Newark, N.Y. — Addex Inc., a supplier of auto-profile and other quality control systems for blown film lines, is closing its factory in Stoughton, Mass., and expanding in Newark.
At the same time, the company announced that Robert Cree is now president. Rick von Kraus is now chairman. Von Kraus stepped down from his daily operational duties, but he will continue to serve in an advisory and consulting role.
Cree has been with Addex since its inception in 1989, and formerly served as executive vice president.
Officials said the consolidation move will enable Addex to streamline its business and focus on its cooling technology.
Addex products include high-output cooling systems, auto-profiles, and internal bubble cooling (IBC) control systems. Addex calls its technology the internal cooling experience, or ICE — a patented modular stack plus enclosure that gets installed between the die and the Addex dual flow air ring, which the company claims provides high film-holding forces and peak cooling efficiency, boosting output from 40-60 percent.
Von Kraus said, “We're excited that Bob has assumed a top leadership role and we're confident that his energy and long-time experience in blown film will help Addex expand and maximize its industry-leading technology.”
Cree added: “The consolidation is an important step forward because it enables us to focus on what we do best, namely cooling technology.” He added that the closing of the Stoughton operation will improve the company's cost structure and overall financial position.
Addex has exited the business of supplying complete blown film lines, but continues to service its previous products such as dies and oscillating haul-offs, by special customer request.
Addex enlarged its Newark facility to concentrate on its core cooling technology business, including a high-performance cooling system that will be announced soon.
The Newark facility will employ 15 people, including newly appointed inside sales manager James Botcher, a 15-year sales veteran in the electronics field. Bill Edmondson, Addex production manager, has 30 years of plastics industry experience.
The company laid off one employee in Stoughton with the consolidation, and added three in Newark.
“This was a well-planned consolidation, with workers notified a full year before. We were very sensitive to employee needs, ending up with a couple of retirements, four workers continuing to work with us from remote, and one severance package,” Cree said.
Addex will continue to rely on and value its vendor relationships including local machine shops and sub-contractors, company officials said. Forty-year plastics vet Bill Randolph will continue to serve as engineering manager. Cree said Randolph will remain heavily involved in all aspects of research and development at Addex.
Addex also makes the EGC external gauge control, digital internal bubble cooling (DIBC), and air rings.
The expansion in Newark includes a new lab line used to develop new high-performance cooling technologies and as well as performance and cost saving upgrades for its broad range of electronic control systems.
Addex holds more than 20 U.S. patents or patents pending. The company will exhibit at the K 2016 show in Düsseldorf, Germany, in Hall 17, Booth C37.