Colorite Europe Expands R&D Capability with New Investment of American Kuhne Extruder Line


Ashaway, RI - Colorite Europe - a Northern Ireland-based supplier of medical polymers to the global healthcare market - has stepped up its product development and R&D capability with the installation of a new hi-tech extruder line at its Belfast manufacturing facility.

As part of its innovation-led strategy, Colorite Europe has tied up with American Kuhne to install a new Ultra Series 50mm, 24:1 L/D medical extruder to enhance the company's testing and manufacturing capabilities.

Colorite Europe Ltd, a subsidiary of TekniPlex Europe NV, is a medical PVC compounding company with state-of-the-art medical-grade facilities. Positioned at the forefront of medical material innovation, Colorite's compounds are designed to be converted into disposable devices such as: haemodialysis tubing; blood bags; endotracheal tubes; and oxygen masks.

In 2009 the company invested £3 million into its facility at Springbank Industrial Estate as part of a major expansion plan designed to open up new markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The addition of the extruder marks the next phase in its global R&D strategy.

Ian Kenny, Global Managing Director, Colorite Compounds said: "This investment is an important element to our ongoing strategy of testing new technologies and bringing the benefits of a diverse product portfolio to our customer base. We're focusing ever more on raising standards and providing customers with highly customized, tailored solutions for their medical tube development. The new extruder line helps us to achieve that."

American Kuhne's ULTRA extruders are designed exclusively for a variety of medical applications and are typically used in a clean room environment. The medical line of extruders are supplied with a closed loop AC vector for improved speed regulation, and special urethane-based medical paint and stainless steel barrel covers.

Steve Maxson, Vice President, Extrusion Systems for American Kuhne, said: "We are very pleased to offer them a customized solution that allows them continued new product innovation. Colorite consistently delivers the highest standard of vinyl compounds to medical customers throughout the world. They constantly work with customers to develop new compounds that can meet specific needs, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency."

With its focus on serving markets across the EU and SE Asia, the past six years has been a period of significant growth for Colorite Europe and it now supplies to customers in 33 countries worldwide. In 2011, the company was named among the UK's top exporting businesses at the national Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

American Kuhne's Ultra Series 50mm, 24:1 L/D medical extruder was supplied with two different Steward barrier screws and a selection of metering screws. Additional instrumentation was incorporated enabling Colorite to monitor the feed throat temperature, and melt pressure and temperature near the breaker plate and in the die head.

About Colorite Europe (www.coloriteeurope.com)

Colorite Europe Ltd is a supplier of state-of-the-art medical polymer compounds to the global healthcare market. Positioned at the forefront of medical material innovation, Colorite's compounds are designed to be converted into disposable devices such as: haemodialysis tubing; blood bags; endotracheal tubes; and oxygen masks. In 2011, Colorite Europe was named among the UK's top exporting businesses at the national Queen's Awards for Enterprise in recognition of continuous achievement in international trade over six years. Based in Northern Ireland, Colorite Europe Ltd has been trading in the UK since 1997. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tekni-Plex Europe, a division of the Tekni-Plex Inc. group of companies.

About American Kuhne Inc. (http://www.americankuhne.com)

American Kuhne, Inc. is a leading worldwide supplier of standard and customized single screw extruders, feed screws, extrusion systems and extrusion process controllers. Extruder sizes range from 1/2" (13 mm) through 12-inch (305 mm). They are designed and built in Ashaway, RI. Turnkey tubing, profile and fine wire jacketing systems are also developed, tested and manufactured within their plant. In addition, the company maintains two medical tubing lab lines capable of multi-lumen and taper tube extrusions available for customer trials in their facility in Ashaway RI and their European facility at Kuhne GmbH in St. Augustin Germany.

For More Information Contact:

Andrea Siy, President

S!Y Communications, Inc.

978-465-6363

andrea@siycommunications.com

Steve Maxson, VP, Extrusion Systems

American Kuhne, Inc.

401-326-6205

smaxson@americankuhne.com

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