PolyOne
As the automotive sector becomes more receptive to utilising performance polymers in place of metals in a bid to reduce the weight and fuel consumption of their vehicles, PolyOne is stepping up its game.
In response to growing demand for metal replacement products, Polymer is expanding the capacity of its OnForce LFT long-fibre specialty thermoplastics.
A new, dedicated specialty production line will be added at the company's existing Avon Lake, Ohio, production facility and will be fully operational by the end of this month (February 2015).
PolyOne's robust glass- and carbon fiber-filled formulations retain aesthetic appeal in metal replacement and structural applications, while also offering higher stiffness, impact strength and surface finish than short-fibre filled materials.
PolyOne's President of Global Specialty Engineered Materials Craig Nikrant said: "Demand continues to increase for lighter weight materials and the products made from them. PolyOne has a proven track record of working closely with our customers to develop innovative specialty formulations that meet their specific performance needs.
"This investment is aligned with current megatrends to better serve our customers in North America across several industries, including industrial, transportation, oil and gas, and shooting sports."