TB Philly, a Phoenixville, PA-based converter of a diverse group of tape products, films and abrasives, is definitely onto a successful formula, which has so far led to double-digit growth each year since the company's founding in 1995. TBP processes double- and single-sided PVC foam tapes for gasketing, glazing, and bonding applications as well as a range of open- and closed-cell products. In addition to tapes they slit surface protection films; transfer adhesives; double coated tapes; siliconized liner; polyethylenes; silicone and neoprene rubber; and a multitude of OEM items.

New slitters were a must, however, according to general manager Tom Kirby. “We needed to have greater flexibility, more productivity to meet our customers' needs. We needed to reduce our waste factor in order to pass along the savings in productivity to our customers—in order to remain competitive,” he says. Lever Mfg. (www.levercorp.com) was the supplier selected, and the partnership has been outstanding.

“Lever allowed us to bring our own material to their site and they showed us how to slit each of the various widths, liner types, and material types,” says Kirby. “Each and every log of material worked to perfection. We also felt that Lever Mfg. had high ethical standards...they actually delivered on the day they said that they would.” One slitter was installed in 2004 and another in 2005.

“An interesting story developed when our last machine was delivered in February 2005,” says Kirby. “The machine operator was having difficulty cutting the same material on the exact same new machine. That morning I was interviewing a lead operator to work on this new machine. I told him of the problem and he said to give him some time to look at why the material was not cutting properly. After one hour, he came back and said that the spindle was out of round. I called Lever and they said that has never happened. They came the next day with a new spindle and agreed that this was the issue. I found two things that day—an awesome new employee and the knowledge that Lever was an awesome company with employees who stand behind their product.”