Polymax Thermoplastic Elastomers plans to increase the size of its production operation, reportedly adding about 8 million pounds of annual capacity. The company has added a new compounding line to expand manufacturing of its line of thermoplastic elastomers including SEBS, SBS, TPO and alloy products.
The expansion, which includes the hiring of up to 10 new production employees, is underway and will be fully operational by the first quarter of 2018, according to the company. Since opening its U.S. operation in 2013, Polymax TPE has grown its engineered TPE materials business serving the automotive, food packaging, consumer, building and construction and industrial markets.
The expanded capacity will be run on a twin-screw extrusion system furnished by Leistritz, Somerville, N.J., equipped with an underwater pelletizer from Gala Industries, Eagle Rock, Va. The 42,000-square-foot facility is also equipped with a twin-screw pilot line for testing and small production runs, and a fully equipped laboratory.
In response to continued growth in both the automotive and packaging markets, Polymax TPE has invested in new equipment and regulatory accreditations, including ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016. In addition, statistical process control (SPC) technique and analysis tools are applied to monitor process consistency and product quality. The company’s TPE materials are used to produce injection molded, extruded, and blow molded parts such as interior and exterior automotive trim, consumer grips and handles, beverage closures, overmolded gaskets and seals, sporting goods, and soft-touch applications.
For more information, visit: www.polymaxtpe.com