You can also view the full article online, page 26.
Interview with Plastics Technology, “PPEs Are Here to Stay: Is Your Sheet Line Ready
Plastics Technology’s interview with Steve DeAngelis, VP of Sheet and Foam Systems with Davis-Standard
This article can also be viewed in the magazine here.
Plastic Coated Papers Installed Second Davis-Standard Extrusion Coating Line | Employee-Owned Business Thrives on Entrepreneurial Spirit and Quality Products
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Plastic Coated Papers, Inc. of Pensacola, Florida, installed its second Davis-Standard extrusion coating line. The employee-owned company, which has seen consistent growth over more than three decades, supplies local and international markets with high-quality, customized polycoated products such as polycoated paper, freezer paper, foil coated paper and pre-laminated sleeve stock used in food service, construction, home products and other industries. The new Davis-Standard line complements the company’s existing Black Clawson Converting Machinery Division machine, known as “the tank,” as the company positions itself for future expansion.
To fully appreciate the addition of the new line, one must take into account the unique history behind Plastic Coated Papers and the existing Black Clawson machine, which is 60 years old. The company got its start in 1986 after founders Dave Mayo (deceased) and Dave Pitts, along with 15 colleagues got together and “pooled their pennies” to start their own business. They were working for paper-coating company St. Regis when the company sold to Champion, resulting in closure of the facility and sale of the company’s Black Clawson extrusion coating machine. Mayo and Pitts, along with three other supervisors and 12 production workers decided they knew enough about the business to take a risk and go out on their own. Mortgaging their homes and spending every cent in their private savings, they purchased the extrusion coating line, found a property a few miles down the road, bought the land with a lease-to-buy plan, and built a 10,000 square-foot (930 square-meter) facility. By May of 1986, Plastic Coated Papers was off and running. The company has since expanded its original building to 75,000 square feet (7,000 square meters) and has sales of $20 million.
“We knew we could make a quality product, had excellent relationships in the industry, and a good polyethylene supplier,” explained Pitts. “Our success was built on a lot of hard work and dedication filled with long hours and many blessings. Our customers came first and we got the machine at a good price. We started production running five days a week, but quickly moved to seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Within five years, we recouped our investment.”
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Pitts says the machine has been outstanding, only requiring occasional feedscrew, die and barrel replacements. The company will continue to run this line in addition to the new one. The new line will be capable of speeds up to 1,500 feet per minute (450mpm) with maximum untrimmed web widths of 74 inches (1,800mm). Davis-Standard supplied all components including extruder, die with APC, automatic unwind/splicer, pre-corona treater, extrusion coater/laminator, auxiliary unwinds, slitters, post/corona treater, automatic winder/roll changer, Integrator supervisory control system and associated equipment. The line features the latest automation technology and will add a new level of efficiency and production speed to Plastic Coated Papers’ current operation.
According to Plastic Coated Papers’ current President, Steve Pinette, who has been with the company since 2004, “The new line positions us for the long-term as we support our existing product portfolio and provide even greater customization for our customers in the U.S. and abroad. The current line is a tank, and we know we’ll get that same quality with this new one.
Pitts, who still works 40 to 50 hours a week, is quick to give credit to the company’s employees, his original business partners, including David Mayo (mentioned earlier) and John Clemmons currently still working and the vice president of manufacturing, and their investment of time and money. Through a company shareholder program that Pitts and his colleagues established, there are currently 31 employee-owners. Pitts has witnessed a lot of change since he first started in the business in 1954, fresh out of high school, but fundamental business values remain.
“We use a lot of computers and cell phones and don’t have as much personal interaction, but the business is largely the same,” Pitts says. “We have better control over the variation in PE resin and the paper, and are able to achieve more consistency. There are a lot of different polymers and product additions to the marketplace.” He continues, “I’ve also seen things come full circle. As a boy, my first job was at a pine seedling nursery, pulling grass from around the trees. Today, one of our customers uses our plastic-coated material to wrap seedlings and protect them until planting.”
