Contact:

Skip Glatt
G.A.I.M. Engineering, Inc.
630-350-9500

GAIM ENGINEERING TAKES CLIENTS FROM ‘ART TO PART’ AND LOWERS COSTS

BENSENVILLE—In this age of conservation, the recycling of post-use products has become viewed not only as the most feasible solution for managing society’s waste, but also for keeping production costs low. GAIM (Glatt Aided Injection Molding) Engineering was at the forefront of the industrial plastics recycling movement, having been committed to industrial recycling long before it became popular.

“The steady depletion of available raw materials and the continual rise in manufacturing costs have caused an urgent need for alternative sources,” explains Skip Glatt, president of GAIM. “This is particularly true of the plastics industry which is heavily dependant upon the volatile petrochemical market.”

Founded in 1990, GAIM develops, creates, molds and markets durable goods from post-industrial plastics. The company employs the latest technology, with injection molding machines from Asia, feeding systems from Canada and material drying systems from the U.S, all microprocessor-controlled.

“Our claim is to reclaim,” says Glatt. “Recycling is more than just good business sense, it also works to conserve and protect our limited natural resources.“

Glatt started GAIM with more than 23 years in the plastics industry, after having worked at several different plastics companies throughout the United States. ”In spite of the differences in size and focus, one thing remained the same,” explains Glatt. “Everybody had ‘scrap’ plastics they didn’t know what to do with. Most of it would sit, stockpiled in warehouses.”

Remembering all that surplus plastic, Glatt focused on finding ways to use it. Where many of his competitors begin with completely virgin materials and add a little of the reprocessed plastics, GAIM starts with 100% post-use plastics as its feedstock and goes from there.

Among the parts that are recycled and used as its feedstock: Car engine manifolds, other interior automotive trim, refrigerator door panels and shelves, telephone housings, vacuum cleaner cases and trim, toys, housings for business machines, small appliances, and other consumer electronics. “The idea has been successful,” adds Glatt. “Using second-generation plastics as feedstock can lower costs by as much as 65%.”

In addition to offering reclamation, mold building and assembly assistance, GAIM provides design, prototype, test and analysis services. Glatt takes particular pride in the creative work he has done to help to redesign and improve products for his customers.

“By utilizing the latest in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Manufacturing (CAM) imaging technologies, we can offer a full range of services,” says Glatt. ”Making GAIM capable of taking clients from idea to fulfillment and distribution.”

GAIM has helped to develop a wide range of durable goods products that demonstrate the versatility of plastics, often improving upon the original design to replace more expensive and heavier weight metals and less durable woods with plastic.

“Compared to wood and metal, virgin thermoplastics are expensive and therefore excluded as a viable material,” explains Glatt. “However, the utilization of recycled plastics can drastically reduce manufacturing costs without losing anything in terms of aesthetics and durability. This then makes plastics the most feasible and attractive option.”

Products redesigned and improved by GAIM include: