Performance Plastics logo
Performance Plastics in the Transportation Industry
Annual Corporate Profiles
65th Annual IAPD Convention Coverage
December 2021/January 2022
Plastics in Transportation, plus Annual Corporate Profiles
Table
of
Contents
DEPARTMENTS

Good Relationships with Transportation Providers Pay Dividends

IAPD Resources for Finding Talent

New Products on the Market

Performance Plastics in Action

Condit Finds Value in Vycom PVC Recycling Program

Celebrating Sustainability Champions

Year in Review

Industry Trends and Forecast

Recap of the 65th Annual IAPD Convention in Louisville, KY, USA

Industry Movers and Shakers

Recent IAPD University Graduates

Services and Equipment

IAPD Manufacturers’ Rep Cards

Performance Plastics December 2021/January 2022 cover
Cover design by Mackenzie Diekmann, IAPD Design and Multimedia Manager.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
ANNUAL CORPORATE PROFILES
A CLOSE LOOK AT SOME INNOVATIVE COMPANIES SERVING THE PERFORMANCE PLASTICS INDUSTRY
SPECIAL FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION
Performance Plastics
are Transporting the World
UHMW Has Mass Apeal
in Mass Transportation Applications

Performance Plastics: A Publication of The International Association of Plastics Distribution is published bimonthly by the International Association of Plastics Distribution® (IAPD), 6734 W. 121st Street, Overland Park, KS 66209 USA. IAPD members receive this bimonthly magazine as part of their membership dues. Subscription for non-members is $90. Third class postage paid at Shawnee Mission, Kansas, additional mailing offices and foreign mailing in accordance with Publications Agreement No. 40683057. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to IAPD, 6734 W. 121st Street, Overland Park, KS 66209 USA.

This is the official publication of the International Association of Plastics Distribution and carries news and announcements concerning the IAPD. The association and Performance Plastics: A Publication of The International Association of Plastics Distribution are not responsible for content or opinions other than those relating to association activities.

® Registered, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by the International Association of Plastics Distribution. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in any form whatsoever is forbidden without express permission of registered trademark owner.

Performance Plastics: A Publication of The International Association of Plastics Distribution is printed on paper with 10 percent post-consumer recycled content.

IAPD • phone (913) 345-1005 • fax (913) 345-1006 • www.iapd.org

President’sMessage
Good relationships with transportation providers pay dividends
by Deborah Ragsdale
IAPD President
P

ick up any newspaper, turn on a television, or do a Google search on the device of your choice and you’ll see some variation of a story about the transportation crisis. There are bottlenecks at the ports, a driver shortage and fuel costs are rising. On the consumer side, toys and gifts for the holidays are in containers in ships waiting to be unloaded or on the docks among thousands of other containers. There is no more space to put containers. What about the everyday problems that business must face due to transportation issues? These are all issues that impact our ability to serve our customers and threaten bottom lines. The plastics industry is no exception, and it is being hit hard. The good news is that, thanks to having good relationships with your providers, you can find ways to save money and make sure your customers receive the materials they need. As I mentioned during my speech at the convention, relationships can help us get through the tough times. This transportation crisis is just one example.

Finding solutions
I became purchasing manager of Polymer Industries in the early 2000s. I challenged myself to find one big ticket item per month and examine it, turn it upside down, weigh its importance and shop it. By doing this exercise, I was able to save thousands of dollars for our company. We had grown so much, so fast, that this type of activity had just not been a priority for us.

Editor’s Perspective

iapd resources for finding talent
by Susan Avery, CAE
IAPD CEO
I

APD has heard from you that attracting employees to the performance plastics industry is a challenge. To help, IAPD volunteers have been working on task forces designed to study issues our members are having in attracting, recruiting and retaining professional-level and skilled trades employees. One discovery made during this process is that companies look at hiring as an ongoing, consistent activity, rather than something that starts when a position needs to be filled and stops when a candidate is found. The work of the task forces is designed to help your company meet your hiring goals.

