Another Alliance in Thermoforming Machinery.

Two manufacturers of continuous thermoforming machinery for packaging have formed a joint venture to design, build, sell, and service integrated sheet-extrusion and thermoforming systems worldwide. Irwin Research and Development Inc., Yakima, Wash., and OMV-USA, Genoa City, Wis., will jointly form a new firm called Irwin OMV Technology Inc., which will produce systems based on technologies from both firms.

Irwin makes high-volume roll-fed machines for forming polystyrene foam and light-gauge solid sheet. OMV is an Italian-based supplier of extruders and inline thermoformers, best known for its trim-in-place machines for polypropylene.

The new company will be based in Yakima, Wash., at a soon-to-be-built manufacturing and administrative site of 30,000-50,000 sq ft. Future products from the new firm will include a system for wider sheet than is now offered by either partner. The first product from the firm is scheduled to arrive next year. Irwin and OMV will continue to run their existing business separately but will coordinate product sales.

Two months ago, an alliance was announced by Lyle Industries of Beaverton, Mich., and Gabler Maschinenbau of Lubeck, Germany (see PT, April '00, p. 60).