Alandro Plastic Resources LLC is adding a third extrusion line to keep up with customer demand.
The plastics recycler and compounder in Brownsville, Texas, added six employees and expects to have the 75-millimeter twin-screw line operating this month.
The line adds about 300,000 pounds per month of compounding capacity, raising the company's total to around 900,000 pounds per month. Alandro has invested more than $1 million into extrusion equipment.
"This lets us focus more on quality because that's our main goal right now," General Manager Jorge Alvarez said.
The company initially started as a recycler is now also focusing on compounds. The company added its second extrusion line in April 2021, and posted record sales last year.
Alandro plans to introduce new products and search for new markets and customers. Alandro recycles some materials for customers that buy back recycled-content compounds from the company.
"I think COVID and product scarcity really forced them to ... focus on the circular economy and internal recycling," Alvarez said. "This is one of the strongest things that that has helped us take a decision to add a third line."
The company is also adding a new optical sorter, capable of sorting materials by color.
"It minimizes our risk of producing contaminated pellets," Alvarez said. "Assuring our customers that they're getting good, clean, one-stream material for their injection molding or extrusion needs."