Americhem

From WikiPETia.info

Americhem Inc.
Formerly called
The Caldwell Company
Industry Color and additive masterbatches for polymers and synthetic fibers
Founded Akron, USA (November 29, 1941 (1941-11-29))
Founder Sylvester S. Caldwell
Headquarters Cuyahoga Falls, USA
Number of employees
Over 500
Website americhem.com

Company Profile

Americhem, Inc. is a global masterbatch manufacturer that specializes in custom color and additive masterbatch solutions with its global headquarters in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA. The company manufactures a diverse range of single pigment dispersions, colour and additive concentrates and custom compounds. A sister company, Infinity LTL Engineered Compounds, manufactures custom compounded engineered thermoplastics, and has locations in Swedesboro, New Jersey, USA and Morrisville, Pennsylvania, USA. Vi-Chem, acquired in 2016, is a producer of PVC and elastomeric compounds.

Founded in Ohio in 1941, Americhem employs over 500 people worldwide. It has ten manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and Asia that provide service to customers in over 50 countries worldwide with products for the plastics and synthetic fibers industries.

Products

Americhem manufactures color and additive masterbatches (also known as color and additive concentrates) for use in the plastics and synthetic fibers industries. Most of the company’s products are made for specific customers and specific applications. In addition, Americhem makes single pigment dispersions, which are used by customers as a stand-alone product or to mix to create their own colors.

Additives can be included with the color concentrates, including but not limited to antioxidants, UV stabilizers, flame retardants, slip and anti-static agents, optical brighteners, antimicrobial and nucleating agents. These additives can also be made as stand-alone products, with or without color.

Infinity LTL, manufactures and sells engineering grade, custom compounded precoloured polymer composites to meet the demands of specific customer applications. The company specializes in a wide range of engineered polymers with no minimum order size and provides a high level of technical support and a flexible customer focused style. The company also offers a wide array of reinforcements, fillers and lubricants that enhance the base resin properties for many engineering resins.

Vi-Chem Corporation is a manufacturer of custom thermoplastic compounds and polymeric alloys, delivering value-added compounded products for injection molders, blow molders and extrusion operations. Specializing in PVC and elastomeric solutions, Vi-Chem is the performance materials compounder of choice for the automotive and other polymer-related industries. Vi-Chem maintains the ISO/TS 16949 automotive manufacturing standard as well as the ISO/IEC 17025 testing laboratory certification.

Services

  • Analytical and Physical Testing
  • Weathering Testing
  • Quality Testing
  • Continuing Education
  • Custom Product Design
  • Research and Development
  • Pilot Lines and Process Simulations
  • Color Design
  • Color Trends

History

On November 29, 1941, Alabama native Sylvester S. Caldwell founded The Caldwell Company in Akron, OH. The company started as a manufacturer’s representative with Thompson Weinman & Co., a manufacturer in the rubber industry, as the first and principal client.

In 1959 the first manufacturing plant was opened on Home Ave. in Akron, OH. By the end of 1964, Americhem was manufacturing colour concentrates for ABS, many of which were used for the RV industry. In July 1965, Americhem Headquarters was moved to a new building in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. There was also an expansion with manufacturing in 1969 when a new plant was purchased in Medina, OH. Also in 1969, Americhem designed and manufactured the first masterbatches for vinyl siding.

In 1978, Americhem reached a milestone when opening their first research department. The new laboratory led to the production of Americhem’s first color concentrates for synthetic fibers in response to the new developments of nylon and polyester dispersion technology.

2009 saw a push for more eco-friendly practices. All plants and offices started participating in recycling programs and all plants switched from using carbon dioxide to liquid nitrogen as a coolant. The seventh Americhem plant was opened in 2010 in Liberty, NC with a specialty of black, white and additive masterbatch products. In 2011, Americhem Inc. celebrated their 70-year anniversary.

On December 28, 2012 Americhem Inc. purchased Infinity Compounding in Swedesboro, NJ later changing their name to Americhem Infinity Engineered Compounds

In December 2014, LTL Color Compounders was purchased.This precolor compound maker was merged with Americhem Infinity to form Infinity LTL Engineered Compounds.

In March of 2016, Americhem acquired Vi-Chem Corporation of Grand Rapids, MI, a producer of PVC and elastomeric compounds, specializing in "soft touch" technology for the automotive industry.

Americhem will celebrate its 75-year anniversary on November 29, 2016.

References

Market Surveys

Additives

PETplanet Insider Articles

Issue 05 / 2012: Americhem improves PCR for PET

External links

Americhem Website