Materials firm Teknor Apex Co. has completed its state-of-the-art production facility in Rothenburg, Germany, which increases its manufacturing capacity of custom compounds.
The facility, spanning 538,000 square feet, is also home to a new European center of excellence for plastics research and development, Teknor Apex said in a Sept. 27 statement.
The site produces thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and engineering thermoplastics (ETPs), ranging from general-purpose compounds to "highly specialized formulations," according to the U.S. compounder.
The company statement did not provide details of the investment size or production capacity at the site.
The facility features an "extensive laboratory," which Teknor Apex said will be used for developing new compounds and providing customers with design support and application development, as well as product and process training.
The site creates more than 100 jobs in manufacturing, business support and commercial operations.
According to the compounder, the new facility was built with a strong focus on environment sustainability and holds certification for ISO 14001 — environmental management and ISO 50001 — energy management.
The plant uses LED lights, a closed loop water system, heat recovery systems with heat pumps to support it.
"Our new laboratory ... serves as a hub of innovation, serving the region as a source of customized formulations, application development expertise, and process optimization," said Suresh Swaminathan, president of Teknor Apex.