One thing is for sure at Plastic Coated Papers, the people and the machines seem to outlast typical expectations, creating the ultimate competitive advantage!
For more information about Plastic Coated Papers, visit www.polycoated.com. For more information about Davis-Standard’s extrusion coating and laminating product offering, visit our webpage.
Interview with Polymers Communique, “Barrier Films, A Big Opportunity”
Davis-Standard Introduces Model 4000AG Fully Automated Crosshead
Davis-Standard is pleased to introduce the Model 4000AG fully automated crosshead for elastomer hose applications. Based on Davis-Standard’s successful fleet of manual Model 2000, 3000, and auto 3000A designs, this crosshead delivers closed loop, stepper-driven automatic control of tube concentricity and wall thickness in a hands-free, low maintenance package.
“The Model 4000AG is a practical next step in Davis-Standard’s efforts to support processing efficiency and scrap reduction,” explained Joe Wnuk, Vice President of Davis-Standard Elastomer Systems. “Hose producers can improve product dimensional qualities while increasing material savings during start-up and product size changeovers. More consistent hose, minimized scrap, and ease of operation all equate to considerable cost savings and more consistent manufacturing practices.”
Wnuk said the Model 4000AG is also beneficial from the perspective of workplace safety and user-friendliness. The design is engineered to minimize operator involvement and use of hand tools. The crosshead’s fixed die eliminates the need to loosen or tighten bolts for fine-tuning. For concentricity adjustment, operators use a joystick instead of manual wrenches. Wall thickness modifications are stepper-driven, eliminating the requirement of hand tools and intrusive thickness measuring devices.
For ease of operation, the crosshead’s HMI touchscreen interface streamlines functionality. Initial tooling set-up and maintaining operator-to-operator consistency is simplified. Immediate in-line product feedback helps identify and correct off-spec issues, reducing errors and promoting reliable on-spec results. Programmable features provide seamless integration of existing or new X-ray gauge controls.
In terms of retrofits, many existing Model 2000 and 3000 heads can be retrofitted to take advantage of the Model 4000AG automated design features. These retrofits require the current Model 2000/3000 standard tooling. The use of an existing X-ray gauge and controller to provide a signal is integrated into the Davis-Standard PLC Controller,
Have a question or want to inquire about the Model 4000AG? Contact us today!
NewAge Addresses Surge in Biopharm Product Demand with Davis-Standard Silicone Extruders and Added Capacity
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NewAge Industries of Southampton, Penn., has been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19, propelling the company to grow production capacity and add manufacturing space. In early 2021, NewAge will install three Davis-Standard silicone extruders at a new 90,000 square-foot facility, and add 3,600 square-feet to its existing plant for more cleanroom space. This increased capacity will go a long way towards supplying AdvantaPure tubing sets, used in the production of the COVID-19 vaccine. NewAge’s high-purity, technically designed and engineered flexible tubing and hose, has been critical to applications involved in test kits, virus detection equipment and front-line supplies. In addition to biopharmaceutical markets focused on single-use processes, NewAge supports markets in food and beverage, cosmetics, health and beauty, industrial and agricultural applications.
The three new silicone extruders will complement the company’s existing Davis-Standard equipment line-up, representing a nearly 25-year business relationship. NewAge purchased its first Davis-Standard extruder and feedscrew in 1996 to support flexible PVC and PU tubing applications. Less than two years later, NewAge was back to purchase their first Davis-Standard silicone rubber extruder. Three additional silicone extruders followed that included the support the company’s AdvantaPure product line. In addition, NewAge has six Davis-Standard thermoplastic extruders that service five extrusion lines, two of which are dedicated to AdvantaPure’s AdvantaFlex TPE product offering. Davis-Standard has also completed control upgrades, provided laboratory periphery equipment and aftermarket support.
“Our business relationship with Davis-Standard is built on honesty and outstanding customer support,” said Matt Bauer, production manager at NewAge. “Davis-Standard always has our best interest in mind when selling us equipment for any of our processes. When something is not right, they will make it right, no matter what. The quality of their machinery and customer service is the reason every extruder owned by NewAge displays the Davis-Standard nameplate.”
