March 11, 2008

Sigma Stretch Film Expands Tulsa Operation with Davis-Standard Blown and Cast Stretch Film Lines

Leading U.S. stretch film producer Sigma Stretch Film recently purchased blown and cast stretch film lines from Davis-Standard, LLC for the company’s growing facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The production lines are slated for a fall 2008 installation.

“We made our decision based on their reputation and the advanced technology offered by Davis-Standard’s Converting Systems Group,” said Mark Teo, president of Sigma. “We felt we had to advance our machinery technology to be able to enter into new markets and defend our leading position. They have done a very good job of addressing our needs and we are pleased with the depth of their machinery capabilities in both blown and cast film. We appreciate Davis-Standard’s willingness and ability to customize.”

The 130-inch (3.3 meter) blown stretch film line will consist of three MAC extruders equipped with PIB injection that will feed a 40-inch (1 meter) diameter three-layer IBC oscillating die that utilizes a unique bearing arrangement to support the weight of the die. It will also be equipped with two types of individual winding systems.

The 180-inch (4.5 meter) net finished cast stretch film line is engineered as a high-output, wide-width machine wrap line. It features digital controls, advanced web handling to reduce in-wound tension for enhanced roll formation, and reduced unwind-to-core forces. Designed to provide nine 20-inch (500mm) wide rolls or six 30-inch (762mm) wide rolls, this line features a nine-layer Cloeren melt forming system coupled with multiple Davis-Standard extruders to process proprietary resin formulations. It is fitted with a single Black Clawson Converting Machinery BMW winder with two pairs of pivoting core shafts on a common elevation that enable the ergonomic unloading of rolls and re-coring. All machine modules will be pre-wired, requiring only primary power drops and communication cables, to reduce installation time and cost.

Sigma Stretch Film is a division of The Sigma Plastics Group. The company was founded in 1978 and continues to be the largest, privately held film extrusion group in the United States. It is comprised of 13 divisions and employs over 5,000 people. Sigma Stretch Film has five North American plants with four in the United States and one in Canada. Sigma Stretch Film produces a full range of blown hand films including coextruded films and high performance, premium grade films. For more information, visit www.sigmastretchfilm.com.

For more information about Davis-Standard’s blown and cast film capabilities, contact Bob Moeller for cast film at moellerr@bc-egan.com and Rick Keller for blown film at kellerr@bc-egan.com.