Workforce Development Task Force: Professional Positions

The Workforce Development Task Force for Professional Positions focused on sales, marketing, engineering, administrative and other office staff. They developed a framework for IAPD’s talent acquisition strategy that addresses:

  • Members’ existing and future workforce development needs.
  • Recommendations for where IAPD can provide the best value.
  • Resources to support your recruitment and promotional efforts.
  • Ways to best promote careers in the performance plastics industry.
Product
News
Articles reporting on plastic products are prepared from information furnished by members of the IAPD and non-member magazine advertisers. The information provided is deemed reliable but is not verified. It should not be assumed that the publisher has reviewed or tested any of the products. For more information, contact companies by visiting their websites.
KYDEX® 2210LT from SEKISUI KYDEX

KYDEX® 2210LT from SEKISUI KYDEX

The addition of the KYDEX® 2210LT suite to the SEKISUI KYDEX mass transit portfolio expands its offering of thermoplastic materials for European rail interior applications. New KYDEX 2210LT is a proprietary, high performance thermoplastic sheet with integral custom color, specifically engineered to be compliant with EN (European norm) 45545-2 R1 and R6 Hazard Level 2. It is available in three variations: KYDEX 2210LTu has no film, KYDEX 2210LT has added chemical resistance and anti-graffiti protection and KYDEX 2210LTd has decorative film plus added chemical resistance and anti-graffiti protection.
Application
Showcase
Braskem and DiveDesign develop custom 3D printed K9 quad cart for rescue dog Wobbly Hannah
Braskem and DiveDesign develop custom 3D printed K9 quad cart for rescue dog Wobbly Hannah
Braskem and DiveDesign, a product design and marketing firm, partnered to develop a custom 3D printed K9 quad cart for rescue dog Wobbly Hannah (@wobblyhannahtotherescue). Hannah is affected by a neurological condition called cerebellar hypoplasia, so her brain doesn’t communicate well with her body in terms of movement, balance and coordination. The results are delayed body movements requiring her to have an assistive device to move around. Due to her size and body movements, most off-the-shelf cart solutions simply wouldn’t work, were not able to support Hannah properly, were too large or would tip over during use. Hannah’s owner Cassidy reached out to DiveDesign to create a better solution. “She’s 65 pounds and unable to stand on her own. We tried several custom carts that have all failed us; they have not been built to withstand the weight and force when she is trying to move. We were starting to wonder if we were ever going to be able to have something made for her that supports her like we needed it to,” said Cassidy.
EnvironmentalCorner
Condit Finds Value in Vycom PVC Recycling Program
by Kevin Duffy
C

ondit has a rich and storied history in the world of exhibit fabrication, going back to 1945. The company offers a full range of design and fabrication services, as well as rental exhibit services, from its headquarters in Denver, CO, USA and satellite location in Chicago, IL, USA.

Among the various materials used to produce custom tradeshow exhibits, the company uses polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylics in a wide variety of applications such as three-dimensional graphics letters and logos, infill panels for its rental wall systems, display cases and decorative finishes. Using a UV flatbed printer, the fabrication team also prints to full 4′ x 8′ PVC sheets, as well as adds printed vinyl laminate graphics depending on the project.

Green practices
Uniquely aware of the inherent waste in the trade show industry, the company began a journey nearly 20 years ago to innovate environmentally friendly solutions for its clients and partners. Offering a menu of green materials and practices and improving material disposal practices are two examples that have been successful for Condit and its clients. One sustainability metric, however, was elusive: the feasibility of recycling PVC and acrylics used in their rental exhibit properties.
WomenInPlastics
Year in Review typography
Women in Plastics logo
The IAPD Women in Plastics group didn’t let the COVID-19 pandemic get in the way of a year of valuable programming, networking and fun. We hope this recap of the highlights of these events inspires more women (and men!) to join us in 2022.
T

he Women in Plastics leadership planned a full year of events so IAPD members could continue to learn, network and have fun. Read on to learn more about the 2021 programming, and be on the lookout for announcements about what’s planned for 2022.

Virtual Coffee Chat
On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Women In Plastics hosted its first “virtual coffee chat.” This event provided a space for a casual morning chat to get the participants’ day started with intention, as well as offering a relaxed atmosphere for small group networking. The virtual event was led by Valerie Willms, a licensed professional in Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist (AYS) and Yoga Teacher (E-RYT). She employs Yoga and Ayurveda as therapeutic sciences and uses these foundations as the catalyst for personal transformation. She led the group on mindfulness, meditation and holistic self-care.
PlasticsWatch
Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Higher in November
The November 2021 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) from the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation reports a qualitative assessment of the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the US$900 billion equipment finance sector. Confidence in the equipment finance market is 64.6, an increase from the October index of 61.1. Other results include:

  • When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 34.6 percent of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, up from 25.9 percent in October. 46.2 percent believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, down from 70.4 percent the previous month. 19.2 percent believe business conditions will worsen, up from 3.7 percent in October.
SpecialFocus
Performance Plastics
are transporting the world
transportation
By Suzanne Fenton
T

he very term performance plastics embodies the expectations of the transportation industry. It evokes materials that are lightweight for speed, flexible for design, colorful for beauty, impact resistant and anti-microbial for safety, clear for visibility, as well as water and weather resistant. The transportation market is one of the largest manufacturing segments in North America and there are a wealth of potential plastic sheet and film applications for the OEMs and aftermarket segments.

