Bayer shifts North American PC film production

Bayer MaterialScience LLC (Pittsburgh, PA) will move North American production of its polycarbonate (PC) based films from Berlin, CT to a site in Whately, MA that currently extrudes thermoplastic polyurethane and specialty elastomer films. Bayer’s Sean Kelly told MPW that the production equipment in Berlin will be installed at the Whately site, which now joins Dormagen, Germany and Map Ta Phut, Thailand as the global production sites for Makrofol and Bayfol PC and PC-blend films.

In a release, Bayer said the shift, which impacts 20 employees, some of whom will be given the opportunity to transfer, will not significantly impact the range of films offered. Kelly said the top markets for the films are in the automotive, medical, and point-of-purchase display markets, with applications like instrument panels, trade show displays, membrane switches, control panels, and decals. Other end markets include appliances, security and smart cards, nameplate and labels, packaging, and telecommunications.

The Whately site, which is ISO 9001 registered and covers 147,000ft², has been producing thermoplastic polyurethane and specialty elastomer film and sheet for more than 30 years. The company expects the move to be completed by the end of 2009. —[email protected]