NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced the purchase of a new SACMI semi-commercial scale compression molding machine in support of the caps and closures market. This investment complements an existing Sumitomo (SHI) Demag injection molding machine. Together these machines fully replicate the manufacturing processes used in the manufacture of caps and closures, enhancing NOVA Chemicals’ product testing and applications development work.
The new machine is being installed at the Centre for Performance Applications in Calgary, NOVA Chemicals’ applications development facility. Caps and closures produced on the new equipment will be tested in NOVA Chemicals’ state-of-the-art on-site lab, using a suite of industry-leading “in-use performance” equipment – a critical advantage that allows NOVA Chemicals and its customers to evaluate closure performance under real world conditions.
“This investment allows us to support all of our caps and closures customers in simulating the manufacturing conditions they use,” said Alan Schrob, rigid products market manager, NOVA Chemicals’ Polyethylene Business. “Equipment like this helps us improve the performance of existing polyethylene closures and develop entirely new PE closure resins that can be tailored to our customers’ specific needs – delivering on our commitment to continuously expand our innovation capabilities and provide greater value to our customers in the caps and closures market.”
The SACMI molder adds to NOVA Chemicals’ polyethylene capabilities, which include a wide range of R&D equipment and facility assets, world-class manufacturing and dedicated teams of market-specific experts. Combined, these enable the company and its customers to bring better-designed, better-performing products to market more quickly.
For more information, visit the Plastics Caps and Closures conference September 15 – 17, at the Westin Chicago NW in Itasca, Ill. NOVA Chemicals is the exclusive Platinum Sponsor and will be highlighting this investment, along with all of its caps and closures capabilities, throughout the conference.