The opportunities for plastic shapes distributors to gain access to the various transportation market segments continue to increase with such megatrends as anti-microbial conditions, increased light-weighting (particularly for the electronic vehicles segments), sound absorption improvements, safety enhancing requirements and the use of sustainable and recycled materials.

Plastic shapes distributors can offer their stocking and fabrication services to multiple levels in the supply chain in the transportation market. As part of the handling of returned scrap and providing regrind plastic, distributors have another possible value-added service in the toolbox.

SpecialFocus
UHMW has mass appeal
in mass transportation
applications
transportation
By Bryan Olin
U

ltra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) bus curb facing is a maintenance-free application for protecting curbing, platforms and buses from damage during basic stop and precision docking operations. Use of bus curb facings helps the growing number of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems be more cost efficient, reliable and safer. Many large and medium-sized city transit agencies are investing in BRT systems to better and more cost effectively serve growing public transportation requirements.

According to the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, “BRT is an innovative, high capacity, lower cost public transit solution that can significantly improve urban mobility. This permanent, integrated system uses buses or specialized vehicles on roadways or dedicated lanes to transport passengers quickly and efficiently to their destinations while offering the flexibility to meet transit demand. BRT systems can easily be customized to community needs and incorporate state-of-the-art, low-cost technologies that result in more passengers and less congestion.” (https://nbrti.org/planning-and-construction/)

SpecialFocus
PEKK for the
transportation industry
transportation
By Robert Barsotti and Jonathon Hollahan
P

olyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are a family of high-performance thermoplastics originally developed in the 1960s by DuPont for the Apollo space program. Since this creation, one-such PAEK — polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) — has been widely used in the aerospace and defense industries. PEKK’s outstanding high temperature performance, chemical resistance and flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) profile make it a perfect candidate for multiple applications within the transportation industry.

PEKK chemistry
PAEKs are semi-crystalline thermoplastics marked by excellent chemical resistance and high temperature performance. In this family of polymers, the “backbone” of the monomers are repeating ether groups and ketone groups that provide the high mechanical strength of the polymers (figure 1).
65TH ANNUAL IAPD
Convention Coverage
Louisville, KY August 16-19, 2021
Man playing trumpet
5 people at the convention
4 people at the convention
2 people at the convention
4 people posing for an image at the convention
T

he International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD), the international trade association comprised of companies engaged in the distribution and manufacturing of performance plastics, held its premier annual event August 16-19, 2021 at the OMNI Louisville Hotel in Louisville, KY, USA. Full convention and one-day delegates participated in educational sessions from renowned keynote speakers as well as industry experts and connected at exciting networking gatherings.

In addition to the numerous learning opportunities, delegates experienced new and creative networking opportunities, from social hours to receptions to a non-competitive 5K run/walk.

The IAPD connecX tradeshow debuted on Thursday. It featured socially distanced booths with meeting areas and the ability to set up appointments prior to the event with an all-new appointment-setting program.

The convention wrapped up with a lively closing party at Sports and Social Club, featuring a live band that performed something for everyone, from country to metal. Attendees enjoyed playing games such as bowling, air hockey and more.

Save the date: The 66th Annual IAPD Convention will be held September 12-25, 2022 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, FL, USA. We look forward to seeing you there!

