February 12, 2016 Updated 2/12/2016
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Anaheim, Calif. — Prototype maker Hilltop Inc. of Kyoto, Japan, has opened a production base in southern California.
Hilltop Technology Laboratory Inc. started operations in Irvine, Calif., in 2014. The U.S. operation displayed at Medical Design & Manufacturing West Feb. 9-11 in Anaheim.
The site in Orange County employs 11, occupies 7,700 square feet and operates five computer numerical control machines including two DMZ Mori Seikis and one each from Yasada, Brother and Haas. Three CNCs are five-axis models, and two are three-axis units.
Product design and development occurs in Japan, and the output is electronically transferred for “five-day prototype machining” in California.
Joey Kagawa, sales engineer in Irvine, said engineering thermoplastics are processed in about 20 percent of the prototypes and aluminum is used for the rest.
