BJK Flexible Packaging plans to enter new film markets with the help of a recently acquired blown film line.
The Louisville, Ky., firm bought a five-layer line from Reifenhauser Inc. and began running it late last year to keep up with demand from existing customers and to develop new business. The company is a major producer of fresh poultry packaging films.
"Taking this technology to [the poultry industry] and providing them with better products is huge for us," stated BJK President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Schandle in a news release. "But we also plan to continue to diversify into other converting, laminating and print markets."
Five-layer films will gradually take over applications from three-layer constructions because they allow more flexibility to tailor constructions to specific applications, predicted BJK Chairman and CEO Brian Krein.
The Reifenhauser line is equipped with Ultra Flat technology which the Wichita, Kan., equipment supplier claims gives flatter film that runs more smoothly and faster in downstream equipment such as bag machines and printing presses.
BJK installed the new film line in 30,000-square-foot addition at its Louisville plant. It expects to expand space and add another film line this year. The new line is 110 inches wide with a 550-millimeter die and can process more than 1,500 pounds of resin per hour.
BJK was established in 1977. It makes coextruded and monolayer films and sheet and sells them as well as converting them to bags, tubing and sleeves. The firm's constructions include modified atmosphere packaging and breathable films.