American Trim unveils new line

LIMA — A century-old building on Baxter Street now houses the future of American Trim.

The company unveiled the newest addition to its ever-increasing line of products and processes on Thursday. The new ultraviolet tape line allows the company to coat the metal trim pieces it produces with a protective film using roughly 5 percent of the energy needed in the past and reducing carbon emissions to zero.

“This not only represents today's technology, but ... it represents the direction for us in the future,” said Bob Byrne, vice president of new product development.

The line was developed with the assistance of a $994,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development — federal stimulus money aimed at helping companies design and build new manufacturing spaces. American Trim added another $1.5 million to that pool, just for starters.

“That number is now being dwarfed by the continuing investment by American Trim to continue and expand on that initial work,” said Research and Development Director Steve Hatkevich

Hatkevich said the coating — basically, that thin sheet of plastic you peel off the face of appliances and electronics when you first get them — is a liquid that is traditionally cured into place with heat. With the new process, the liquid will be zapped with ultraviolet light. It will take just 6 microseconds to cure the plastic in place. The new process also allows workers to apply the seal only where needed, meaning no more cutting around handles to get the plastic off the new refrigerator.

The process cuts energy consumption by as much as 95 percent, saving the company money and making it more efficient than domestic and foreign competitors, Byrne said. That makes the process something other companies will covet.

“Energy is a key driver in the cost of fabricating goods. No matter where you create products in the world, it takes energy,” Byrne said.

Ohio Department of Development Director Christiane Schmenk attended the unveiling ceremony, along with a number of state and local representatives. She said the new line, and other innovations by American Trim, makes the most of the state's investment.

“This is exactly the kind of facility that the state would like to help,” Schmenk said. “It's amazing to see you maximize the resources that the state has invested.”

The line helped create and retain 21 jobs, Hatkevich said. It is located in the 110,000-square-foot Baxter Street facility that began 110 years ago as a boiler shop. Through the years, more than 40 million appliance door fronts were produced in the space, but the line gives it new life.

“In the future, product will leave this facility and go to all corners of the world. That's exciting,” Hatekevich said.