American Trim Takes Delivery of a New, More Powerful Capacitor Bank to Support its Growing Electromagnetic Forming Business

American Trim will use the more powerful capacitor bank to increase its capability to form high strength steel and other alloys and potentially replace traditional stamping methods

Lima, Ohio – April 5, 2010
American Trim announced it has received its 90 kilojoules capacitor bank from EWI out of Columbus, OH to support its expanding electromagnetic forming business. American Trim and EWI both recognize the potential for EMF and Magnetic Pulse Welding (MPW) as emerging technologies. "MPW allows unique utilization of materials and fabrication with dissimilar material combinations not found in industry today," said Dr. Jerry Gould, Technology Leader, EWI. "EMF techniques studied at EWI and American Trim likewise allow for the precision forming of materials in ways previously unimaginable."

The new capacitor bank will expand American Trim’s offering; the 90 kJunit will join a 2-24 kJ banks, 16 kJ bank, 6 kJ bank and 1.2 kJ bank already in operation at the Company.

“This new capacitor bank signals our commitment to continue to advance the technology to a much greater audience,” said Steve Hatkevich, Director of Research and Development for American Trim. “We have been working closely with our existing and several new clients on a diverse set of applications including crimping and decorative stamping and soon will launch a production line supporting those applications. The promise of EMF in terms of precision forming, uniform strain distribution of the material and cost reduction is being delivered.”

About Electromagnetic Forming Electromagnetic forming uses electrical energy which is stored in a capacitor bank and released through an actuator to form a part. The part is accelerated to a speed of up to 150 meters per second. This acceleration renders the part into a hyperplastic state which permits a very precise and uniform deformation of the substrate. American Trim has advanced the technology commercially in the areas of crimping and high precision, low stress stamping for decorative aluminum material as well as stainless steel fuel cell bipolar plates.

Inquiries for the technology should be directed to John Swigard, Director of Marketing for American Trim at jswigard@amtrim.com.

About American Trim
American Trim specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates and is Tier 1 supplier to the transportation and appliance markets. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design and Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

About EWI
EWI is a leading engineering and technology organization dedicated to materials joining and allied technologies. We provide applied research, manufacturing support, and strategic services to nearly 2,800 member company locations of global leaders in the aerospace, automotive, defense, energy and chemical, government, heavy manufacturing, and electronics industries. Visit ewi.org for more information.

American Trim Receives $994,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding

The Company will install a new line to selectively protect manufactured components using coatings produced in-house and then cured using UV light

Lima, Ohio – February 8, 2010
American Trim announced today that it received $994,000 from the State Energy Plan to install a new state-of-the-art coating line to produce products for the alternative energy, automotive, and appliance industries. The new coating line will consume far less energy then the existing processing line and provide greater product functionality to its customers.

Mayor David Berger of Lima, Ohio was joined by Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel along with several local and regional dignitaries to make the announcement in American Trim’s plant on Baxter Street in Lima. “This effort by American Trim is part of a multi-year commitment by the Company to reinvent its manufacturing processes and pursue an agile manufacturing strategy with the express purpose of retaining jobs in Ohio and Lima in particular,” said Mayor Berger.

Installation of the new Selective Protective Mask (SPM) Line and complimentary Finish Development Center will create job opportunities for Lima, Ohio.

The new line, which uses new coatings cured by UV light, will reduce energy consumption by up to 95% when compared to the old thermally cured coatings. This eliminates the need to heat the coating and the substrate, cure the coating and then cool the panel back to a temperature that can be easily handled—dramatically reducing energy consumption. These coatings will be selectively applied which allows the part to retain the protective coating throughout the manufacturing process, continue through the sales process and into the consumer’s home where the protective coating can then be removed. This is both a process and cost improvement for manufacturers.

Steve Hatkevich, Director of Research and Development at American Trim expressed, “We are appreciative of the support from the Ohio Department of Development, the Mayor and our Representatives to make this possible. We will add over $1.3 million of our own funding to bring this state of the art installation to our facility and create jobs for our County.”

About American Trim
American Trim specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates and is Tier 1 supplier to the transportation and appliance markets. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design and Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

Secretary Locke selects American Trim as host for local Town Hall meeting based on their efforts to support alternative energy and to create jobs in Ohio.

Lima, OH- Today, American Trim hosted United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at their Research and Development Center in Lima, Ohio. The visit was a far reaching effort by the Commerce Department to visit Ohio companies to learn of plans to support the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan and showcase new manufacturing techniques supporting that effort.

