Compounder Polymer Resources Ltd. has completed a major expansion of its plant in Rochester, N.Y.
The expansion will increase the site's annual production capacity by 40 percent, officials with Farmington, Conn.-based Polymer Resources said in a news release. The updated plant also features increased grinding and shredding capacity for recycling plastic waste to support circularity and sustainability, they added.
The expanded plant's floor plan, safety features and amenities are designed to provide a comfortable and efficient work environment, they added. The firm also expects to grow the size of its work force "by double digits in the coming years."
"The expansion of our Rochester facility is strategic to the robust growth of our compounding capabilities and the expansion of our sustainability initiatives, both of which are increasingly important to customers," President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Anderson said.
He added that the expansion addresses customer requirements for scalable, reliable resin supply, short lead times and exceptional quality. The updated plant also will help Polymer Resources advance sustainability through plastic waste collection and recycling.
"We are committed to helping our customers reach their production and sustainability goals, as well as meeting our own sustainability goals," Anderson said.
In Rochester, Polymer Resources previously had 35,000 square feet spread out over two buildings. The firm now has 60,000 square feet in one building. Officials said this change offers more space for compounding and grinding operations, storage, a lab and offices, while also improving process efficiency and streamlining work flow.
Polymer Resources can add another 40,000 square feet to the building if needed. To boost compounding capacity, the firm has installed a new twin-screw extruder for faster throughput and advanced capabilities.
The expanded site also has a soundproofed, 3,250-square-foot room for grinding and shredding post-industrial and post-consumer waste for the firm's sustainable resin grades. The grinding operation uses material from both the Rochester and Farmington sites and also accepts parts and waste material from customers and vendors for recycling.
Polymer Resources has end-use agreements in place with several customers to ensure reliable sources of recycled content for the firm's sustainable materials portfolio.
The Rochester plant compounds a wide range of engineering resins, including polycarbonate, ABS, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and PC/ABS and PBT blends. Many of these grades are available unfilled or with different loadings of mineral or glass-fiber reinforcement.