ConventionCoverage
Thank you
to our
Sponsors
EXCLUSIVE TRIPLE CROWN SPONSOR
Simona American Group logo
EXCLUSIVE EXACTA SPONSOR
Loose Plastics Inc. logo
PREMIER QUINELLA SPONSOR
Plazit Polyal logo
Thoroughbred Sponsors
3A Composites - Logo
ConventionCoverage
2021 Special Recognitions and Awards
Wayne Gono receives the Paul Davis Award of Merit from the 2020 award winner Adam Mellen
From left: Wayne Gono receives the Paul Davis Award of Merit from the 2020 award winner Adam Mellen.
Paul Davis Award of Merit
Wayne Gono
The prestigious 2021 Paul Davis Award of Merit was presented to Wayne Gono of Regal Plastic Supply, Inc. by 2020 recipient Adam Mellen of SIMONA AMERICA Group. In his role as a second-generation leader of the family business, Gono had been a disengaged member of IAPD for many years. Once he joined the IAPD Board of Directors in 2011, he realized the many benefits of being engaged in the association and has come to be a champion of association engagement, inspiring others within his company, as well as other small distributors and many more in the performance plastics supply chain. Gono joined the IAPD Executive Committee in 2013, became vice president in 2017 and served as president for the 2018-2019 term. He continues to be an active member, including serving on the IAPD Plastics PAC Board of Directors, the IAPD Government Relations Committee and the IAPD Small Distributors Round Table. IAPD thanks him for his dedication and enthusiasm to the association.
connecX Tradeshow
Artek representative at the connecx Tradeshow
CMS North America representative at the connecx Tradeshow
Company representatives talking at the connecx Tradeshow
King Plastic Corporation booth at the connecx Tradeshow
Stiles Machinery booth at the connecX Tradeshow
Polymer Industries representative at a booth at the connecX Tradeshow
The Closing Party
at SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB
4th Street Live!
Band at the closing party
Three people posing for a picture at the closing party
Two women posing for a picture at the closing party
Four people posing for a picture at the closing party
People posing with small baseball bats at the closing party
Three people posing for a picture at the closing party
People &
Places
Marco DeAngelo headshot
Marco
DeAngelo
Marco DeAngelo has been promoted to the position of field sales engineer – Great Lakes and Western Region for the Arkema High Performance Polymers Group. DeAngelo will focus mainly on Kynar® PVDF and Kynar Flex® PVDF, but will also assist and support sales development in Arkema’s Rilsan® polyamides, Pebax® elastomers and Kepstan® PEKK business.

DeAngelo will be based near Chicago, IL, USA and will cover a region spanning 16 states including Alaska, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. He will report to Gary Dennis, North American sales manager – Fluoropolymers.

DeAngelo received his degree in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 2020 and has previously worked as a sales and marketing engineer while also working on technical studies in Arkema’s King of Prussia, PA, USA laboratories.

Ken Porz headshot
Ken
Porz
Cast Nylons announced that Ken Porz is now manager of the inside sales and sales operations teams. Porz has spent 11 years as an inside sales territory manager at Cast Nylons and has a deep knowledge of the company’s customers, products and processes. He will be responsible for driving day-to-day sales, hiring and training new inside sales territory managers and sales operations team members.
Benjie Massara headshot
Benjie
Massara
AAG announced the promotion of Benjie Massara to North American WARDJet sales manager. Massara has held numerous positions in his 10 years with WARDJet, the most recent of which was product manager for WARDJet products. Before that, he was the business development manager and has held several other marketing and sales roles. Massara assumed his new role on October 1, 2021. With his knowledge of WARDJet products and his previous experience, he is expected to be an asset to the sales team and customers as well.
IAPD Certificate
Programs
IAPD University logo
The Plastics Levels I and II, Excellence in Sales, Sustainability and Pipe, Valves and Fittings (PVF) Certificate Programs give your employees the necessary tools to succeed in plastics distribution. The Plastics Certificate Programs provide a foundation of knowledge about how plastics are made, the Excellence in Sales Certificate Level I Program for inside and outside sales teaches sales forces how to find and keep the RIGHT customers and the Excellence in Sales Level II intermediate program concentrates on correctly defining real-world problems and devising effective solutions for them. The Sustainability certificate course introduces your employees to the sustainability benefits of performance plastics as well as the sustainability resources from IAPD. IAPD is pleased to announce the latest graduates of these programs:
Fabrication
SERVICES SHOWCASE
Fabrication Services Showcase con­tains paid listings of companies with fabrication services, products and machinery that cater to the plastics distribution industry. IAPD does not endorse or make recommendations in regard to the companies supplying their services. For details and pricing information to include your company in this Fabrication Ser­v­ices Show­case, contact Dave Blackhurst, IAPD’s director of membership and sales, at (913) 345-1008 or email dblackhurst@iapd.org.
CNC Equipment
Stiles Machinery logo
Sawing, trimming, drilling, polishing, measuring or 3D processing — no matter what techniques are involved, Stiles has the CNC technology to get it done. Their machining solutions can be custom-configured to your specific needs. From productivity and high precision, to energy and material savings, Stiles provides proven CNC options for plastics processing. For more information, contact info@stilesmachinery.com or visit www.stilesmachinery.com.
Vortex Tool Company, Inc. logo
Vortex Tool Company, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom high-performance router and insert cutting tools for the woodworking and plastics industries, and provides retipping and sharpening services for all makes and models. www.vortextool.com, phone (800) 355-7708.
special advertising supplement
Annual
Corporate Profiles
IAPD is proud to present its annual look at innovative companies in the performance plastics industry. Enjoy learning more about the wide range of materials, equipment and services available from these advertisers.
CorporateProfiles
CMS North America
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
The best technology for cutting plastics
C