During Secretary Locke’s visit to American Trim he toured the development center to see the advancements made in fuel cell production capabilities. “We were able to demonstrate, in real time, technology which will play an important role in enabling the Administration’s alternative energy program as well as change the face of American manufacturing,” commented Rick Pfeifer, American Trim’s Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “And, importantly for Ohio and American Trim, this technology will create jobs.” Locke remarked after his tour of the facility that, “This factory, American Trim is a great example of the Department of Commerce use of Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) to help private sector companies drive growth.”

In addition to US Secretary Locke, Lieutenant Governor Fisher and Lima’s Mayor Berger also addressed the audience of Lima-based companies during the town hall meeting.

Mayor Berger expressed his goal of attracting State’s investment dollars to the Lima area to fund growth and innovation leading to jobs. “Our goal is to invigorate the existing manufacturing base with innovation and technology. American Trim is an exciting example delivering on the vision.”

The Lieutenant Governor explained during the town hall discussion that attracting businesses to the Ohio area is the main focus of the Governor’s office. They believe this can be done through adjusting to the changing economy by continuing to innovate and grow. He commented on American Trim’s use of state funding as being, “a model Ohio company that is symbolic of the kinds of companies we want to keep and attract to Ohio.”

About American Trim
American Trim was founded in 1951 and specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design, Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

American Trim, The Ohio State University and General Motors Complete the Requirements for the First Fuel Cell Grant

Lima, OH - Today, American Trim, Ohio State University and General Motors demonstrated, in real time, the actual production of a fuel cell bipolar plate before a group of collaborators and media at American Trim’s Research and Development Facility in Lima, Ohio. The production of the bipolar plate represents another success for the Lima, Ohio based company in demonstrating that it is putting the State’s Third Frontier Grant monies to productive use. This work supports the second Grant which assembles the plates into a functional fuel cell.

“This team has reached a significant milestone that could be a catalyst in bringing alternative fuel vehicles to the buying public. We have demonstrated the very real possibility that we can produce fuel cell bipolar plates for a fraction of what they currently cost. A fraction.” said Rick Pfeifer, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at American Trim. Mayor David Berger was on hand for the presentation and said “Rewards go to those who innovate and break thru despite economic restraints. What this team has accomplished is a big win for Northwest Ohio and Lima in particular as we build on our strategy of transforming manufacturing in the State.”

Also on hand for the event were:

• Dr. Glenn Daehn a Professor at OSU and recognized expert within the electromagnetic forming technologies.
• Dr. Mike Martin the VP of Fuel Cell Technology at EMTEC
• Pat Valente the Director of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition

About High Velocity Metal Forming
High Velocity Metal Forming (HVMF) is a method of metal forming where the sheet metal to be formed is accelerated to 300 meters per second into a die, and thereby forms the part. It is an exciting breakthrough in metal forming technology which could add more precision to the metal forming process, increase processing speed and reduce cost in terms or equipment and processing.

About American Trim
American Trim was founded in 1951 and specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design, Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

American Trim collaborates with Lincoln on the interior of the new MKS “Moda” Concept Car for the SEMA Show

Las Vegas, Nevada –November 10, 2008

American Trim announced that the company played a collaborative role on the interior of the Lincoln MKS "Moda" concept vehicle. American Trim created the gold patterned metallic instrument panel accent trim exclusively for the project.

"I really enjoyed working with Ford on this project. They gave us the opportunity to challenge the boundaries of beautiful design. I am very pleased with the result," commented Audra Keiber, American Trim Designer.

"The pattern brings into the interior a soft elegance, using an organic element. The warmth of this particular color married the use of the organic patterning with the high class, high quality feel that Ford was looking for," added Keiber.

The Lincoln MKS "Moda" concept vehicle was in the Ford Motor Company display area at SEMA.

About American Trim American Trim was founded in 1951 and specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design, Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

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American Trim and DuPont CoatingSolutions showcase heavy truck bumper coating using “green” Physical Vapor Deposition technology at the SEMA Show

Las Vegas, Nevada –November 6, 2008

Today, American Trim and DuPont CoatingSolutions unveiled a full size, heavy truck bumper coated using the Physical Vapor Deposition technology at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The coating of this bumper represents a giant step forward in applying PVD to large part applications.

“This team set out in January to prove that PVD could be successfully applied to a large part application and meet the OEM requirements of our customer partners,” said Rick Pfeifer, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at American Trim.

Pfeifer went on to say that “PVD is not new – we see it in many of today’s household applications including faucets and other fixtures within the home. And, PVD is making it’s way onto larger part applications in the automotive world.”

“What is new is how PVD is being applied on the scale presented here. And, what is exciting is not only the potential for cost savings that this new process promises but also the “green effect” of what is now a credible alternative to traditional hexavalent chrome plating.”

