Infinity adds 3rd compounding line

The third line - a single-screw - was up and running in early June at Infinity's 57,000-square-foot site in Logan Township, N.J., about 27 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Infinity will use the new line for highly filled and reinforced compounds based on engineering resins. The firm already operates one twin-screw and one single-screw line.

Infinity President Carlos Carreno said additional lines will be installed in 2008 and 2009, although he's not sure if those will be single-screw or twin-screw. Infinity produces reinforced, electrically active, internally lubricated and pre-colored compounds based on resins ranging from polypropylene to polyetheretherketone.

Polycarbonate is Infinity's largest base resin by volume, Carreno said. The firm also does sizable business in nylon 6 and 6/6, acetal and polybutylene terephthalate.

Infinity employs 25 and plans to add between five and 10 new hires by the end of the year. Sales for 2007 are expected to hit $7 million - roughly double the 2006 level.

``We're seeing large opportunities, although there's a lot of competition,'' said Carreno, who spent nearly 30 years at compounder LNP Engineering Plastics Inc. of Exton, Pa., before starting Infinity with fellow LNP alumnus Tim Carroll in 2005. ``We can offer flexible lead times and personal service that larger companies can't.

``Business machines is our largest market by volume, and we've been selling our material into copiers, printers and mailing machines,'' he added. ``Medical also has been a really good market to us, in endoscopic surgical tools and direct delivery systems like inhalers.''

Infinity's Logan Township site already has space for three additional compounding lines and can be doubled in size if needed.

Carreno, Carroll and five other Infinity managers have more than 160 years of combined industry experience, most of which was spent at LNP. Infinity's location is about 30 miles southeast of LNP's Exton headquarters.