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Americhem expands concentrates capacity at Concord plant
STRATEGIES
The company established a headquarters for its polymer additives business in June 2010, combining the division’s sales, R&D and planning functions and located in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture. However, recognizing that R&D is the key to expanding the business, Adeka has since taken the decision to rehouse the R&D department in a purpose-built facility, it explains. With a floor area of c. 6700 m2 spread over seven floors, the new R&D building will be 3.5 times bigger than the current one. It will be furnished with the latest equipment to enable rapid and efficient research and development of high-performance, eco-friendly and competitive products, Adeka says. At the same time the building itself will be designed to reduce stress on the natural environment through energy and materials savings, while providing a high-quality working environment. Contact: Adeka Corp, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 4455 2803, Web: www.adeka.co.jp
Americhem expands concentrates capacity at Concord plant
I
n order to meet the needs of the growing polyester bulk continuous filament (PET BCF) market, Americhem Inc recently added three compounding lines at its facility in Concord, NC, USA. This is the second capacity expansion in the past three years at the North Carolina plant, and will ensure ‘continuous supply and shortened lead times’, the company says. Two of the new lines at Concord are optimized to produce high-quality, consistent masterbatch products in large lot sizes for the polyester floor-covering industry, while the third line is designed to handle the textile industry’s critical specifications and small lot sizes, Americhem says. Additionally, the company reports that it has added new technologies in the pre- and post-extrusion processes to provide optimal product consistency. Jim Cook, Americhem’s plant manager in Concord, says that the facility is ‘a leader’ in colour and additive masterbatch technology for polyester products. ‘With the floor coverings market increasingly shifting to the use of PET BCF fibres over staple and polyolefin-based
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Additives for Polymers
fibres, Americhem can help its customers grow and gain the competitive edge’, he explains. At the same time as adding the new lines, some existing areas have been renovated to improve material flow and production efficiency, Cook reports. ‘Overall, we met our objectives to maximize the use of new equipment and technologies to best meet the needs of our customers, while creating 25 new jobs for the Concord community’, he says. The Concord facility was opened in 1989 and manufactures colour and additive concentrates for the synthetic fibres industry. According to Americhem, the plant possesses defined colour palettes and a thorough understanding of the intricacies associated with the polyester industry. Further, the company claims that its masterbatches offer superior dispersion technology, outstanding yields and dramatically reduced production downtime. In related company news, tests have demonstrated that its nDuramax™ masterbatches for PET packaging meet critical recyclability standards for colour change, while providing superior UV absorption for extended shelf life, Americhem reports. ‘Containers made with nDuramax are fully recyclable and ready to be incorporated into postconsumer recycling streams’, says Chris Miller, technology manager for Americhem. The company provides a broad range of high-performance nDuramax UV stabilizing products for PET packaging, offering protection up to 390 nm. The masterbatches are suitable for use in FDA or non-FDA applications. By protecting clear plastic products from the degrading effects of UV light, packaging producers can help safeguard brand identity by preventing discoloration and changes in taste and smell, as well as protecting product performance and nutritional value. Contact: Americhem, Inc, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA. Tel: +1 330 929 4213, Web: www.americhem.com
Applied Minerals, KibbeChem sign joint development and manufacturing agreement
H
alloysite clay producer Applied Minerals, Inc and masterbatch and blowing agent manufacturer KibbeChem, Inc have signed a joint development and masterbatch manufacturing agreement. Under the terms of the deal,
March 2011
The company established a headquarters for its polymer additives business in June 2010, combining the division’s sales, R&D and planning functions and located in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture. However, recognizing that R&D is the key to expanding the business, Adeka has since taken the decision to rehouse the R&D department in a purpose-built facility, it explains. With a floor area of c. 6700 m2 spread over seven floors, the new R&D building will be 3.5 times bigger than the current one. It will be furnished with the latest equipment to enable rapid and efficient research and development of high-performance, eco-friendly and competitive products, Adeka says. At the same time the building itself will be designed to reduce stress on the natural environment through energy and materials savings, while providing a high-quality working environment. Contact: Adeka Corp, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 4455 2803, Web: www.adeka.co.jp
Americhem expands concentrates capacity at Concord plant
I
n order to meet the needs of the growing polyester bulk continuous filament (PET BCF) market, Americhem Inc recently added three compounding lines at its facility in Concord, NC, USA. This is the second capacity expansion in the past three years at the North Carolina plant, and will ensure ‘continuous supply and shortened lead times’, the company says. Two of the new lines at Concord are optimized to produce high-quality, consistent masterbatch products in large lot sizes for the polyester floor-covering industry, while the third line is designed to handle the textile industry’s critical specifications and small lot sizes, Americhem says. Additionally, the company reports that it has added new technologies in the pre- and post-extrusion processes to provide optimal product consistency. Jim Cook, Americhem’s plant manager in Concord, says that the facility is ‘a leader’ in colour and additive masterbatch technology for polyester products. ‘With the floor coverings market increasingly shifting to the use of PET BCF fibres over staple and polyolefin-based
6
Additives for Polymers
fibres, Americhem can help its customers grow and gain the competitive edge’, he explains. At the same time as adding the new lines, some existing areas have been renovated to improve material flow and production efficiency, Cook reports. ‘Overall, we met our objectives to maximize the use of new equipment and technologies to best meet the needs of our customers, while creating 25 new jobs for the Concord community’, he says. The Concord facility was opened in 1989 and manufactures colour and additive concentrates for the synthetic fibres industry. According to Americhem, the plant possesses defined colour palettes and a thorough understanding of the intricacies associated with the polyester industry. Further, the company claims that its masterbatches offer superior dispersion technology, outstanding yields and dramatically reduced production downtime. In related company news, tests have demonstrated that its nDuramax™ masterbatches for PET packaging meet critical recyclability standards for colour change, while providing superior UV absorption for extended shelf life, Americhem reports. ‘Containers made with nDuramax are fully recyclable and ready to be incorporated into postconsumer recycling streams’, says Chris Miller, technology manager for Americhem. The company provides a broad range of high-performance nDuramax UV stabilizing products for PET packaging, offering protection up to 390 nm. The masterbatches are suitable for use in FDA or non-FDA applications. By protecting clear plastic products from the degrading effects of UV light, packaging producers can help safeguard brand identity by preventing discoloration and changes in taste and smell, as well as protecting product performance and nutritional value. Contact: Americhem, Inc, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA. Tel: +1 330 929 4213, Web: www.americhem.com
Applied Minerals, KibbeChem sign joint development and manufacturing agreement
H
alloysite clay producer Applied Minerals, Inc and masterbatch and blowing agent manufacturer KibbeChem, Inc have signed a joint development and masterbatch manufacturing agreement. Under the terms of the deal,
March 2011