Agru installs new extruder in Nevada

Agru America Inc., manufacturer of polyethylene geomembrane liners, has added a new, twin-screw, high-production extruder to its production facility in Fernley, Nev., according to an August press release from the company.

Responding to increased demand, the two existing extruders were supplemented with a third extruder that has a 50% greater production rate than the two in-place units.

The new extruder further enhances the capabilities of Agru’s flat-die, calendared extrusion equipment. In 2012, the company will install two additional machines with co-extrusion capabilities in making multilayer resins and multicolored liners, the release stated.

Agru America president and CEO, Robert Johnson, said the company recognized the need for manufacturing geomembrane liners in in proximity to the western United States, Canada, and México. To meet this need, Agru began facility plans in 2006, and liner production began in April 2008 at the new Nevada facility.

The press release noted that the Fernley location is Agru’s production and shipping hub for western North America and the Pacific Rim, plus South America, Asia, and Australia. This proximity to expanding mining markets in Arizona, México, Nevada, and Alaska reduces freight costs and delivery times.

“This increase in production capabilities will bring a sigh of relief in the western mining industry,” said Clark West, the Agru’s western regional marketing manager.

“Precious and base metals prices are rising steadily and with the quantities of these materials in the west, is causing many mines to expand and new mines to start up increasing demand for the protective liners we produce in our Fernley plant,” West said.