Arch to under go major extrusion expansion

Arch Aluminum & Glass Co., Inc. has announced the expansion of its extrusion operations in Miami. Over the next 12 to 14 months, Arch Aluminum & Glass will add a second extrusion line, expanded finishing capability and 70,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

Arch Aluminum & Glass will be installing what it calls state-of-the-art equipment, including what the company says is one of the largest extrusion presses in Florida. The press, will be manufactured by Clecim, part of the Siemens VAI group. The extrusion press will be designed and built in VAI CLECIM's workshops in Montbrison, France to ISO 9000 Standard under the company's total quality program. The 2,750 US Ton press is designed to run with either 8- or 9-inch billet and features Clecim's front loading design that increases quality as well as productivity.

"We pride ourselves on being the premier independent extruder in South Florida. This state-of-the-art expansion gives us the capabilities and increased capacity that will allow us to provide even more services directly to our customers with increased levels of service and support. We truly believe that it is our duty to provide the best possible quality and "one to one" service to our customers," said Arch extrusion general manager Michael E Rodriguez.

The expansion of the Miami plant will include more than 70,000 square feet of new manufacturing space and will almost triple the current extrusion production capacity. The additional square footage will house Arch's new fully automated Anodizing line capable of finishing profiles to more than 26 feet in length. The anodizing system will be designed and manufactured by Italtecno of Modena, Italy. The environmentally sensitive design will feature chrome-free chemistry, top of the line waste-water treatment facility, and the Freeal sulfuric acid recovery system. In 2007 Arch Extrusions will offer durable anodic finishes including Satin, Champagne, Black, as well as an array of Bronze finishes.

Other highlights of the expansion include:
The heating equipment will be manufactured by Belco Industries of Belding Michigan. The system includes a Belco/B&O Hot Log Saw, this technology provides the quality of pre-cut billets with the flexibility of optimization. Belco also is providing Electric drawer type die heating ovens, a single cell Infra-Red Die Oven and Age Oven with powered roller conveyors.

In addition to the heating equipment Belco Industries will manufacture the complete handling system for the press. The line features an all Kevlar belt system, dual extrusion pullers with extrusion saw roller conveyor, 50 Ton stretcher, B&0 Saw and a newly developed Belco extrusion stacker. The system will also include 2 overhead duct cooling systems, under table cooling and a spray & standing wave water quench.