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Names in the News: IDES, Wittmann Battenfeld, Beaumont Tech. and moreNames in the News: IDES, Wittmann Battenfeld, Beaumont Tech. and more

Happy 25th birthday to IDES, the Web-based database of plastics data sheets. Wittmann Battenfeld has a new boss in Denmark, Kreyenborg expands its HQ and Zenith Cutter is acquired. Congrats to Beaumont Technologies, now a Certified Expert Moldflow Insight Consultant.

PlasticsToday Staff

June 21, 2011

2 Min Read
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IDES (Laramie, WY) was founded in 1986 by Mike Kmetz, who remains the company's president. At the time he was studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wyoming and working with a graduate computer science student to develop a searchable database for the plastics IBM was using in its products. The database they created included technical information for each plastic, including property and processing data.

The database has grown to have more than 350,000 users, and the Prospector Plastics Database includes nearly 85,000 technical datasheets from 850 resin suppliers.

Jesper Skaarup is the new owner and managing director of Wittmann Battenfeld Aps, in Fredensborg, Denmark. He acquired the agency from the company's founder and long-time MD, Peder Andersen, who is retiring. The agency has represented Wittmann's robots and auxiliary equipment in Denmark for almost 30 years.

BKG Bruckmann & Kreyenborg Granuliertechnik GmbH, a member of the Kreyenborg Group (Muenster, Germany), announced that expansion of its HQ facilities is underway. A completely new level has been added to the headquarter offices, lifting it from two to here stories.

The new floor will house project management teams and the company's team of designers, plus its die plate development team. BKG, which manufacturers underwater pelletizers, moved to the purpose-built manufacturing and headquarters facility in September 2001. This is the third expansion of the facility.

The CAE analysts at Beaumont Technologies Inc. (Erie, PA) passed the test necessary for them to earn Autodesk Moldflow Expert Consulting status. The test includes not only the use of Moldflow flow simulation software, but also injection molding, part design and mold design.

Jay Shoemaker, product design engineer for Autodesk, says the expert exam is no cakewalk. "The Expert exam is the highest level of certification. Expert level demands you have a very significant knowledge of how to solve warpage problems." The Expert exam is limited to 16 hours for the theoretical and practical portions of the exam. Passing the exam required a score of 80% or greater.

Zenith Cutter Co. (Loves Park, IL), known in the plastics industry for its granulator blades, pelletizer knives and shredder blades, among other cutting equipment it makes, has been acquired by the Fisher-Barton Group. It will be operated as an independent division of the Fisher-Barton Group of companies, which have a world-leading position for manufacturing lawnmower blades and agricultural knives. Zenith has manufacturing at its facility in Illinois and at one in Vietnam.

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