Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • ITEC
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      ChemSpec enjoying busy 2019 with new agreements, division
      view gallery
      18 photos
      Rubber Division honors leaders, students at Business and Awards Meeting
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Rubber Division wraps up 2019 International Elastomer Conference
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      How General Motors puts batteries through their paces
      As e-commerce grows, companies seek best ways to get products to customers
      ContiTech acquires CRP's belt kits program
    • Yokohama releases new E-3 radial tires for scrapers
      Goodyear to roll out online tire retail program in Europe
      Cooper recalls U.K.-made Avon motorcycle tires
      Continental app helps farmers calculate ag tire pressure, load
    • Wacky World of Rubber: Hunting for rubber ducks on cruise ships
      Trelleborg completes Tritec Seal acquisition
      John Grasmeyer focuses on education for NIBA
      Avon marks 2019 as 'transformational' year
    • Hexpol names Ken Bloom president for North America
      LSR technology shines at K 2019
      TPC plant explosion's impact on butadiene market still being assessed
      Monolith appoints chief technology officer
    • Hexpol names Ken Bloom president for North America
      Monolith appoints chief technology officer
      Delta-Energy Group selects new CEO
      John Grasmeyer focuses on education for NIBA
    • As tool makers press to bring back tariffs, other manufacturers push back
      AMBA files formal request to bring back tariffs on Chinese molds
      Auto parts makers pay $23 million to settle price fixing case
      USTMA aims to raise scrap tire recovery rate
    • Goodyear finds traction with soybean oil
      Cassioli expands with sales office in Alabama
      Rodolfo Comerio looks forward as it celebrates past
      Tire Industry Project launches platform for sustainable natural rubber
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      Column: Lessons from Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Cooper Standard a sign of changing automotive times
      Editorial: Hose industry makes big strides in safety focus
    • SSBR, bio-sourced plasticizer for conveyor belt use
      EPDM solution for automotive dense weatherstrip
      High heat resistant EPDMs for auto hose uses
      Rubber standards in today’s world economy
    • Sponsor Content
      Rubber in Transportation and Tire
      Sponsor Content
      Rubber in Wire and Cable
      Sponsor Content
      Process Control Systems Ensure Consistency and Lot Traceability While Protecting Proprietary Formulations
      Sponsor Content
      Reasons for Using Performance Additives
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • LSR technology shines at K 2019
      New Products: Master Bond rolls out thermally conductive epoxy sealant
      New Products: Lanxess introduces vulcanization accelerator
      Covestro's CO2 technology earns Germany's President's prize
    • Wacky World of Rubber: Hunting for rubber ducks on cruise ships
      Wacky World of Rubber: Floating ideas for the future of mobility
      Wacky World of Rubber: Goodyear, rubber industry make parade part of Thanksgiving traditions
      Wacky World of Rubber: How to make your own Halloween mask
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      How General Motors puts batteries through their paces
      As e-commerce grows, companies seek best ways to get products to customers
      ContiTech acquires CRP's belt kits program
    • LSR technology shines at K 2019
      Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      Column: Lessons from Best Places to Work
      New Products: LSR 3D printing technology spotlighted at K Show
    • Natural rubber producers 'extremely concerned' over disease outbreak
      Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      Kent Elastomer promotes two
      Corrie MacColl details landmark collaboration in Cameroon
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data Store
    • Digital Issue
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • RPN Conferences
    • RPN Live
    • Events Calendar
    • Submit an Event
    • Webinars
    • Past Events
  • Advertise
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
May 18, 2018 02:00 AM

Polymax expands Illinois facility

Mike McNulty
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Polymax TPEs have a variety of applications within automotive interiors, highlighted above. The firm is adding compounding capability in Illinois.

    WAUKEGAN, Ill.—Polymax Thermoplastic Elastomers L.L.C. is expanding its production operation with the addition of a new compounding line of machinery that will boost the company's TPE capacity.

    It also intends to hire up to 10 new production personnel. The firm's work force at its 42,000-sq.-ft. facility in Waukegan, where the company is headquartered, will total between 25 and 30 workers once the new employees are added, according to Tom Castile, vice president of sales for the firm.

    A manufacturer and custom compounder of thermoplastic elastomers, the company will add about 8 million pounds of annual TPE output with the new line. The firm did not provide figures on its current annual capacity.

    Cost of the expansion was estimated at between $1.3 million and $1.6 million. But Castile said those figures only cover capital expenditures.

    Polymax's expansion project is underway and the machinery is expected to be in place and fully operational in the next few months, he said.

    Castile said the investment in the new line and additional production personnel "reaffirms our continued commitment to the engineering TPE plastics market in the U.S."

    Expanding the TPE manufacturing and compounding operation "will play a key role in meeting the application development needs of our customers and further unlock new business opportunities and maintain our superior customer response time," he added.

    "We started operating the plant in 2013," Castile said, "but full production didn't come until after that. So everything we have there is new."

    Polymax's additional capacity will be run on a twin screw extrusion system made by Somerville, N.J.-based Leistritz that's equipped with an underwater pelletizer from Gala Industries of Eagle Rock, Va. Both are part of the new compounding line.

    In fact, "all of our production lines are twin screw, underwater pelletized production lines," according to Castile. The Waukegan plant is also equipped with a twin screw pilot line that's used for testing and small production runs, as well as a fully equipped laboratory.

    The company's TPE materials have experienced strong growth in the last few years, he said. They are primarily earmarked for the automotive, health care, electrical, electronic, building and construction, food packaging, consumer products, and industrial markets.

    Its current volume leaders are food packaging, automotive and consumer-related applications, he said.

    Polymax's TPE materials are used to produce injection molded, extruded and blow molded parts, including interior and exterior automotive trim, consumer grips and handles, beverage closures, overmolded gaskets and seals, sporting goods, and soft touch applications.

    Castile said the company has regularly invested in new equipment at the Waukegan site to meet the needs of current customers as well as new companies coming on board, especially in the automotive and packaging industries.

    It has also added regulatory accreditations, such as ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016, which certify the company's ability to meet or exceed current performance for products, services and systems, ensuring quality, safety and efficiency, the firm said in a press release.

    In addition, it said, statistical process control technique and analysis tools are applied to monitor process consistency and product quality at the plant.

    Polymax and a sister company, Nantong Polymax Elastomer Technology Co. Ltd. in Nantong, China, were co-founded by Martin Nu. Nantong Polymax has about 30 million pounds of annual TPE capacity and a work force of between 110 and 140 employees. It ranks among the largest Chinese TPE suppliers, according to the company.

    While the two firms operate independently, the firm said, they leverage each other's technical and manufacturing capabilities to create material solutions for customers.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News Europe
    • Plastics News China
    • Plastics & Rubber World
    • LSR World
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Autoweek
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • ITEC
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Data Store
      • Digital Issue
      • White Papers
    • Events
      • RPN Conferences
      • RPN Live
      • Events Calendar
      • Submit an Event
      • Webinars
      • Past Events
    • Advertise