RTP Expands Its Mexican Thermoplastics Compounding Facility

RTP Co., Winona, Minn., has installed a new state-of-the-art pultrusion line and is now producing its Very Long Fiber (VLF) long-fiber thermoplastic compounds at its compounding facility in Monterrey, Mexico. This newest VLF manufacturing location in North America will support regional demand while providing consistent supply near the company’s global customers operating in Mexico, Brazil and other South and Central American countries.

These additional VLF pultrusion lines in Mexico will maintain plant-to-plant consistency of compounds, which is highly desirable for OEMs and their partners in Mexico and South America who build parts and products for the global consumer goods, automotive, and other markets, says Eric Lee, RTPs business manager for structural products. The increasing demand for VLF compounds based on PP, nylon and other engineering resins stems in part from the automotive industry’s need for lightweight material options to meet fuel-efficiency regulations. RTP has developed VLF compounds that can be used to create injection-molded parts that reportedly rival their heavier counterparts such as die cast metal alloys and parts made with short-fiber thermoplastic compounds. For example, using VLF compounds based on PP rather than short fiber nylon compounds can result in a density reduction greater than 10%, according to Lee.

 

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