities firsthand.
In addition to pelletizer manufacturing and refurbishment, the building will support the continued development of the company’s feed-roll and rotor repair and manufacturing operations, which are located next door.
This expanded infrastructure is intended to improve coordination between manufacturing, repair and service activities, helping the company respond to customer requirements more effectively.
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Investing in Workforce Development and Technical Education
Beyond increasing manufacturing capacity, the new Tech Center reflects Bay Plastics Machinery‘s commitment to developing the next generation of skilled manufacturing professionals.
The grand-opening ceremony featured several speakers who highlighted the company’s contributions to Michigan’s manufacturing sector and its involvement in career and technical education programmes.
Among the speakers were Michigan State Representative Jay DeBoyer; Joshua Little, Director of the Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center (BAISD); Matt Seaholm, President of the Plastics Industry Association; and Annina Donaldson, Director of Business Development at Maxi-Blast, a Florida-based customer of Bay Plastics Machinery.
The speakers recognised the company’s involvement in supporting internships, vocational education, local community organisations and employment opportunities. Its partnerships with educational institutions have helped students gain practical exposure to manufacturing operations and transition into full-time industry positions.
Joshua Little highlighted the importance of collaboration between manufacturers and technical education providers in preparing students for careers.
“Your partnership with Career and Technical Education and the staff at BAISD helps turn classroom preparation into career opportunities,” Little said.
Over the years, several students from the Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center have progressed into employment with Bay Plastics Machinery. These pathways demonstrate how collaboration between educational institutions and manufacturing companies can address skilled labour requirements while providing young people with opportunities to establish long-term careers.
The Tech Center is expected to strengthen these efforts by providing additional space for hands-on learning, equipment demonstrations and technical instruction.
Representative Jay DeBoyer also emphasised the company’s contribution to the wider Bay City community, highlighting its support for local organisations, sporting activities and cultural events, including the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival.
“This isn’t just about Bay Plastics. It’s about community,” DeBoyer said, pointing to the importance of creating quality employment opportunities that allow people to remain in their communities, support their families and contribute to the local economy.
Matt Seaholm also underlined the significance of technical training and knowledge-sharing in maintaining the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing industry.
He noted that facilities such as the new Tech Center provide valuable opportunities for employees and customers to develop practical skills, exchange technical knowledge and prepare for the industry’s evolving requirements.
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Strengthening Customer Relationships Through Technical Expertise
The expansion also reinforces Bay Plastics Machinery‘s emphasis on customer relationships, equipment reliability and after-sales support.
For plastics manufacturers and recycling companies, machinery performance and operational continuity are essential to maintaining production schedules and controlling operating costs. Access to experienced technicians, maintenance services and replacement components can therefore play an important role in reducing equipment downtime.
Bay Plastics Machinery has expanded its mobile service operations over the past year, with technicians supporting customers across the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. The service team assists with equipment collection, repairs and the return of refurbished components to customers’ manufacturing facilities.
The new Tech Center provides additional space and infrastructure to support these activities as demand for equipment maintenance and repair services increases.
Annina Donaldson of Maxi-Blast highlighted the longstanding business relationship between the two companies, which dates back to the early years of Maxi-Blast. Her father, the company’s founder, worked with Bay Plastics Machinery, and the relationship has continued through the next generation of their respective businesses.
Donaldson described the company’s approach to equipment manufacturing and customer service as a key factor in maintaining the partnership.
“Watching them grow over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how committed they are—not to just building exceptional equipment, but to building exceptional teams. For a company like mine, having Bay Plastics as a supplier is a source of confidence. We know we can rely on the machinery to keep our operations running, because behind the machinery is a team of well-trained, passionate individuals who care about quality as much as Maxi-Blast does,” she said.
Her comments highlight the importance of long-term supplier relationships in industrial manufacturing, where equipment quality, technical knowledge and dependable service contribute to business continuity.
A Family-Owned Manufacturing Business with Deep Bay City Roots
Bay Plastics Machinery‘s history is closely connected to the manufacturing heritage of Bay City, Michigan.
The business traces its origins to 1961, when Jason Forgash’s grandfather, Tony Forgash Sr., established JETRO. Over the decades, the company developed its presence in plastics machinery manufacturing and established a customer base across the plastics processing and recycling industries.
Today, the company continues to build on this legacy through investments in manufacturing infrastructure, equipment development, technical services and employee training.
For Jason Forgash, the new Tech Center represents more than an expansion of the company’s physical operations. It also reflects a long-term commitment to the employees and skilled professionals responsible for its continued growth.
He emphasised that the company’s future depends on the collective contributions of its workforce, including machinists, welders, engineers, assembly personnel, service technicians and professionals across sales, purchasing, accounting and administration.
“The future of Bay Plastics isn’t dependent on our family alone. It’s dependent on the people who come through these doors every day, the machinists, the welders, the engineers, our assembly team, our service technicians, the people in sales, purchasing, accounting and administration, the people who have spent decades here, and the young people who are just beginning their careers.
“That’s why this center is so important. We don’t just want to hire people; we want to develop them. We want to give our employees the opportunity to learn new technology, new skills, and take on new challenges. We want young people to walk through these doors and see that manufacturing isn’t what they may have imagined it to be. Manufacturing today is technology. It’s engineering, it’s automation, it’s problem solving, and it’s innovation, and it’s still about making something.”
This approach reflects the changing requirements of modern manufacturing, where technical expertise increasingly combines traditional machining and fabrication skills with automation, engineering, equipment diagnostics and advanced production technologies.
By investing in dedicated training and testing infrastructure, Bay Plastics Machinery aims to create an environment where experienced employees can share their knowledge while younger professionals develop the skills needed to support future manufacturing operations.
Supporting the Future of U.S. Plastics Manufacturing
The opening of the 8,000-square-foot Tech Center marks an important development in Bay Plastics Machinery‘s continued expansion. By increasing its manufacturing and refurbishment capacity while strengthening customer service and workforce training, the company is positioning itself to address evolving requirements across the plastics processing and recycling industries.
The investment also highlights the importance of domestic manufacturing infrastructure and technical expertise in supporting the U.S. plastics industry’s competitiveness.
As plastics manufacturers and recyclers continue to focus on equipment performance, material recovery and operational efficiency, suppliers with strong engineering, manufacturing and service capabilities will remain important partners throughout the value chain.
Through its latest facility investment, Bay Plastics Machinery is combining its longstanding manufacturing heritage with a forward-looking approach to technology, customer support and employee development.
The new Tech Center is therefore not only an expansion of the company’s production capabilities but also a platform for strengthening industry relationships, developing skilled talent and supporting the future of plastics manufacturing in the United States.