Jack McKeague, from DuPont CoatingSolutions add, “We are very proud of the fact that the base coat (DuPont™ Vacuprime™), and top coat are DuPont products and of the commitment of our mutual technical teams and relentless pursuit of getting the science right that will propel us going forward.”

To learn more about PVD and the efforts of American Trim and DuPont CoatingSolutions, please visit Booth #23378 or contact Jack McKeague from DuPont at 708-921-9073 or John Swigard from American Trim at 937-494-6507.

About Physical Vapor Deposition Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is a technology used to deposit thin film coatings onto Ferrous and Non Ferrous Substrates. PVD is a major departure from traditional metal plating technologies characterized by an extremely environmentally friendly footprint.

The process allows for a “chrome-like” finish on virtually any substrate, while potentially reducing overall costs compared to traditional plating technologies.

About DuPont DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

About American Trim American Trim was founded in 1951 and specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design, Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

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Read More about our PVD coated bumper and the PVD coating process

American Trim included in group that receives $3 million in new funding from Ohio’s Third Frontier Wright Projects program to commercialize advanced functional and decorative thin-film coating processes.

The funding is the result of a collaborative effort between American Trim, Rhodes State College, Ohio Northern University, The Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC), The Ohio Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Center and the City of Lima, Ohio.

American Trim announced today that the grant application for the Materials Deposition Center (of which American Trim is a collaborative partner) was awarded $3 million from the Third Frontier Wright Projects Program. American Trim will supplement the grant with a comparable in-kind investment through facilities and personnel.

The MDC will scale up laboratory-proven coating technologies into a production-scale digital application system. The first project will be the development and demonstration of a low cost engineered finish simulating stainless steel sheet material suitable for use in refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, washers, dryers, and control panels for the decorative stainless steel appliance market.

Subsequent projects will include highly complex, patterned finishes targeting additional interior environments including automotive, home and commercial buildings.

The Center seeks to exploit new digital printing and materials deposition processes to produce engineered finishes while avoiding the use of expensive alloys or environmentally hazardous coating processes. Such surface appearances have not previously been producible via commercial printing or industrial deposition but dramatic new advances in digital printing and materials dispensing technologies are enabling these two industrial arts to converge.

Finally, the MDC will serve as a workforce development facility to train technicians and undergraduate and graduate level engineering students in the new technologies. The Materials Deposition Center will be constructed adjacent to the Advanced Materials Commercialization Center (AMCC) (a product of the first Third Frontier Grant awarded to Rhodes State College and American Trim) which is within American Trim’s Research and Development facility in Lima, Ohio.

American Trim Vice President Rick Pfeifer, commenting on the collaboration efforts of the partners to bring advanced solutions to the marketplace, said, "Based on what I've seen, Lima, Ohio is able to play on the world stage in energy and technology development."

Collaborative partners for the project include American Trim, Rhodes State College, Ohio Northern University, The Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC), The Ohio Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Center and the City of Lima, Ohio.

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American Trim receives $1 million in new funding to advance Fuel Cell Technology at its Lima, Ohio research and development facility

The Agile Hybrid Joining of Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates has the potential to complete another step in the development of this exciting new technology and further establishes the State of Ohio and the City of Lima in particular as a center of excellence for fuel cell technology

American Trim announced today that it was awarded $1 million for its Agile Hybrid Joining of Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates project. This funding makes possible the next stage of Fuel Cell technology development at the Lima based company.

American Trim intends to demonstrate that a 100-percent, full function, scale hydrogen fuel cell product can be made that is cost competitive when compared with an internal combustion engine. Attaining this goal will require the use of new technology that can reliably join foil plates without the complications of other methods.

American Trim is already working collaboratively with the State of Ohio, Ohio State University and General Motors on a prior project to manufacture metal bi-polar plates through the use of electromagnetic forming. The project is designed to reduce the cost of manufacturing bi-polar plates to a fraction of their current price. The new project adds the capability of joining the plates together and thereby combining operations and reducing process cost.

“We are excited about the potential for fuel cell vehicles in the marketplace and the ability for our combined efforts with the State of Ohio, City of Lima, General Motors and Ohio State University to bring the cost of this key component to a level that enables the technology to move forward,” commented Steve Hatkevich, Director of Research and Development.

In addition to fuel cell development, American Trim expects to leverage the learnings of the project to other areas of their business and believes there could be benefit to other companies in the State of Ohio as the technology continues to develop.

Work will begin on the new project within the next 30—60 days.

Inquiries for the new technology should be directed to Steve Hatkevich, Director of Research and Development at 419-996-4740 or John Swigard, Director of Marketing at 937-494-6507.