A. Schulman boosts additive capacity

(Akron, OH) has started up a new plastic additive manufacturing site in Akron, OH, bringing 20 jobs to the area. Originally announced on Aug. 20 of last year, the facility will be located at an existing A. Schulman distribution warehouse, which housed the company’s first plant back in 1929. Financial incentives for the facility were granted from the city of Akron, Summit County, and the state of Ohio. The operation will expand production capacity for A. Schulman’s Polybatch high-performance additive business in North America, with that product targeting the film and packaging markets. The product line has antimicrobial, antifogging, and antistatic additives, as well as surface modification products for slip and antiblocking. A. Schulman says it is looking at expanding the Polybatch product to offer additives that address environmental concerns in packaging applications. Primarily geared to the packaging market, the Polybatch portfolio includes specialized additives for BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) and polyethylene film; and extrusion, injection molding, and thermoforming applications.
The facility features two new production lines, a research and development lab, and pilot lines for three-layer blown and cast films that will be used for product evaluation and development programs with customers. —[email protected]