NEWS
Petoskey aims to raise medical gowns output
Petoskey Plastics has invested US$2 million in a new manufacturing line to make disposable gowns for the healthcare industry. The US company has
allocated 10,000 sq ft to gown production at its facility in Petoskey, Michi- gan. Initial capacity will be 2m gowns per month – with output set to double if a
second line goes ahead in 2024. The new production adds 10 new jobs at the plant, while a second gown line would increase the work- force by 25. “We have worked hard to engineer and design a high-speed production line to produce high-quality gowns at globally competi-
Petoskey Plastics aims to ramp up disposable gown production at its Michigan plant
tive prices,” said Mike Barto, vice president of sales at Petoskey. The company first manufactured gowns on converted automotive OEM lines in March 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic – shipping more than 5m gowns. Since then, the gown design has evolved from a 32lbs industrial 200-count roll to individually folded and bagged gowns in a 15-count dispensing box weighing less than 2lbs. The new gown is indi- vidually bagged for added protection. An open, perforated tear
back offers breathability and quick tear-off removal. �
www.petoskeyplastics.com
Charter Next expands in Wisconsin
US-based film manufacturer Charter Next Generation is to expand operations in Milton, Wisconsin by building a second facility there. Under a plan approved by the board of the Wiscon- sin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Charter Next is eligible for
up to US$5.6m in perfor- mance-based tax credits over the next eight years – if it creates at least 341 new jobs and invests at least US$270m. “We are constantly seeking opportunities that align with our mission to deliver best-in-class material
science solutions,” said Kathy Bolhous, CEO of Charter Next Generation. “The partnership with WEDC allows us to expand our product offering in Milton.” Charter Next currently has 14 facilities across the US. �
www.cnginc.com
IN BRIEF...
Covestro plans to boost its global production capacity for polycarbonate (PC) speciality films, to meet rising demand in Asia- Pacific and beyond. It has begun installing new extru- sion lines at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Park in Thailand, in a “higher double-digit million Euro range” investment. Completion is expected in 2025.
www.covestro.com
Braskem has increased capacity of its sugar cane ethanol-based Green PE plant at Triunfo in Brazil by 30% to 260,000 tonnes. It also said it has signed an agreement with SCG Chemical that could see construction of a new green ethylene plant with up to 200,000 tonnes capacity in Thailand.
www.braskem.com.br
Berry Global is adding 25,000 sq ft to its plant in Lewisburg, Tennessee – to accommodate three new stretch film lines. It expects to add 10 jobs in the process. The expansion will also extend a rail spur for resin handling and raise output of its Transcend and Stratos stretch films.
www.berryglobal.com
DuPont acquires Spectrum Plastics for $1.75bn
DuPont is to buy Spectrum Plastics Group from AEA Investors. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of this year, subject to regulatory approval. The purchase price of US of $1.75 billion will be paid from existing cash balances.
4 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | May 2023
Spectrum manufactures a range of medical products, such as medical packaging – including pouches made from DuPont’s Tyvek material. The company has more than 2,200 employees and has been owned by venture capital firm AEA since 2018.
“We have been focused on Spectrum for a long time,” said Ed Breen, execu- tive chairman and CEO of DuPont. “It is a compelling strategic complement to our existing healthcare portfolio.” �
www.dupont.com �
www.spectrumplastics.com
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: PETOSKEY
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