Milgard Manufacturing Inc., USA will open a new plant in Fife, Washington to expand its window profile extrusion and fabrcicating capacity. Due to the high demand expansion is also under way at its Sacramento, California facility and plans are in the works for a new plant in Hollister, California next year.
The extrusion technology supplier ETA Kunststofftechnologie GmbH, Germany has celebrated its 10th anniversary. ETA is specialized in screws and tooling for different applications. One of its newest developments is a co-extrusion tooling in modular execution.
ADC Telecommunications Inc., USA began extruding some of its own fiber-optic conduits and soon will introduce conduits made of a blend of ABS and PC. For this purpose ADC has expanded its Shakopee plant and bought a Davis-Standard extruder. Further extrusion systems will follow by end of this year.
The packaging group Huhtamaki Van Leer has sold two of its business units for technical films and coatings in Houston, USA and Essen, Belgium for approx. EURO 100 million to Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW). The deal includes the well-known brands “Valeron” and “Valcross”. Huhtamaki intends to focus on “consumer packaging”.
Raytek Automation, USA has introduced the Thermalert® MP50(tm), a new industrial infrared process imager that provides edge-to-edge temperature imaging, monitoring, analysis and control on continuous sheet and web processes. The new Thermalert MP50 features such enhancements as a faster microprocessor system that allows a faster scan rate, standard air and water cooling, and a new rugged housing. The MP50 comes with new DataTemp® MP software that provides real-time 2-D thermal images for process engineers in the plastic industry.
Dr. Ing. Heinz Groß Meßtechnik, Germany has developed a new online measuring device which measures the thickness of the outside walls of twin-wall sheets immediately behind the calibrator. It provides precise information on the thickness of the outer wall with an accuracy of 0,025mm. The measuring system employs the ultrasonic measurement method. One measuring head traverses contact-free across both the upper and the lower surface of the sheet. The special technique used to couple the sonic waves to the sheet surface is protected by patent. A droplet of water with the sensor and the sheet surface so that no water remains on the sheet surface. The droplets take on the temperature of the sheet very quickly so that no cooling effect occurs which could impair the surface quality. Further information : Tel. +49 (6154) 695240 Fax.+49(6154) 695241
Harrier Packaging Ltd., UK has launched a PE alternative to film used for wrapping fresh produce. It is a further devlopment of a polyethyene-based paperlike film for dry food bags and sacks.
Plysolene Ltd., UK has moved into a new 16,000 square foot plant which allows the company to expand its sheet capacity for greenhouse and commercial sector product lines. The company also intends to add a fourth extrusion line within two years.
Deerfield Urethane has been producing a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film called Dureflex in its South Deerfield plant that is being bonded to other materials to make unbreakable glass. Polyurethane film is quite hazy when produced, but becomes crystal clear when laminated with layers of glass and polycarbonate. The laminates are tough and flexible, absorb thermal and mechanical shock and are UV resistant. They are being used as bulletproof/shatterproof glass for prisons, zoos and banks.
A fire on Aug. 5 has destroyed the drainage pipe plant of Big `O´ Inc, USA. The damage is estimated at about US$ 3,4 million.
