ORLANDO, FLA. (April 5, 6:25 p.m. ET) — Commodore Technology LLC (Booth 1308) has signed an agreement for Commodore to use microcellular foaming technology from MuCell Extrusion LLC on its new turnkey tandem foam extrusion lines running polystyrene, polypropylene or low density polyethylene.
Commodore, based in Bloomfield, N.Y., specializes in extrusion lines, thermoformers and trim presses for production of foam school lunch trays, meat trays, plates, bowls and hinged-lid containers.
The two companies announced the agreement at NPE2012.
“Commodore is a strong supplier of tandem extrusion lines for low-density polyethylene products in Europe and South America, as well as being a regional player in North America. With this new arrangement, we expect that their sales in North America will grow rapidly, and they’ll be able to offer an expanded portfolio of products around the globe,” said MuCell Extrusion President Mark Lindenfelzer.
Commodore President Brad Braddon said the company does its own manufacturing of foam meat trays for supermarkets and meat producers, by extruding the foamed PS sheet and thermoforming it into the products. Commodore also sells equipment to others, he said.
The MuCell Extrusion process will broaden Commodore’s expertise, enabling the company to reach new foam markets such as gaskets, seals and wraps, he said.
“We’re experts in providing turnkey solutions to our customers, but until now, our process knowledge was limited, beyond polystyrene,” Braddon said. “As we now expand to include polypropylene and polyethylene low density, we offer a complete MuCell process extrusion line at our headquarters facility in Bloomfield, N.Y., for commercial development.”
Braddon said Commodore recently delivered its first ;polyolefin line to a U.S. customer, which he did not identify.
MuCell Extrusion is based in Woburn, Mass. MuCell Extrusion owned by Zotefoams plc of Croydon, England, which bought out its former partner in the venture, Trexel Inc., about a year ago.