MS SpA was founded in 1969. C.M.S. SpA is the parent company of CMS North America, a brand that brings together five divisions with a worldwide sales and customer service network. Located in Grand Rapids, MI, USA, it is dedicated to the sales, support and service of its customers, their CMS machines, staff training and long-term interests for the efficient usage of technology and continuing communication of its technological developments. CMS’s consistency in excellent price-to-performance ratios, production volumes and exclusive solutions, along with a variety of models, all serve to satisfy a wide array of production requirements. CMS solutions come from experience gained in leading-edge technological sectors and feature state-of-the-art machine tools specially designed for machining advanced materials. CMS has a long standing and renowned specialization in the production of multiaxis CNC machining centers, thermoforming machines, and waterjet cutting systems. The firm has more than 30 years of experience in the manufacturing of advanced machines and decades of successful growth in aerospace, automotive, marine, wind power, eyewear, building, mechanicals, molds, prototypes, plastics, stone and glass processing. CMS’s unprecedented ingenuity extends to patented designs and manufacturing for its own electro spindle with the high torque and speed resulting in top-rank performance in terms of acceleration, speed, and accuracy.

CorporateProfiles
Polymer Industries
Henagar, Alabama, USA
geared towards excellence
P

olymer Industries has more than 45 years of experience in performance plastics manufacturing. Polymer Industries is proud the quality standards that formed the foundation of the company are still in place today.

As the business expanded to meet the needs of its customers, the product portfolio expanded also. Polymer Industries has one of the largest product offerings from a single manufacturer, including: Densetec® high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), high molecular weight polyethylene (HMW), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyslick® ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW-PE). The mechanical division produces a variety of Mechetec® high performance materials, acetals and extruded nylon.

Capabilities include polyolefin sheet extrusion, ram extrusion, mechanical sheet and rod extrusion, compression molding and fabrication. The company strives to continuously introduce innovative products to meet the needs of customers while staying competitive in an ever-changing marketplace.

CorporateProfiles
Roehm America LLC
Sanford, Maine, USA
traditionally innovative
R

öhm is a leading supplier of methacrylate chemicals worldwide. Thanks to their positioning as a global company with 15 production sites on four continents, Röhm is close to their customers and markets. As one of the world’s leading partners in quality and reliability, they are committed to defining the methacrylate markets of tomorrow together with their customers.

With their diverse portfolio of semi-finished ACRYLITE® products, they are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Further brands such as CYROLON, EUROPLEX® and ACRIFIX® offer specialist solutions for signage, medical technology, transportation and other industries. A strong partner for industry and trade, the business unit develops innovative products for sustainable applications.

CorporateProfiles
AGRU Kunststofftechnik GmbH
Bad Hall, Austria
THE PLASTICS EXPERTS
T

he AGRU success story has been unfolding now for more than seven decades. Founded in 1948 by Alois Gruber Sr., today the company is one of the world‘s most important single-source suppliers for piping systems, semi-finished products, concrete protection liners and lining systems made from engineering plastics.

Seventy years on, AGRU has become a genuine global player. The AGRU Group has plants on three continents and employs more than a thousand staff worldwide. Given that exports currently account for 95 percent of its business, there are AGRU customers all over the globe. Within the industry, AGRU is synonymous with premium quality, customer focus, reliability and professionalism in all areas of plastics engineering. From smartphones to laptops and TV screens, numerous digital devices are now manufactured using AGRU products. Global groups such as SAMSUNG and LG rely on the ultra-pure PURAD piping system made in Bad Hall for their semiconductor production. In the United States, the hidden champion produces large-scale polyethylene pipes with diameters of up to 3.5 m and lengths of up to 600 m. These large pipe strings, weighing up to 1,000 metric tons, are then shipped across the world’s oceans to their deployment locations. One major driver of success in the development of an industrial empire spanning several continents was extensive application engineering expertise, combined with a comprehensive premium plastics engineering portfolio.

CorporateProfiles
ALTAFLO a Pexco Company
Sparta, New Jersey, USA
transport critical fluid with confidence
A

ltaflo, a Pexco Company, is an innovative producer of high performance fluoropolymer and fluoroplastic tubing, pipe and profiles. Since the company’s inception, Altaflo has maintained a consistent focus on the critical requirements of even the most demanding applications.

