A legacy of leadership, high quality products, commitment to improvement and value-driven technology are what the Excel Polymers Burton, Ohio, plant brings to its customers.

Formerly M.A. Hanna Rubber Compounding, the Burton operation serves a diversified customer base offering a wide range of polymer product applications including flouroelastomer and specialty color applications. The facility features manufacturing as well as lab development capabilities producing both proprietary and customer-owned rubber compounds.

The facility custom mixes more than 6,000 formulations and services more than 300 processors, designers and assemblers with an annual production capacity of 125 million gross pounds.

“We have the responsiveness and flexibility to generate one to seven day order turnaround,” said John Gorrell, Plant Manager. “Our facility consistently strives to be a benchmark of excellence in customer service and safety performance.”

Each formulation is prepared in state-of-the-art internal mixers, ranging from 55 to 270 liters, incorporating 2,700 raw materials such as polymers, fillers, silicas, chemicals, waxes/lubes, resins and plasticizers. The facility mixes 5,000 batches a week with the typical order being five batches or 2,500 pounds each.

Unmatched in the industry, the Burton plant distributes to more than 30 states, Canada, Germany, China, Puerto Rico, Ireland and Belgium. The plant has 240 employees with a combined total of 3,000 years of knowledge and service in the polymer business.

“Our employees are highly skilled and dedicated,” Gorrell said. “This vast knowledge of the industry enables us to continuously incorporate unique systems, technology and services into our operations. Our dedication to our customer is unmatched in the industry.”

To meet customer demands, the Burton plant operates 24 hours a day for six days a week. Forty percent of the Excel Polymers Burton plant’s customer base is the automotive industry. The plant services many others including construction, consumer products, appliance, business machines, packaging, communications and electronics and medical equipment suppliers.

In operation since 1957, the Burton plant began as Ferry Rubber Incorporated before being purchased and renamed as Burton Rubber Processing. In 1986, the business was purchased by M.A. Hanna Company and was the first acquisition of the mining to polymer industry transformation. The business was renamed to M.A. Hanna Rubber Compounding. The business was purchased again to operate under PolyOne Elastomers and Performance Additives Group before being acquired in August to operate as a portion of Excel Polymers.

The manufacturing operations and development lab at the Excel Polymers Burton plant operates and maintains its quality management systems under ISO/TS 16949 and A2LA registration. We incorporate Six Sigma and LEAN business practices, NAFTA coverage and solution and value delivery.

“This plays a significant role in allowing us to offer unique services and products,” Gorrell said.

The Excel Polymers facility also is a leader in safety performance. Workers have logged more than one million hours during two years without a lost work day case and sustained a recordable incident rate of less than 1.0.

The Burton plant recycles all unused materials and scraps generated by the operation.

A commitment to community service is important to Excel Polymers Burton plant and employees have relationships with the Geauga County LEPC, local fire departments, hospitals, police departments and that local National Safety Council. The facility actively supports and participates in the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Geauga County Harvest For Hunger, Geauga County Job and Family Services, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Toys For Tots and the United Way of Geauga County.

For more information about the Excel Polymers Burton plant, contact John Gorrell at 440.834.5503.

© 2004 EXCEL Polymers LLC.