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Specialized press

December 21, 2011

Agri-Industrial Plastics on Bloomberg Businessweek

April 25, 2011

PRESS RELEASE:

Agri-Industrial Plastics Continues to Expand Production of EPA-Compliant, Non-Automotive Fuel Tanks

Third Multilayer Coex Blow Molding Machine from Kautex Delivers Barrier Solution for ATV, Marine, and Lawn and Garden Markets.

FAIRFIELD, Iowa, March 21st, 2011 -- Agri-Industrial Plastics Co. has strengthened its commitment to the non-automotive fuel tank market with the purchase of a new six-layer continuous co-extrusion blow molding machine from Bonn, Germany-based Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH. The new multilayer machine – the third unit purchased from Kautex in five years – effectively triples Agri-Industrial’s fuel tank capacity to meet the growing U.S. demand in the lawn & garden, ATV, snowmobile, and marine markets.
Manufacturers of these small-engine fuel tanks made of HDPE have increasingly turned to multilayer technology, which has been recognized as the most effective barrier solution for meeting stringent permeation requirements set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to Agri-Industrial. The company began production of non-automotive multilayer fuel tanks in 2005. The newest machine was installed in October 2010, and is now in fully operational according to Geoff Ward, Agri-Industrial’s engineering manager.

"This investment further reinforces our view that multilayer technology is the superior approach in meeting today's stringent evaporative emission standards," said Ward. "It's a proven technology that is cost competitive, is consistent in meeting emission standards, and has processing and quality benefits." The new COEX machine from Kautex is a KBSmart 61. It uses s single clamp and robotic parison transfer to optimize production efficiencies.

The HDPE fuel tank is composed of two virgin layers, two adhesive layers, an EVOH barrier layer, and a regrind layer. Permeation levels for the multilayer tanks far exceed the current EPA standard, which limits fuel vapor emissions to 1.5 g/m2/day with CE10 fuel at 28 C.
The new COEX machine will be used to manufacture fuel tanks for all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, golf carts, personal watercraft, and a variety of lawn and garden applications including riding mowers, tractors, and other commercial equipment.

Agri-Industrial was one of the first non-automotive custom blow molders in the U.S. to adopt multilayer technology as a barrier solution to meet tougher environmental regulations. The company works closely with customers to develop and design highly intricate part geometries which are not only EPA-compliant but also functional.

About Agri-Industrial Plastics Co.
Founded in 1978, Agri-Industrial Plastics Co. is a leading industrial blow molder of large parts including non-automotive fuel tanks for the recreational equipment, lawn and garden, agricultural, and watercraft industries. The custom blow molder serves a diverse customer base and offers unparalleled expertise in part design, mold design, engineering, part production, and assembly. Agri-Industrial’s 186,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility in Fairfield, Iowa, houses 20 monolayer accumulator-head industrial blow molding machines and three multilayer continuous co-extrusion machines specifically for non-automotive fuel tank production. Learn more by calling (641) 472-4188 or visiting www.agriindustrialplastics.com.