Their process begins by selecting the highest performance resin grades within each product category. Although there are many resin producers, and various grades offered in each group, Altaflo uses only high molecular weight resin products to ensure optimum performance. These resins provide the highest stress crack resistance, greatest chemical resistance and overall superior performance in their finished products.

Once resin selections have been made, Altaflo adheres to a strict series of process controls to establish maximum efficiency while producing tight tolerance products that meet or exceed industry specifications. Upon request, tighter tolerances or adherence to dimensions other than standard nominal may be provided. In keeping with their commitment to quality, Altaflo has pursued and earned ISO 9000:2015 Certification. They have furthered that commitment by having their tubing tested and certified to the NSF Certifications: 51, 61 and 372.

CorporateProfiles
PLASKOLITE
Columbus, Ohio, USA
comprehensive thermoplastic solutions
P

LASKOLITE is a global leader in manufacturing of engineering thermoplastics, including acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS and PETG sheet, lighting profiles and PMMA polymers. Founded in 1950 by Donald Dunn and family, PLASKOLITE has a reputation for providing the highest quality products in the industry. Their innovative thermoplastic sheet solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including glazing, safety shields, lighting, signs and point-of-purchase displays.

PLASKOLITE produces superior thermoplastic solutions for customers worldwide. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, USA, PLASKOLITE operates nine manufacturing plants: Columbus, OH; Zanesville, OH, USA; Compton, CA, USA; Olive Branch, MS, USA; Monterrey, Mexico; Memphis, TN, USA; Sheffield, MA, USA; and Grand Saline, TX, USA. Their Linden, NJ, USA facility excels in the development and application of high-performance lighting profiles used by most major LED lighting manufacturers.

Serving plastics distributors through long-lasting relationships, their unique “Run-to-Size” program allows for most sheet products to be ordered in the exact dimensions required, with one of the fastest turnaround times available in the industry.

CorporateProfiles
Roechling Industrial North America
Dallas, North Carolina, USA
a global leader in plastics innovation
T

he Röchling Group, made up of industrial, medical and automotive divisions, employs more than 11,000 worldwide at 90 locations in 25 countries. Backed by a global network, Roechling Industrial North America is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality semi-finished thermoplastics, engineering products and composites. Featuring what they believe to be the most comprehensive product line within the United States, Canada and Mexico, Roechling is committed to developing efficient, innovative and sustainable solutions for their customers.

Through continuous investments and improvements in new manufacturing technologies, Roechling products are used and specified by engineers and cater to a wide range of industries.

CorporateProfiles
Altamira Material Solutions
Houston, Texas, USA
leading manufacturer of high-performance ptfe shapes and components
A

ltamira Material Solutions LP is the leading manufacturer of high-performance polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) shapes and components.

They have the technical expertise and capabilities to support standard stock PTFE requirements in a variety of formulations or to work with your technical teams on the development of specialty materials or components for critical applications in semiconductor, aerospace, industrial and oil and gas markets.

CorporateProfiles
Arkema
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
sustainability without compromise
W

hat are Advanced Bio-Circular (ABC) materials?

Arkema’s Advanced Bio-Circular materials are based on amino 11 chemistry. The Group’s flagship Rilsan® polyamide 11 (nylon 11) is first “Advanced” because of its high-performance properties. It offers improvements in weight reduction, flexibility, durability, dimensional stability and corrosion resistance versus standard materials like PA6. The Rilsan® product family includes grades that are tailored for higher temperatures, transparency, conductivity and more.

The “Bio” in Advanced Bio-Circular comes from the bio-based origin of Arkema’s amino 11 chemistry. Specifically, these materials are derived from the castor plant, a sustainable, renewable crop that does not compete with food and does not cause deforestation. Arkema is a leading driver of sustainable castor farming in India.

CorporateProfiles
Ensinger
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
industry leader in engineering thermoplastic stock shapes
R

ecognized as a worldwide leader in plastics processing technology and application development, Ensinger has the ability to combine the optimum materials solution with the most suitable manufacturing method, and thus provides the industry with the most innovative and cost-effective engineering solutions available today. Ensinger designs and manufactures semi-finished and finished products tailored exactly to the customer’s individual requirements. Your projects can benefit from Ensinger’s vast knowledge base and many years of experience in finding the best solutions for problems involving engineering thermoplastics materials.

Ensinger offers a broader array of engineering materials than any other plastics processor. From general industrial materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, acetal and nylon to high performance resins such as TECAPEEK® polyetheretherketone and TECATRON® polyphenylene sulfide, Ensinger has the ability to provide shapes and parts for even the most difficult and challenging applications and environments.

