Griff Paper and Film Inc. aims to broaden its engineered films offerings with a new extrusion line it started up in late summer.
Griff spent more than $1 million to install the extrusion line and associated equipment in Fallsington, Pa., where its coating and laminating business is based, said Tim Roche, director of product development, in a phone interview. The extrusion line is the first for the facility. The company bought an American Kuhne single-screw extruder and an EDI die to allow it to make film about 40 inches wide at processing temperatures of up to 750° F.
Roche said the new line makes sheet and film from fluoropolymers, polybuytylene terephthalate, acetal and other high-performance resins. Under development are new PET-based constructions. The line can extrusion coat a variety of substrates as well as incorporate liners between substrate layers. Dryers, liquid and dry blending equipment and various casting rollers can be combined to customize products for short and long production runs.
"Having the ability to work with resin manufacturers, OEMs and our clients, this line gives us the ability to develop products and deliver solutions quickly," Roche explained. "Vertical integration allows us to deliver on our commitments to being cutting edge and streamlined, and to respond quickly to our clients."
Griff also runs a PVC extrusion line in its Lakewood, N.J., facility.
On the drawing board is a fifth factory for Griff, probably near its Fallsington, Pa., plant. That operation will be devoted to coating and lamination and could eventually also house an extrusion line.
Griff is owned by the Phinn family. Four Phinn brothers, the third generation of the founder, are the core of Griff's management. The company started out as a converter and broker in 1979 and by 2008 added laminating and UV coating machinery. In total, the business employs about 100. The paper side of its business includes manufacturing silicone-coated substrates, coated papers, graphic materials and packaging.
Griff's laminating experience includes engineering resins such as polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone and polyimide, as well as alloys of copper and aluminum. The firm can metallize plastic films for barrier and electrical properties. Its UV-coating technology uses no solvents, a plus for clients wanting to buy "green" materials.
"Specialty extrusion is vital in today's marketplace," stated Griff President Alex Phinn in a news release. "The [new] line will complement Griff's expertise in coating, laminating, embossing and converting."
Griff supplies diverse markets with an array of substrates. They find use in security applications, aerospace, chemical processing, automotive, electronics and thermoforming.