Macro Engineering's R&D department is now available to its newly formed Technology Division, including all its R&D resources, creating an operation dedicated to "helping processors improve their film and sheet extrusion operations."
The Technology Division will have 11 full-time staff, according to Andrew Erskine, marketing manager for the extrusion systems manufacturer. Within those 11, there are polymer scientists, equipment development engineers, film development engineers, and a web handling specialist.
The Technology Division will expand on Macro's current
service offering to include
comprehensive system audits on any
film or sheet extrusion system or
winding operation, system retrofit
services, and troubleshooting. These
services are available for any OEM's
machinery, Macro notes, not just its own systems.
Macro's Film Development Centre is located at the company's headquarters near Toronto. Equipment includes:
- Mono/3-layer blown-film line
- 5-layer double-bubble line
- Monolayer cast film line equipped with interchangeable casting modules (roll vs. water quenching)
The most recent addition to the lab was a foam extrusion technology that can be applied to cast- or blown-film extrusion setups. The center also provides simulation software to help reduce cost and time to market for new film structures, while improving die and feedscrew design and performance.
The new division will be headed up by Macro's Technology Director, Felix Guberman. Guberman has been Macro's Technical Director for the last 2 years and was the R&D manager for 5 years prior.
"The core of Macro's business is our commitment to research and development, which is why innovative processors come to us for our expertise," Guberman told PlasticsToday. "Over the years, we've seen our customers benefit from the development of new or improved products as they have increased market share and generated higher selling prices due to enhanced product features."
