Romulus, Mich. — Thermoplastic extruder Spiratex Co. will increase manufacturing capacity at its Monroe, Mich., production plant to meet demand from several markets as more industries emerge from the pandemic.
Founded in 1955, the company offers ram extrusion in Monroe and screw extrusion at its Romulus headquarter site.
Spiratex will boost ram extrusion capacity by 10 percent, according to a news release.
"The increased capacity will support better planning by reducing lead times, enabling better customer service and decreasing energy costs," the release says.
With an estimated $26 million in annual sales, Spiratex ranks 91st among North American pipe, profile and tubing producers, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.
Spiratex says it pioneered the ram extrusion process for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW/PE), a tough plastic that resists abrasions and wear and is popular for industrial applications that require durability, low friction and chemical resistance.
In the ram process, resin from a hopper is packed into a cylinder in repeated increments by a reciprocating plunger. The compressed material moves through a heated zone, where it is fused into a profile matching the cross-section of the barrel or die.
The capacity project is expected to complete by the end of May.
Spiratex currently has more than 128 production lines running 24 hours a day.