AEC Inc. is experiencing double-digit growth and taking advantage of its new manufacturing facilities in New Berlin, Wis., Kevin Chudyk, vice president of sales and marketing, said in a June 19 news conference at NPE 2006 in Chicago.
Previously, AEC's manufacturing was mainly at plants in Wood Dale, Ill., and Milwaukee. The new facility occupies 180,000 square feet and employs more than 240.
Effective July 28, as part of the transition, AEC parent ACS Group moved its headquarters to nearby Schaumburg, Ill., from Wood Dale. The move also involves those AEC business operations currently in Wood Dale.
AEC introduced a variety of new products at NPE. Reflecting the company's push into the extrusion market, the RG Series single-shaft shredders can process plastic waste, extruder purgings, reject parts, trim scraps and baled or loose film. Units in the line can reduce large purgings to more workable sizes. An RG-52 model was on display at the show.
Responding to manufacturers' concerns about energy costs, AEC encourages energy efficiency in bringing in the concept of so-called soft motor starts. A gradual ramp-up of a motor's power avoids energy spikes.
The company showed new I/O conveying control technology for its VacTrac Series. The 10/80 can control as many as 10 vacuum conveying pumps, 80 loading stations and 80 purge valves. An Allen-Bradley CompactLogix controller has a 10-inch color touch screen and, as a standard, enhanced graphics.
Last year, AEC began offering a 24/128 model with 24 pumps and 128 hoppers, primarily for blending operations.
In addition, AEC is beta-testing an 8/60 model with local I/O control and said that it may begin marketing the device by the end of September.