American Kuhne ready to make its mark in blown film

American Kuhne, the manufacturer of high technology extrusion machinery, launched a new initiative to offer blown film technology and equipment to the North American market. The company will work with its partner company, Germany-based Kuhne GmbH, on this new program.

To help steamroll the process, American Kuhne hired industry veteran, Tom Helming as the VP blown film systems. Helming had spent more than 25 years at Gloucester Engineering Co. in both product and sales management positions.

American Kuhne was founded in January 1997 in partnership with Kuhne GmbH. Since that time, it has designed and supplied screws and extruders for the North American market.

In Germany, Kuhne GmbH has built blown film lines since the 1950s, specializing in the construction of lines for standard and special applications.

American Kuhne kept a close eye on its partner, and recently Kuhne GmbH underwent some major developments, achieving significant technical developments in its blown film equipment, Helming told PlasticsToday.

Kuhne GmbH advancements in three growth areas of blown film include: conventional co-extruded films, triple bubble systems for the production of biaxially oriented films, and water-quenched, multi-layer technology specialty film systems, according to a news release.

Since American Kuhne had already been working with the blown film industry as a provider of barrier screws and extruders, Helming said it was a natural evolution for the company to expand what it was currently doing with blown film, and become fully invested in the industry. 

"I think it really was the next step for them," he said. "Given some of the shakeups among suppliers in the U.S. and the global market, they saw some opportunities."

All the blown film equipment will be designed and manufactured in the Kuhne Group headquarters in St. Augustin, Germany. American Kuhne will provide sales, service, and spare parts for the installed and commissioned equipment operating in North America.

Helming said he thinks the equipment developed in Kuhne GmbH Germany can compete with the major players in the market.

"I like to tell customers when I was initially approached by Kuhne, my perception was that it is a little company making high-density blown film lines living in the big shadows of others, " Helming said. "However, when I went out there to Germany, I was struck by the size of the company, and the horsepower. They have assembled quite a motivated team both technically and commercially. I came away saying this will be an interesting story to tell."