Strictly-Extrusion

Global plastics eMarketplace Omnexus has appointed J. Thorne King as Chief Technology Officer. Prior to his new post, King led the company’s IT efforts, specifically focusing on new functionality design and software enhancements. In his new role, King will continue to lead the daily operations of the Omnexus technology staff while expanding his duties to oversee the company’s long-term technological strategy as a member of the executive leadership team. King joined Omnexus in August 2000 as one of the company’s first employees after a successful 20-year career at DuPont, an Omnexus founding member.

KWH Pipe Canada Ltd. is expanding three North American production facilities in a three-year project slated for completion next year. The firm is increasing extrusion capacity at two plants in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Shafter, Calif. Its Huntsville, Ontario, plant will be expanded as the firm doubles production capacity there.

The Kreyenborg Group has gone from a supplier of single components to a competent partner for complete turn-key lines and system solutions. Due to the strong growth and the new developments in the fields of gear pumps and recycling techniques, the individual sectors of Kreyenborg have been restructured and organised into independent business divisions, namely filtration systems, pump technology and recycling techniques. The company is a leading manufacturer of polymer melt filtration systems, which are equipped with the new S7 Profibus control system as standard. Advantages of the control systems include low-cost integration of filtration systems into complex production lines, quicker communication between OP and PLC, less field wiring, smaller control cabinet and lower interference. Numerous innovations and innovative solutions for the plastics industry are also available from the company including: complete filtration systems (melt pump, screen changer, diverter valve and all adapters) as complete system solutions for complex tasks; a pelletising system for a throughput up to 12 t/h; infrared drying systems for the drying of hygroscopic materials (PET, PA); and complete recycling lines for the production of inline thermo-forming films, strapping tapes and granulates.

Petrochemicals and plastics producers in the German Ruhr area have acquired EU and state funding for half the estimated EUR 50.4m cost of building a 42-kilometre stretch of the “ChemVision” trans-European propylene (C3) pipeline to supply feedstock to production facilities in the region. Companies involved, including BP, Shell, DSM Hydrocarbons (Sabic), Basell and Borealis, will share the rest of the bill. This stretch of the pipeline will connect Duisburg’s Rhine river harbour with Marl. Construction is due to begin in early 2003, with completion scheduled for the end of 2004.

Essel Propack Ltd., which claims to be the world´s largest maker of laminated and plastic tubes, said July 2 that it plans to open its first U.S. manufacturing plant. The $21 million plant in Danville will supply all of Procter & Gamble Co.´s tubes in North America, including ones for its Crest-brand toothpaste.

SMS Plastics Technology this week acquired German foamed plastics finishing machinery maker SMB David.
Based at Herrsching near Munich, SMB David designs and manufactures downstream equipment for finishing expanded PS, extruded foamed PS and PE, and PU foams. According to SMS Plastics Technology chairman Helmut Eschwey, foamed plastics is a high growth-potential market; the acquisition gives SMS the ability to provide turnkey foam board production lines from its own group of companies. SMB David will continue to operate as a standalone business unit as part of SMS. The existing management team of Jürgen Knappmann and Lydia Walder will remain in place.

Griffon Corporation, USA, through its wholly owned subsidiary Clopay Corporation, has acquired majority ownership in Isofilme Ltda, a leading Brazilian manufacturer of plastic hygienic and specialty films. Isofilme, which has been renamed Clopay do Brasil, has headquarters and manufacturing operations in Sao Paulol. The company’s sales in the most recent year were approximately US$15,000,000. Clopay is a worldwide leader in specialty plastic films and laminates for baby diapers, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, medical and industrial products.

Packaging Group is entering multilayer barrier film markets with the purchase of an eight-layer blown film line from Brampton Engineering Inc. Packaging Group has been making monolayer and three-layer film for more than 10 years. The firm´s Concord plant and a sister facility in Cambridge, Ontario, also laminate, print and convert film.

Kreyenborg Industries, USA, officially opened its new 16,000-sq-ft facility in Lawrenceville, Ga., on May 1st. Kreyenborg Industries is the North American subsidiary for Kreyenborg GmbH in Germany and sells screen changers, extrusion gear pumps, and BKG-brand underwater pelletizers. The new facility can demonstrate all of these products on a new lab line, which consists of a 58-mm twin-screw compounding extruder, three loss-in-weight feeders, and a completely integrated control system from sister company BSG. The line is capable of outputs up to 2500 lb/hr.

A private equity firm and members of Nortek Inc.’s management have a final agreement to acquire the building products conglomerate in a US$1.6 billion cash and debt deal. Kelso & Co. LP of New York teamed with current members of the vinyl extruding firm’s management for the $46 per-share cash buyout of 11 million shares.