PlastiComp™, Inc. announced today that the company has acquired full ownership and all rights to the Pushtrusion® Technology from Woodshed Technologies, Inc., Winona, MN. This innovative process was originally conceived, ---- engineered and patented by Woodshed Technologies.

In making the announcement, PlastiComp™ CEO, Steve Bowen, said, “This marks a significant milestone in the growth of our PlastiComp™ business and opens up an exciting new phase of technology development and establishment of industry partnerships.” Bowen added, “ Increasing market interest in this unique, in-line compounding technology drove the move to acquire the technology and to accelerate investment in further technical development.” The new 15,000 square-foot PlastiComp™ Technical Development Center (TDC) opened in 2004. During the first year of operation a long-fiber pellet manufacturing line was installed, and a 300T Pushtrusion® equipped injection molding machine was installed for customer mold trials and further Pushtrusion® qualification and process development.

Pushtrusion® is a technology that combines continuous fiber reinforcement with molten polymer, creating fiber-reinforced compounds during the molding process. Pushtrusion® technology eliminates the need for pre-compounded composite pellets commonly utilized in molding. Pushtrusion® can be used with many part-forming processes, including injection, compression and transfer molding. This technology can significantly reduce overall manufacturing costs and may also improve the performance and appearance of the resulting molded parts

PlastiComp™, Inc. chairman, Roger Jones, commented, “Until this acquisition, PlastiComp™ had an exclusive, global license to market the Pushtrusion® technology. Now, with full ownership, we will accelerate both our marketing and the programs in our Technical Development Center.” Jones added, “At a time when there is increasing downward pressure on manufacturing costs and a simultaneous and dramatic increase in raw materials costs, the benefits of Pushtrusion® technology is quite attractive to manufacturers and end-users of both long and short fiber reinforced plastics.”


About PlastiComp

PlastiComp, Inc. is unique in providing both long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) technology and direct long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (D-LFT) technology to global customers. Complet® composite pellets provide a single pellet solution for customers with stringent requirements and rapid speed to market demands. In contrast, Pushtrusion® direct in-line compounding offers a complementary approach by providing substantial savings compared to precompounded thermoplastic composite pellets. PlastiComp also offers advanced contract molding along with research and development including formula development, material and part testing, and evaluation.

Complet® and Pushtrusion are registered trademarks of PlastiComp, Inc.


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