Polymax Thermoplastic Elastomers LLC has increased its production capacity by adding a new twin-screw extrusion line in Waukegan, Ill.
The new line will add almost 8 million pounds of annual capacity for Waukegan-based Polymax, officials said in a recent new release. The extruder is a Leistritz line equipped with an underwater pelletizer from Gala Industries.
The new line also will allow Polymax to create 10 new jobs at the 42,000-square-foot site, officials added. The site already employs 25 and operates a twin-screw pilot line and a materials lab.
Polymax, a unit of Polymax Elastomer Technology Co. Ltd. of Nantong, China, is a producer and custom compounder of TPEs. The new line will allow Polymax to expand manufacturing of its extensive line of thermoplastic elastomers including styrenic block copolymers and various alloys.
The expansion is underway and will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2018, officials said. They added that, since opening its U.S. operation in 2013, Polymax has enjoyed strong growth for its engineered TPE materials which serve several markets including automotive and industrial.
"This investment reaffirms our continued commitment to the engineering TPE plastics market in the U.S.," said Tom Castile, vice president of sales for Polymax TPE. "The expansion will play a key role in meeting the application development needs of our customers and further unlock new business opportunities."