Teknor Apex has announced it is building a European 'Hub of Innovation' compounding and research and development facility.
Ground breaking
The 15,000 m sq site in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, South of Würzburg, has been masterminded to increase the manufacturing capacity of custom compounder Plastic-Technologie-Service (PTS). Teknor Apex acquired PTS last year and will focus on this investment at Fakuma in October 2017.
The ceremonial ground-breaking at Rothenburg ob der Tauber will take place in spring 2018, with the facility expected to startup in 2019. Current Teknor Apex and PTS production will then be moved from Steinsfeld, as will the sales and marketing operations taking place in Tauberzell.
The Rothenburg facility will produce TPEs and engineering thermoplastics, ranging from general-purpose compounds to highly specialised formulations. An extensive laboratory will be used for developing new compounds and providing customers with design support, application development, and product/process training.
The new facility will accelerate the technology transfer that has been underway since the 2016 acquisition. PTS /Teknor Apex already manufacture US-developed compounds such as Monprene TPEs and Chemlon nylons, and in the US Teknor Apex has begun production of German-developed products such as Creamid and Duramid polyamides.
"The new Rothenburg facility will increase the capacity of PTS / Teknor Apex to serve customers in Germany and throughout Europe, broaden the selection of compounds available to them, increase access to customer support, and reduce order lead times," said William J. Murray, President of Teknor Apex. "The new laboratory will function as a hub of innovation, serving the region as a source of customised formulations, application development expertise, and process optimisation."
Customers in Europe will also benefit from the global capabilities and broad experience of Teknor Apex.
"Teknor Apex has long served major markets such as automotive, electrical and electronics, and regulated applications such as food-contact and medical, and it is a source of know-how in matters such as regional and global regulatory compliance," said Walter Baumann, Managing Director of PTS / Teknor Apex. "With manufacturing operations in the USA, Europe, and Asia, we can provide global support and supply stability to European customers with plants in multiple countries."
