Quantum using Tego in new stock shapes
NEWARK, DEL. — Quantum Polymers is launching a new range of stock shapes made with Tego-brand polymers and carbon nanotube technology from Entegris Inc.
“Tego polymers are manufactured using proprietary technology to enhance the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in the polymer,” said Shawn Cheesman, general manager for Billerica, Mass.-based Entegris, said in a news release.
“As a result, stock shapes have very consistent [electrostatic discharge], excellent dimensional stability and improved toughness that can be used in many new high-performance products for the semiconductor, data storage, aerospace, and medical industries.”
Tego polymers can be processed on conventional thermoplastic equipment using injection molding, extrusion and compression molding processes.
Stock shape extruder Quantum Polymers is based in Newark.
Amcor Ill. site adds coex blown film line
MUNDELEIN, ILL. — Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas has added a nine-layer blown film line to produce medical films in Mundelein.
Specifically tailored to produce medical films, the new Windmöller & Hölscher line is equipped with autogauging, web cleaners and vision systems. Tom Cochran, president of the Mundelein-based Amcor unit, described the project as a “multimillion-dollar investment” in a news release.
“The new line enhances our capabilities to develop and manufacture next-generation peelable films, oxygen- and moisture-barrier films and high-performance forming films,” said Michael Barr, product manager Americas for coextruded and converted products. “In addition, Amcor can utilize the new lines' capabilities to improve films used in our lamination processes.”
The new line is identical to a nine-layer line recently installed in Amcor Flexibles' Gent, Belgium, plant.
Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas has 70 plants in 23 countries. The business is a division of Melbourne, Australia-based Amcor Ltd.
Samyang to build Hungary parts plant
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY — South Korean industrial conglomerate Samyang Corp. is investing around 11 million euros ($14.2 million) to build a components plant in the Hungarian city of Jaszberény.
The new facility will manufacture parts for the electronics and automotive industries, deputy CEO Chong Yeol Lee said in a speech in Budapest. The firm will serve leading multinationals, including South Korean consumer electronics group Samsung Corp.
The operation, run by Samyang's chemical business offshoot, will also compound its own engineering resins.
According to the Hungarian Investment and Foreign Trade Development Agency, the plant will start production in December.
Samyang Corp., based in Seoul, has subsidiaries that make food, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and industrial fibers.
Summit loses lawsuit to defunct supplier
DETROIT — A plastic molder must pay one of its own component makers more than $8.2 million in a supply-chain lawsuit over parts for the Nissan Pathfinder and Xterra compact sport utility vehicles.
The Michigan Court of Appeals this week upheld that 2008 judgment in favor of Belleville, Ohio-based Atek Thermoforming Inc. against Portage, Mich.-based Summit Polymers Inc., which in turn was a Visteon Corp. supplier for the Nissan vehicles.
At issue was an arrangement between Summit and Atek to supply parts for a Nissan components program that had been due to launch in 2004.
Summit eventually terminated the supplier contract with Atek in 2005 and sued, claiming Atek had “difficulty with quality and timely performance.”
Atek countersued and claimed Summit had changed specifications on parts without notifying Atek, failed to provide it with adequate materials, and that some rejected parts were damaged in shipping or by Summit.
A Wayne County jury awarded Atek about $1.25 million in damages for parts Summit received without paying Atek, plus more than $6.75 million to Atek for lost profits and work-in-progress, unpaid inventory, materials and trucking charges.
Atek closed in March 2005.
GAF's DuraLife made with HDPE, rice hulls
WAYNE, N.J. — GAF Decking Systems of Wayne has introduced a new line of railing extruded from high density polyethylene and rice hulls. The new line is being marketed as DuraLife Railways railing collection.
Since its acquisition of Correct Building Products LLC, GAF now is in a position to provide a more comprehensive offering of composite decking and railing. Its extrusion facilities are located in Biddeford, Maine, and Lenexa, Kan., said GAF marketing manager Mike Descoteaux.
Now, GAF extrudes and markets two primary deck boards including CorrectDeck CX premium decking and DuraLife. Its Railways universal railing and CorrectPorch porch flowing, and CorrectDock dock planks, also have a plastic base, Descoteaux said.
“With signs that new construction is rebounding and with recent increases in housing starts, we are very optimistic that the economy is starting to recover,” he said. “Homeowners have delayed or canceled many home-improvement projects in the last two years, so there is plenty of pent-up demand just waiting to be released.”
Rubio's scraps bowl for PET 'bottle box'
PERRIS, CALIF. — West Coast restaurant chain Rubio's Restaurants Inc. has announced its switch to recycled PET containers for its salads, replacing foam containers and giving Perris-based Global Plastics Inc. a boost in its business.
“It's a huge breakthrough,” Global owner and President Nadim Bahou said April 25 by phone. “We were very, very happy that finally Rubio's came in and took the product. Now, other restaurants will look at the product, too. That's why it's so important.”
Officials formally have named the product “the bottle box” because it is made from recycled PET bottles at Global Plastics' facility. The box also is recyclable.
“We're changing just for salad bowls at this point,” said Laura Copic, Rubio's marketing manager. Rubio's has 197 restaurants in five states, including Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Utah.
The move by Rubio's is part of the company's larger goal to be more environmentally conscious, Copic said.
Global Plastics since 2004 has received $8 million in grants from the state of California to boost its recycling and manufacturing, Bahou said.
“Now we've added a new sheet line, three packaging lines and a new wash line, all within the last six months,” he said. In 2009, the firm processed 35 million pounds of plastic waste. It expects to process 55 million to 60 million pounds this year.
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