YORK, S.C.—Bluestar Silicones has partnered with Graham Engineering to develop a silicone extrusion line.
The firm said in a Sept. 21 release that Graham Engineering will provide equipment—including an American Kuhne 1.5 inch Ultra RS silicone lab extruder—and expertise for the line, housed at Bluestar's 260,000-sq-ft. facility in York, which includes state-of-the-art clean rooms and enhanced quality systems.
The York site is Bluestar's global center of excellence for health care, medical and long-term implantable grade silicones.
“We are very excited to partner with globally-recognized extrusion innovator Graham Engineering Corporation,” Bob Waitt, marketing manager for Bluestar Silicones' U.S. medical market, said in a statement. “American Kuhne silicone extruders are the most advanced on the market today. In concert with our silicone materials expertise, we expect the collaboration to further optimize our heat-cured rubber product processing performance, as well as to provide additional levels of technical service and training for our medical and pharmaceutical tubing customers.”
Bluestar Silicones said the joint effort is expected to benefit customers for both firms, enabling them to interact and learn more about silicone materials, extrusion equipment and processing.
“When cutting-edge materials, equipment, and processing expertise convene, it creates a rich environment for development and learning,” Steve Maxson, Graham Engineering's business development director for extrusion, said in a statement. “We believe this is a unique opportunity to ally with Bluestar Silicones and that it will cultivate learning to benefit not only both organizations and their customers, but also the industry.”
Headquartered in Lyon, France, Bluestar Silicones is a $550 million global silicones raw material manufacturer owned by Elkem A.S. The firm serves a variety of markets, including automotive, health care, mold making, aerospace and personal care. Bluestar Silicones plans to release three new medical, pharmaceutical and implant grade heat cured rubber product lines in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Graham Engineering, a subsidiary of Graham Group, acquired a majority interest in American Kuhne in 2012. Combined with its acquisition of Welex in 2013, the three units combine to provide extrusion technologies and capabilities. It is headquartered in York, Pa.