Reifenhäuser teams up with Rotomec for coating technology

Film-extrusion equipment maker Reifenhäuser (Troisdorf, Germany) has penned an agreement with Italian printing and converting machinery maker Rotomec, part of the Bobst Group (Lausanne, Switzerland), to collaborate in extrusion-coating technology, a product Reifenhäuser so far lacks. Under the agreement, Reifenhäuser becomes a preferred supplier of extruders to be integrated into future Rotomec-produced extrusion-coating and laminating lines.

The two firms say the collaboration “capitalizes on the synergies of both companies’ strengths and experience” in this specialized sector. “While Reifenhäuser enjoys a worldwide reputation as a leading manufacturer of extruders and extrusion equipment, we were also seeking to develop our extrusion-coating operations, as we identified in this business the possibility of a most significant potential growth,” said Michael Beckoff, Reifenhäuser’s cast/coatings business manager. He believes that the two companies will be able to establish a strong presence in this segment through the cooperation.

“Extrusion coating is a dynamic technology,” said Erik Bothorel, head of Rotomec’s coating/laminating product line (San Giorgio Monterrato, Italy). In order to further develop technologies in this sector, the two companies will install a complete extrusion-coating and laminating line at Reifenhäuer’s R&D center by the end of next year. Rotomec has been making extrusion-coating equipment since 1965 and has installed or rebuilt more than 120 lines around the world.—bcolvin@modplas.com