Loparex invests in new capacity

Loparex has announcedd several capital investments to add paper coating and film blowing capacity, and to streamline operations within North America.

A high-speed paper coating line is being started up today in Loparex’ Hammond, Wisconsin, facility. This line is a two-station emulsion silicone coater capable of coating both sides of the web in a single pass. Turreted unwinds and rewinds allow for continuous operation up to 1,000 fpm. In-line printing allows the web to be printed on either side. A second multi-layer blown film extrusion line will be installed in February, also in the Hammond location. This new line incorporates the latest technology for producing lay-flat, bag-free polyolefin films which are critical in release liner applications. 

Coinciding with these investments in the Hammond facility, Loparex announced that some coating lines located in the Dixon, Illinois, operation will be shut down in the coming months.  Coater 10 in Dixon will continue to produce solvent and solventless release liner products. It is expected that some of the employees in the Dixon facility will be transferred to other Loparex locations.

Pentti Kallio, Loparex Group CEO, stated, ’Loparex continues to invest in a responsible manner as would be expected of the market leader. These investments in North America follow our recent capacity expansions in Asia Pacific and in Europe. Our commitment is to support our customers and to do so globally.’