Speciality films manufacturer Schweitzer-Mauduit (SWM, Alpharetta, Georgia / USA; www.swmintl.com) is expanding its global capacities for TPU film. Not long ago, SWM installed an additional production line for “Argotec” protective films at its site in Suzhou, Jiangsu / China. It is due to begin commercial production at the beginning of 2020. The investment sum and projected capacity have not been disclosed.

An additional film production line in Gilberdyke / UK began operation earlier in 2019. As in Suzhou, the plants are using technology and processes that have been tested thoroughly at the company’s facility in Greenfield, Massachusetts / USA.

SWM acquired its TPU film activities in 2015 with the takeover of Argotec, which now operates within the US group as its Advanced Materials and Structures division – see Plasteurope.com of 16.10.2015.

At the Suzhou site, SWM also extrudes semi-finished tubes, rods and pipes from engineering and high-performance materials such as fluoropolymers, polysulphone, polyetherimide, PEEK, polycarbonate and polypropylene.

In addition to films – for composite RTM applications too – SWM’s activities include semi-finished products, nonwovens and speciality papers. The group has a total of seven production plants in Europe, including three in France, and in 2018 posted an operating result of USD 135m (just under EUR 122m), with turnover of USD 1.04 bn.