CorporateProfiles
Hudson Extrusions, Inc.
Hudson, Ohio, USA
committed to quality and continuous improvements
S

ince their inception over 50 years ago, Hudson Extrusions, Inc. has been dedicated to a singular goal: “Total Customer Satisfaction.” They strive to exceed their customers’ expectations through outstanding customer service, quick turnaround times and producing extruded plastic tubing and profiles of exceptional quality.

Having been family owned and operated since 1956, they value the personal service that has become scarce in today’s technologically advanced environment. Their knowledgeable sales staff has a combined 40+ years of experience in the plastics industry and are ready to help with any questions or inquiries you may have.

CorporateProfiles
King Plastic Corporation
North Port, Florida, USA
Our Innovation. Your Imagination.®
K

ing Plastic Corporation is a leading manufacturer of quality polymer sheets, slabs and massive shapes — including several products pioneered by the company. Its polymers are made in the United States and sold worldwide through a network of top plastics distributors to customers who fabricate products for the marine industry (King StarBoard® brand), signage, food service, healthcare, architectural, industrial and other markets.

King Plastic manufactures more than 20 products including:

  • King StarBoard® — The original marine-grade polymer sheet
  • King StarBoard® AS — The anti-skid marine-grade polymer sheet
King Hy-Pact®
The Super Tough
Industrial Polymer Sheet
King Hy-Pact Pork Processing
King Hy-Pact Steak processing
King Hy-Pact logo
Our Innovation. Your Imagination.® | www.kingplastic.com | Made in U.S.A. American Flag illustration
King Hy-Pact® is the smart choice for many high abuse applications.
Gears, machine parts, sprockets, star wheels, wear strips and more.
King Hy-Pact Steak processing
King Hy-Pact®
The Super Tough
Industrial Polymer Sheet
King Hy-Pact logo
King Hy-Pact Pork Processing
Our Innovation. Your Imagination.® | www.kingplastic.com | Made in U.S.A. American Flag illustration
King Hy-Pact® is the smart choice for many high abuse applications.
Gears, machine parts, sprockets, star wheels, wear strips and more.
CorporateProfiles
Palram Americas
Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA
delivering creative thermoplastic solutions and opportunities for growth
W

ith more than 55 years of experience, Palram is a market constant that has invented gold standards for polycarbonate and PVC products worldwide. With time-tested resources, proprietary technologies and a rich history of expertise, Palram has become a trusted partner to markets spanning industrial; construction and architecture, safety and security; sign and display and transportation, among others.

Palram is committed to purposeful innovation, drawing inspiration from emerging market trends and customer requirements. Palram’s commitment to technological advancements, equipment investment and product development delivers creative solutions and opportunities for growth.

PALBOARD™ 3D MAX

This unique, coextruded multilayer substrate combines two rigid surfaces of solid, black polymer with a dense black foam PVC core. Lightweight, yet rigid, PALBOARD 3D MAX is 100 percent recyclable, UL94 V-O rated and can withstand harsh chemicals and frequent cleaning cycles. It’s easy to cut and route, can be heat-bent and cold-bent with a v-groove. It offers excellent mechanical strength and screw retention, and its hair-cell texture is scratch and fingerprint resistant.

CorporateProfiles
Plazit-Polygal Group
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
POLYCARBONATE STRUCTURED SHEETS AND ACCESSORIES I POLYCARBONATE, ACRYLIC and PETG SOLID SHEETS
P

lazit-Polygal is a pioneer and world leader in the design, development and manufacturing of thermoplastic sheets and profiles. Their products are used worldwide in a broad range of markets and applications. By bridging innovation, quality and service as their cornerstone for success, Plazit-Polygal continually provides products known worldwide for outstanding durability, strength, light transmission, specialty coatings, ease of installation and superior quality. These products provide optimal performance and solutions for walkways, canopies, pool coverings, skylights, roof systems, clerestories commercial and residential greenhouses, interior design, P-O-P displays, signage, window glazing and much more.

Plazit-Polygal has earned an industry-wide reputation for uncompromising quality and innovation and is certified for ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 as well as other international engineering standards such as CSTB (France), BBA (UK), B1 (Germany) and numerous others. With product development and technical support throughout the world, Plazit-Polygal is dedicated to offering world-class customer service, ensuring the company’s ability to maintain their competitive edge on the market.

CorporateProfiles

Rowmark LLC

Findlay, Ohio, USA
one-stop shop for plastic sheet extrusion

R

owmark LLC is is excited to announce the creation of its custom extruded sheet products webpage at www.rowmarkcustom.com. This webpage was designed to provide easy-to-find, detailed product information on Rowmark’s custom extruded and laminated sheet products and capabilities.