“NewAge is always innovating, which is something we appreciate at Davis-Standard because that’s a driver for us as well,” said Larry Giammarco, regional sales manager at Davis-Standard. “Being able to deliver reliable and high-performance elastomer and thermoplastic machinery to support their goals over the years has been rewarding. We appreciate their trust in us and look forward to delivering their latest batch of silicone extruders in 2021.”
NewAge is the only employee-owned and B-Corporation in the Life Sciences/Biopharma industry in the United States. The company supplies one of the most diverse product lines of tubing, hose and fitting as well as unrivaled custom extrusion and fabrication services. Being an employee-owned business gives NewAge a unique advantage in supporting customers. Every team member plays an integral role in meeting customer experience goals and provides regular input on how to improve processes, eliminate waste, save costs and support fellow team members. The business’s success and failures are contingent on a team effort, and that has been instrumental to NewAge’s growth.
“NewAge is comprised of people committed to social, environmental, and economic sustainability. The team continually works to improve processes, products and communications,” explained Bauer. “We understand that success depends on everyone, business partners included, working well together. It’s a model for teamwork that we’re very proud of, and that has translated well in supporting customers.”
For more information about NewAge, visit www.newageindustries.com. For more information about Davis-Standard’s equipment line, visit www.davis-standard.com.
SIFEM to Represent Davis-Standard in France
ER-WE-PA Davis-Standard GmbH is pleased to announce that SIFEM Cable will serve as Davis-Standard’s sales agent in France. SIFEM has more than 40 years of experience in industrial projects and extrusion applications encompassing film, sheet, pipe and profile, and wire and cable. As Davis-Standard’s representative, they will be responsible for facilitating direct contact with plastic converters and stakeholders throughout France, specifically identifying converting needs and marketing packaging solutions.
“SIFEM has reputation for being a dynamic and responsive partner. Their team is known for listening to customers, whether it is for new equipment, a replacement or retrofit project, repair or technical services,” said Daniel Schiller, Area Sales & Project Manager of ER-WE-PA GmbH. “We look forward to working with them as they market our multi-faceted converting solutions and other extrusion technology in France. We also look forward to expanding our reach there and being able to offer regional service through our facility in Germany. ”
For more information about SIFEM, visit www.sifem-extrusion.com. To speak with Alexandre Feuillet at SIFEM for Davis-Standard inquiries, please call
+33 1 43 49 39 39 or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandre-feuillet-10a693b6/.
Interview with PFFC: Efficiency in Winding and Unwinding
In a recent interview with PFFC, Dan Hould, Davis-Standard’s Product Manager, discusses the most essential part of winding and unwinding.
Check out the article on the PFFC website here.
Davis-Standard to Host Virtual “Basics of Plastics Extrusion” Seminar
Davis-Standard is pleased to offer its popular “Basics of Plastics Extrusion” seminar, in virtual fashion, October 6 – 8, 2020. This three-day interactive seminar will cover the fundamentals of plastics extrusion, composition and properties of various polymers, and the mechanics of essential downstream processes. Session topics will include extruder components, temperature control, control systems, maintenance practices, screw and die design, among others. In addition, all participants will see a virtual borescoping and lab demonstrations, and receive a virtual tour of Davis-Standard’s manufacturing and technical facilities.
“This seminar has been extremely beneficial to customers who seek to improve the knowledge base of their engineering and operational teams to strengthen overall productivity,” explained John Christiano, Davis-Standard’s Vice President of Extrusion Technology. “Although the seminar will be in virtual format this year, it still contains the same amount of robust instruction and interaction with our engineering and technical teams. We look forward to an outstanding session.”
Daily instruction will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. for a total of 15 training hours. The fee is $695 per person with a 10 percent discount given for groups of three or more from the same company. Course books and materials are included. Class size is limited to promote student and teacher interaction.
For enrollment details or more information about this seminar click here.