Epsilon-Opti rewinder offers consistency SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. — Epsilon-Opti Films Corp. has added a computer-driven slitter-rewinder.
The South Plainfield-based division of the Sigma Group produces biaxially oriented polyolefin shrink films. The 3-meter-wide slitter-rewinder helps the firm make consistent film for specific customers and applications, said Epsilon-Opti Executive Vice President Edward Weiss.
"Once you have a particular set of conditions for a certain customer and certain materials for that customer, all you do is plug in the number of the last order and the machine will set itself up and repeat the same thing again in subsequent orders," Weiss said.
This installation is the third of five phases that have been budgeted for in the company's original $50 million multiphase start-up plan. Epsilon-Opti Films began production in December 1998. The company runs a similar operation in Liverpool, England.
Epsilon-Opti also recently announced the appointment of Michael Tranum as the company's Southeast regional manager. Tranum previously worked as regional sales manager for Great Lakes Machinery, a producer of overwrap and shrink wrapping machinery.
Foam Enterprises adds training center
MINNEAPOLIS — Foam Enterprises Inc. has built a new polyurethane foam technology training center in its Houston PU plant.
The Minneapolis-based firm built the 3,000-square-foot facility to help train the growing number of new personnel entering the PU industry. The center includes hands-on applications areas as well as classroom training. Separate environmental control rooms show the effects of weather on foam processing.
The center will support all Foam Enterprises' rigid PU applications, including field and in-plant operations in Houston and Minneapolis. The company said it will offer courses at the facility, which is near Foam Enterprises' research and development center.
Foam Enterprises also announced that it was chosen as the Western region representative for the Dow Corning silicone roofing system. The firm will promote spray PU and silicone roof coatings west of the Mississippi River.
Firm seeks investor for Euro United Corp.
TORONTO — Euro United Corp.'s interim receiver is looking for an investor in the proprietary consumer goods company or someone interested in buying whole or part of the Oakville, Ontario-based firm.
KPMG Inc. is acting as interim receiver as its financial arm, KPMG Corporate Finance Inc., looks for an investor to help restructure Euro United, or to buy all or part of it. Both KPMG companies are in Toronto.
Euro United filed for protection on Dec. 8 under Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act under a section equivalent to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Euro United President Sam Rehani said late last year that his firm had "small loan defaults" to GE Capital, and that GE Capital wanted to push Euro United into receivership. GE Capital was the main lender for Euro United's total debt load of US$85 million. Major shareholders of Euro United included the Ontario Teacher Pension Fund and Advent International of Boston, which together held about 49 percent of the company, Rehani estimated.
KPMG said Euro United's North American operations had sales of about C$132 million (US$91.1 million) for the year ended June 30. Major customers include Wal-Mart, Kmart, Costco, Home Depot, Family Dollar, Sears and Dollar Central. It also makes casual furniture in Europe through a business it bought from Rubbermaid Inc. in 1998.
Stellar upgrades with 2 Milacron presses
ST. CHARLES, ILL. — Stellar Plastics Corp. is upgrading its injection molding capacity with two new Milacron presses.
The St. Charles-based firm scheduled the new presses to be running by the end of January. A 400-ton Milacron press and a 220-ton Milacron electric press replace older Van Dorn and Milacron presses, said owner and President Greg Freimuth, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the custom injection molder.
The ISO-9002 certified molder supplies parts to outdoor power equipment, office products, electronics auto and fastener markets. It runs 21 Milacron presses from 85-500 tons and also does secondary operations and assembly. It employs about 60 in its three-shift, seven-day operation. Stellar processes a variety of resins, including nylons, styrenics, acetals and polypropylene, Freimuth said in a telephone interview.
Stellar plans to expand its gypsum filling operation that is part of the firm's trophy-assembly business. It molds trophies and two-part trophy bases that it fills with gypsum to give the items a heftier feel. During the coming year the company plans to achieve QS 9000 status and may move to a bigger facility. It now operates in a 30,000-square-foot building.
Freimuth said 1999 sales were $5.2 million, and he projects sales will grow 9 percent or more this year. He bought out his former partner, Samuel Buxbaum, in late 1998 when Buxbaum retired.