Goldsmith & Eggleton completing renovation of polymer lab

WADSWORTH, Ohio—Goldsmith & Eggleton Inc. is nearing completion of a major renovation project of its polymer laboratory that includes the addition of new machinery and equipment.

The manufacturer of reprocessed elastomers and rubber masterbatches for the rubber industry, owned by Ravago Holdings America, began planning for the renovation two years ago as part of a long-term modernization initiative at the firm's complex in Wadsworth, according to Rob Eggleton, business manager for elastomers at Channel Prime Alliance, another Ravago company.

"We couldn't modernize the plant without creating a much more efficient laboratory," he said, adding that the renovation project will be completed in stages with the laboratory upgrade as the first phase. Financial details of the renovation and the additions were not disclosed.

Work on G&E's laboratory was launched in 2019 and included upgraded equipment, such as an RPA Elite machine, and three MV1 Mooney viscosity machines, he said.

A rubber process analyzer is used to attain key data on rubber and polymer molecular properties, said Gina Undicelli, quality manager at G&E and a chemical engineer. She also oversees the lab's operations.

"The RPA also can act as a moving die rheometer to test for cure properties," she said. "This piece of equipment is cutting edge for us and essential for what we do."

Undicelli said the new MV1 machines are used to conduct Mooney and stress relaxation tests.

In addition, a new ash oven has been installed, and the company's laboratory mill is being renovated. The physical remodeling of the laboratory is nearly complete, she said.

Another part of the project is the modernization of all information systems, infrastructure and data collection. Because of that, the laboratory will be virtually paperless, Undicelli said.

Test results and reports will go directly from equipment to a database, and written forms will be eliminated, she said, thereby reducing the chances for human error.

After work on the lab is complete, the next phase will be a plant upgrade, she said. Plans for that were not disclosed.

According to Eggleton, the renovation will create greater efficiencies in the laboratory and streamline the operation, noting that everything within the lab has been changed and is now better organized. "The lab is broken into two components, one for reprocessed elastomers and the other rubber masterbatches," he said. "Both sides are being renovated."

The new equipment within the laboratory "will allow us to measure and report test data and quality reports in a more efficient manner," according to Eggleton. Data entry and retrieval will be simplified, which in turn will simplify many of the tasks the laboratory technicians perform on a daily basis.

"Gina has reconfigured the workflow," he said. "There's now a very deliberate flow starting from the inbound feedstock sampling to in-process production monitoring to construction of the final COA (certificate of analysis) in a very logical and efficient manner.

"Finally, the work environment for the employees has improved with better lighting, ergonomics and a more modern work space."

G&E's newly remodeled laboratory will provide enhanced technical support services for the company's customers and sales team, both officials said.

"The quality of the lab and what it delivers to our business is critical," Undicelli said. "We had a vision to make the lab as efficient as possible through technology, and to park our new equipment in an environment that highlighted our recent investments."

G&E said its prime goals with the project will be to adhere to the 5S philosophy, implement continuous improvements and assure that customers receive the highest quality products.

"5S is a quality tool that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe and well organized," Undicelli said.

She said it also results in waste reduction, optimal productivity and a quality work environment, saying the firm has achieved significant labor cost savings and expanded its testing capabilities.

"Following the 5S philosophy has made G&E and the lab renovation a success," Undicelli said. "We have reached a new level of performance, quality and organization, and will continue to strive to be better."

Overall, the G&E manufacturing complex spans 300,000 square feet. The plant has a work force of about 55 and operates 24/7, Eggleton said.

The company's production facility is shaped like a squared-off horseshoe and sits on 27 acres in Wadsworth. One arm of the shoe is the rubber reprocessing facility, the other is the black masterbatch plant. The sites are separated by a parking lot. The laboratory is located at the north side of the masterbatch site and the company's office is on the apex of the horseshoe.

G&E is operated by Orlando, Fla.-based Ravago Manufacturing Americas, the North American arm of the Ravago Group, headquartered in Belgium. Ravago purchased G&E in 2012.

"I'm a bit of a hybrid employee," Eggleton said. Although he's technically a Channel Prime Americas employee, he also is the main interface between Ravago Manufacturing and G&E.

CPA is the exclusive distributor of the elastomers and masterbatches produced at the Wadsworth facility. CPA distributes plastic resin and rubber from a number of different manufacturers, including G&E, throughout North America.

Looking ahead, Eggleton said the future looks bright for G&E. "Business is pretty good right now and we're coming off a good 2019 so I think we're currently in a very good position," he said.