Extrusion
Dies Industries, LLC (EDI) is relocating its entire flat die remanufacturing
operation in
Chippewa Falls, Wisc., to a larger
facility that will be dedicated solely to die rework, spare parts fabrication,
and other aftermarket services, the company recently announced.
The move is part of an ongoing lean manufacturing initiative at EDI. It will
increase productivity for customers by reducing the time needed by EDI to work
on dies that have been sent for cleaning, resurfacing, repairs, refurbishment,
or system enhancements, such as upgrading from a manual to an automatic die,
according to Kelly Harings-Mrozinski, director of marketing.
“By establishing a facility organized solely around remanufacturing, EDI will
ensure that every die sent to us for rework spends less time in our plant and
more back where it belongs, generating saleable product for the customer,” says
Harings-Mrozinski.
Until now, rework at
Chippewa Falls has taken place in
the same world headquarters plant where EDI builds new dies. By October, EDI
will have completed relocating machining and finishing equipment for rework,
along with a staff of 20-plus engineers, machinists, and technicians, to a new
12,800 sq.ft. Aftermarket Services facility housed in a separate area of the
company’s
, not far from the
headquarters site. The move will free up additional space for the company’s
rapidly growing new-die business, according to Scott G. Smith, global
aftermarket manager.
Besides reworking flat dies, EDI will use the
to continue
providing rework of blown film dies and resurfacing of worn or damaged rubber
rolls used in film and coating processes.
The relocation will enable EDI to increase its aftermarket business
substantially within as little as a year, noted Smith. “The larger space and
added efficiency soon to be available will enable us to grow what is already a
sizeable rework business,” he said. “And while we intend to start operating the
Aftermarket Services facility on a five-day / 24-hour basis, we’re prepared to
expand to seven days as demand warrants.”
Rework plays a critical role in the working life of a flat die, enabling the
extrusion processor or converter to maintain high levels of productivity,
minimize downtime for maintenance, prevent product defects, and in some cases
even add new product capabilities not incorporated when the die was new. In
addition to the operation at Chippewa Falls, EDI operates fully equipped rework facilities
in China and Germany and licenses its rework technology for a
plant in
operated by Kodama Chemical Industry Company, Ltd. Besides remanufacturing EDI
dies, EDI can apply its proprietary technology to dies built by other suppliers
and even provide spare parts for them. In addition, EDI offers expedited
service for urgent customer needs and can make small or temporary repairs at
the customer’s plant.
Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC
www.extrusiondies.com
New Facility Increases EDI's Die Rework Capabilities and Reduces Lead Time for Customers
October 4, 2011
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