AET, Italian firm team for recycling lines
Advanced Extruder Technologies, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., is teaming with Italian washing equipment maker Baima srl to supply complete lines for turning recycled plastic into pellets, then sheet.
“There's a lot of interest in complete washing systems and extrusion systems right now, especially in PET,” said Fred Jalili, president of Advanced Extruder Technologies.
Jalili said Advanced Extruder Technologies will put together the complete production lines in Elk Grove Village, using Baima washing equipment and AET's extruders and pelletizing equipment.
AET exhibited at the Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Division's Annual Conference, held Sept. 18-20 in Milwaukee. The firm showcased the washing and extrusion technology for making thermoforming sheet from recycled plastic.
He said PET, polyethylene bottles and film, and polystyrene are the main recycled plastics for use with the system.
Baima, based in Galliate, Italy, makes washing, separation and drying equipment for baled and flaked bottles and other forms of recycled plastic. Jalili said Baima has been in business for 30 years.
Tel. 847-238-9651, fax 847-238-9654, e-mail salesaetextruder. com.
U.S. funds research for Davis-Standard
Davis-Standard LLC is getting some business from the recent stimulus package and increased research and development spending by the U.S. government.
Davis-Standard's Specialty Systems Group is involved in several new projects, including development of a more effective solar energy collection device, an improved industrial battery and advances in renewable energy. Another area of growth: Recycling of different materials, including those from renewable resources.
Customers are working on new materials and manufacturing processes for those applications, according to Simon Dominey, manager of the Specialty Systems Group.
“The majority of projects are still confidential, although some information may soon be released for a few applications,” Dominey said. He added that most of the projects are in the United States.
“Some are as simple as careful web handling, while others involve reactive processing and chemical modification. Particularly fascinating is learning about how non-conventional materials behave in processing and in end applications. It's an exciting time to be in the R&D business,” he said.
Davis-Standard is based in Pawcatuck, Conn.
Tel. 860-599-1010, e-mail [email protected]
Wexco celebrates decades of growth
Lynchburg, Va.-based bimetallic barrel maker Wexco Corp. is celebrating its 35th birthday this year.
Wexco began in 1975 to produce barrels for two sister companies in the Philadelphia area, twin-screw extruder maker Welding Engineers Inc. and Welex Inc., a manufacturer of single-screw extruders and sheet lines.
“It started that way and it grew after that,” said Don Smith, product manager at the barrel maker. Wexco soon started making barrels for other brands of extruders and injection molding machines, he said.
John G. Hendrickson founded both Welex and Wexco. His father, John B. Hendrickson, started Welding Engineers.
The Hendrickson family still owns Wexco, under the W Bar E holding company. Smith said that in an era of consolidation, Wexco remains independently owned.
The original Lynchburg plant measured 15,000 square feet. In 1984, Smith said the company moved across town into a 40,000-square-foot factory. Today Wexco has 48,000 square feet of total space.
Wexco has been blessed with stable management. Jack Congrove, who started as general manager, became the first president in 1984. Peter Jones succeeded Congrove, serving as president through early this year. In April, Dave Weber became the third president of Wexco.
Smith has worked at Wexco since 1979.
Over the years, Wexco has made several innovations in barrel technology. Wexco introduced the JP38 micro-alloy backing material in 1996, a high-strength steel at a reduced cost. In 1982, the company rolled out the Wexco 777 carbide inlay, an abrasive and corrosion-resistant material.
Wexco received a patent for manufacturing a tool steel-lined barrel in 2005.
Tel. 434-385-6006, fax 434-385-6216, e-mail [email protected]
DigiNip supplies fast data on nip alignment
Sensor Products Inc.'s DigiNip is a hand-held device for measuring nip roll alignment for coating, laminating, printing and production rollers.
It measures the spot nip of the contact point between rollers at any section of a web- or sheet-fed process. Readings are immediately displayed.
Sensor Products is based in Madison, N.J.
Tel. 973-884-1755, fax 973-884-1699, e-mail [email protected] prod.com.
Walton introduces vinyl sheet products
PVC sheet extruder Walton Plastics Inc. has introduced two Walplax-brand vinyl sheet formulations for interior and exterior applications.
The Walton Hills, Ohio-based company extrudes them in standard white, or the sheet can be custom colored. Walton Plastics can tailor the sheet to meet each customer's need for color, texture or weatherability.
The sheet can be bonded to foam board, drywall or plywood.
The two products are:
* Walplax 880 LSR, which meets the ASTM E84 specification at a maximum thickness of 0.08 inch and passes the fire codes for flame spread and smoke generation in several states, including California. Typical uses are for interior walls in hospitals, offices, clean rooms for drug manufacturing, and patio enclosures.
* Walplax 881 LSF, which meets E84 at a maximum thickness of 0.125 inch, and is designed for heavier interior walls that require a more robust material.
Tel. 800-719-9258, fax 440-232-3187, e-mail [email protected] .com.
Motor maker ATS adds N. America site
ATS Engineering, a German company that makes electric motors for plastic extrusion processes and other markets, has opened a North American operation in Plymouth, Mich.
ATS Engineering makes alternating-current motors, including asynchronous motors, synchronous motors and custom-designed motors. Besides extrusion, applications include slitting and shear manufacturing operations; engine, powertrain and chassis dynamometer test systems; and high-speed machining.
ATS officials said the motors work well in applications that require repetitive, transient load changes, high rotational speeds and continuous high torque.
Tim Sante is the North American sales manager.
Tel. 734-416-8000, e-mail [email protected]
SAS offering smaller, cheaper gripper tool
SAS Automation LLC, which makes robotic end-of-arm tooling in Xenia, Ohio, offers a smaller version of its internal diameter gripper, designed for parts that are small, fragile or have an irregular shape.
The IDG, which grips and releases on command, is recommended for handling breakable parts. Unlike standard clamps, it distributes force evenly over the entire contact area.
SAS said the new gripper is less expensive than bladder grippers and automated or magnetic clamps.
Tel. 937-372-5255, fax 937-372-5555, e-mail [email protected] .com.