New Manufacturing Alliance Between IRT & Bata Plastics Back to News
A NEW manufacturing alliance between environmental stewards, IRT and Bata Plastics, creates a cost-effective way to use even more recycled plastic materials in manufacturing than ever before.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2009
Grand Rapids, MI -- IRT (Innovative Resin Technologies), a division of Davidson Plyforms Inc., and Bata Plastics are combining their complementary talents including manufacturing expertise and material science knowledge of polymers to provide customers with more sustainable solutions throughout a broader range of industries.
The alliance between Bata Plastics and IRT will set new standards in the plastic compression molding industry by creating more uses for household and industrial plastic waste at highly competitive prices. With environmental sustainability at the forefront of most industry initiatives, Bata's skillfulness in developing a greater variety of material-specific recycled polymer blends and IRT's expertise in processing them into useable products position these two companies for strong economic growth.
IRT utilizes a patented technology in its material blending process to co-mingle all types of polymers, out of 100% household and industrial waste, and compression mold them into products such as seats and backs for office seating. Bata Plastics specializes in buying and selling surplus and rejected parts of post-industrial plastics from various manufacturers and scrap dealers. They are also the largest plastic recycler in Western Michigan and among the top 100 in North America in 2008.
"In the past, part of the waste stream collected from Bata's customers was unable to be re-used because there was no established outlet for it in the manufacturing sector," said W. Lee Hammond, President of Bata Plastics. "With IRT's unique blending process which creates more product uses for all types of recycled plastics, we can now utilize our total waste stream, and provide lower-cost material solutions to our customers."
In addition to the benefit of exceptional design and engineering that IRT has always provided to its customers, this new partnership establishes a closed loop recycling process for both companies. Along with the 100% recycled plastic waste used in IRT's products, any scrap created during the manufacturing process is sent back to Bata Plastics for re-grinding and re-use - avoiding any presence in landfills from cradle to grave.
"IRT has the reputation as a company committed to protecting the environment through cost-effective solutions. I am pleased that this alliance with Bata Plastics strengthens our supply chain resource and allows IRT to really focus on doing what they do best; developing a broad range of products to meet the needs of the marketplace." said John Walton, President of Davidson Plyforms.
Supporting this new alliance is Davidson Plyforms' long-time partner, Leggett & Platt - a diversified manufacturer that designs and produces a broad variety of products that can be found in almost every home, office, retail store and automobile. The Fortune 500 company serves a broad array of U.S. manufacturers and retailers. The firm has 29 business units, 33,000 employee-partners, and more than 300 facilities located in over 20 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.plyforms.com or www.bataplastics.com .
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FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact:
Joe Jacques
IRT/Davidson Plyforms
616-956-0033
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Matt Hammond
Bata Plastics
616-452-5300
