The primary purpose of the expansion, he said, is to allow Wilmington Machinery to build more machines simultaneously and potentially enter new markets.

“The main purpose is to add capability for building more machines at once,” Baker said. “Maybe getting into new markets.”

Beyond floor space, the company already has begun reshaping its operations. After selling older machine shop equipment about five years ago, Wilmington Machinery recently installed three new computer numerically controlled machines — two lathes and a mill — to bring more component manufacturing back in-house.

The move toward greater vertical integration is intended to reduce outsourcing and improve service for customers with installed equipment across North America.

“It’s about adding more capabilities,” Baker said. “Not having to outsource components to be made on the outside, but making them in-house and servicing our customers.”

That installed base remains a key strength. Many Wilmington Machinery systems have been operating for decades, generating ongoing parts and service revenue.

“The longevity of our machines is something we brag about,” Baker said. “It creates service and parts revenue for years and years to come.”

The company also is reinforcing its rotary blow molding business with the return of Jeff Newman, a more than 20-year veteran of that segment. Baker said management is evaluating potential expansion into additional blow molding machinery offerings.

In injection molding, Wilmington Machinery is working to reestablish itself in the low-pressure segment, building on a name that has been in the plastics industry for 50 years.

“We have a reputable name that’s been in the plastics industry for 50 years,” Baker said. “It’s rediscovering ourselves and becoming a player in the low-pressure injection molding industry again.”

While tariffs and trade policy were not the reason Sayed acquired the company, Baker said Wilmington Machinery’s domestic production model could prove advantageous.

“We’re proud to say that our machines are American-made,” he said. “Almost all of our components come from North America.”

The company plans to showcase its renewed direction at NPE2027, where it secured a 20-by-40-foot booth in a main aisle location. Wilmington Machinery is considering introducing new machinery by the time of the show, Baker said.

For Baker, who first joined the company as an intern while studying at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and has worked in roles ranging from accounting to machinery sales, the shift under new ownership represents both continuity and renewed momentum.

“I think it’s an exciting time for the company,” he said. “We haven’t lost momentum. We’ve only increased momentum in the change.”