IT’S ‘HIGH-STRENGTH WITH AESTHETICS’ AT AMFI-CRAFT
PHOTO: The Amfi-Craft sheet extrusion line in Straundale, Port Elizabeth, one of the most impressive GRP/FRP sheet extrusion plants in the country … with Vaughn Finkelstein not being keen to reveal too many details
AMFI-CRAFT Industries, which made news recently when it purchased the sheet extrusion plant of Modek of East London, showed its hand further when it briefly allowed visitors into its flat sheet extrusion line in Straundale, Port Elizabeth.
Originally set up as a garage operation to manufacture GRP/FRP products such as cooler boxes, shell pools, outdoor furniture, signage and other composite items, Amficraft’s expertise has steadily evolved over the past two decades-plus, with steps into polyurethane foaming and then full-on production of reinforced flat sheet. The extrusion line’s capabilities have expanded exponentially and the company now produces a range of sheet types, including Wovex™, Rovatex™, Skytex™ and Rhinotex™ sheet, each with its own characteristics.
On-going R+D by the Amficraft team, during which they “tried and tested everything” has resulted in the production of high-quality sheet across the range. Numerous changes have been made to counteract affects such as the excessive shrinkage of polyester in the cast process and the extreme need to retain a specific temperate in the plant.
“Everything on the line is super critical,” said Vaughn Finkelstein, one of the directors of the family-run business, who joined the business started by his father Roy some years ago.
Initial popularity for the Amficraft sheet grew from its application in retail display units, where the fact that it was light and strong as well as easy to clean drew attention. Amficraft has gone on from there, steadily ramping up the capabilities of the extrusion line. Its most recent development, the Rhinotex sheet, exhibits ‘extreme’ impact resistance along with high gloss content and ‘superior mechanical properties’ – meaning that it is suitable for transport containers and large trailer structures where long-lasting appearance and shape retention is essential. And exceptional impact resistance is vital to prevent denting, as voids created within the twin-wall structure can lead to speeded up – and very unwelcome – insulation failure.
Amficraft has now reached the point that it offers “high strength with aesthetics,” said Vaughn, the two most sought after criteria combined.
“It’s the strongest reinforced sheet in the world,” he added with a twinkle.
But, genuinely, there is no reason why South African composites innovators cannot achieve world leading performance.