CHICAGO — American Excelsior Co. is adding three compression molding machines to its Arlington, Texas, plant to expand its foam and fabric molding.
American already molds cross-linked materials at its plants in Lombard, Ill., and Yakima, Wash., but it wants to make the Arlington plant the center of its new product development, said Ken Starrett, director of marketing for American. The company is based in Arlington.
The process forms a bond between the polyethylene or polyurethane foam and fabrics like nylon with a process called flame lamination. Compression molding is then used to shape the material, which can mold products like wrist protectors and shin guards in one piece, without stitches.
The company plans to add two production presses and a prototype press, along with two ovens, in Arlington. The company would like to have six to eight presses there in five years, said Emilio Zubizarreta, molded foam product manager.