Custom products highlighted on the new website, www.rowmarkcustom.com, include Rowmark’s light diffusing product, Rowmark LD; Rowmark’s high impact acrylic, Rowmark HI Acrylic; Rowmark’s wide range of ABS sheet products; and Rowmark’s thermoplastc elastomer (TPE) products.

Rowmark LD
Rowmark LD products offer high light diffusing properties, which are great for amplifying light sources while helping to hide LED hot spots. Made from high-impact modified acrylic, this product line features excellent durability and long-lasting UV resistance.
CorporateProfiles
SABIC Functional Forms

Mt. Vernon, Indiana, USA
chemistry that matters™

S

ABIC’s Functional Forms business offers high quality, engineered thermoplastic sheet and film products across a wide variety of industries, ranging from building and construction, consumer electronics, specialty glazing, aircraft and rail. SABIC’s Functional Forms business has been working to bring its portfolio of leading edge materials to bear in architectural glazing applications for over 40 years. Virtually unbreakable, high optical quality solid and multiwall LEXAN™ (PC) sheet products with highly specialized properties are often a top choice for answering the specific needs of a variety of structures.

Sustainable and creative designs with LEXAN sheet
The sustainable design movement aims to reduce the negative impact of residential and commercial buildings on the environment. SABIC’s Functional Forms business growing portfolio of LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) multiwall sheet products are contributing to this movement and strengthen sustainable building designs by increasing energy conservation, improving working/living environments, and promoting recycling. LEXAN sheet solutions can help architects, builders and contractors tap into the “green” building market, a multi-billion-dollar sector and a bright spot in the current construction industry slump. SABIC’s Functional Forms offers its customers a broad portfolio of LEXAN multiwall sheet solutions for roofing, cladding and glazing.
CorporateProfiles
SIMONA AMERICA GROUP

Archbald, Pennsylvania; Newcomerstown, Ohio; Findlay, Ohio USA
three manufacturing sites in north america offer a diverse range of products and services to distributors

S

IMONA AMERICA GROUP consists of three independent manufacturing and sales facilities: SIMONA AMERICA Industries, SIMONA Boltaron and SIMONA PMC.

SIMONA AMERICA Industries

SIMONA AMERICA Industries specializes in extruded olefin, PVC and fluoropolymer sheet, rod and weld rod for a wide variety of applications, including chemical and corrosion tank manufacturing, semiconductor equipment, marine, outdoor furniture, bathroom partitions, food preparation and orthotics and prosthetics.

Primary materials produced by SIMONA AMERICA Industries include PE, PP, PVC, CPVC, PVDF, ECTFE and PFA. Featured products include:

  • BOATBOARD® marine grade HDPE
  • Polygrain® woodgrain HDPE
  • Polytone® multi-layer color HDPE
  • CRP-1® FM 4910 PVC
  • SIMOGLAS™ clear PVC
CorporateProfiles
Wegener Welding, LLC

Burr Ridge, Illinois, USA
the plastic welding experts

W

egener Welding, LLC is an international supplier of high-quality welding, processing and testing equipment for thermoplastic materials. Their mission is not only to offer a wide range of quality products, but to ensure that their customers have access to customized solutions, expert advice, training programs and reliable service and support. A dedicated team of knowledgeable personnel are available to aid in defining the proper equipment for the job at hand as well as finding solutions to any welding problems the customer may have with customized machinery.

In 2006, Wegener Welding, LLC emerged as a new entity out of what was formerly known to the industry as Wegener North America, Inc., which had served the market with the Wegener range of primarily sheet-related thermoplastic welding and fabrication products since the early 1980s. The product lines of their partners Wegener International GmbH, Hürner Schweisstechnik GmbH and Buckleys (UVRAL) Ltd. form a comprehensive source of plastic welding and testing equipment unique to the industry.

REP BUSINESS
Exchange
Cartier Wilson Business Card
Martino Marketing Group Business Card
The Tandem Group Business Card
KBA Inc Business Card
Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc. Business Card
Harker & Associates Business Card
Grupo Espinosa Business Card
Plastic Solutions Inc. Business Card
Cartier Wilson Business Card
Martino Marketing Group Business Card
The Tandem Group Business Card
KBA Inc Business Card
Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc. Business Card
Harker & Associates Business Card
Grupo Espinosa Business Card
Plastic Solutions Inc. Business Card
Performance Plastics logo
Thanks for reading our December 2021/January 2022 issue!