EDI Press Release

Rework Facility Dedicated to Blown Film Dies Is ‘a Natural Next Step’ for a Builder of Flat Dies that Has Also Reworked Them for Nearly All of Its 38 Years in Business

Blown film producers looking to maximize the return on their original die investment now can turn to a new provider of rework services with expertise in the engineering, machining, and plating processes required to make a used blown film die as good as new, it was announced today by Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC (EDI).

After acquiring Quality Machine of Chippewa Falls, Inc. (QMI) one year ago, EDI continued that company’s blown film die reconditioning business while drawing on its own resources to create an essentially new operation, according to global aftermarket manager Scott G. Smith. Today EDI maintains an 11,000 sq.ft. (1,020 sq.m) section of the former QMI facility as a dedicated blown film die rework plant, one that is can be operated around the clock on a project if a customer needs expedited service. The plant is located half a mile (0.8 km) from EDI’s world headquarters.

“EDI has reworked flat dies built by us and other companies for most of its 38 years, developing proprietary remanufacturing techniques and establishing rework as an important part of the company’s business,” said Smith. “While we do not build new blown film dies, reworking them is a natural next step for us, calling for exactly the kinds of engineering skills, precision machining, and plating capabilities that have long been keys to our success.”

EDI supplies three general types of rework service for used blown film dies:

• Repairing, refinishing, and modification.This involves disassembly; stripping away plating; cleaning; repairing worn or damaged surfaces; replacing worn or failed electrical and mechanical parts; refinishing to reestablish critical dimensions for internal flow surfaces, lip edges, and seals; modifications to the die gap; polishing; plating; and reassembly.


• Cleaning and inspection. EDI can disassemble dies for maintenance cleaning and inspect the system in the process, providing recommendations for current or future repairs. Expedited ‘split and clean” service is available to help customers minimize production downtime.


• Replacement parts. EDI inventories a number of parts for blown film dies and can also carry out reverse engineering to fabricate replacements.

A related EDI capability of interest to operators of both blown and flat die production lines is the resurfacing of worn or damaged rubber rolls used in both film and coating processes. This also was a business originally carried on by QMI.