Shibaura Machine, NFM Extend License Agreement on Twin-Screw Compounders

Japan’s Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd. and NFM Welding Engineers Inc. have extended their license agreement concerning the former’s TEM Series compounding extruder technology. As a result, the machines will be manufactured and sold by NFM for a another 10 years. The deal was announced during NPE2024.

The TEM technology includes co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw extruder models designed around the industry standard 1.55 D/d ratio, including the TEM-S, TEM-SS, and TEM-SX providing specific torque values of 10.0, 13.1, and 18.1 Nm/cm³ respectively. Additionally, Shibaura and NFM also offer the TEM-DS model offering an increased 1.8 D/d ratio for higher volume applications.

Shibaura Machinery is a long-established machine tool manufacturer that celebrates its 75 year anniversary this year. The company originated from Shibaura Seisakusho, the predecessor of Toshiba Corp. 

Ohio-based NFM is an industry leader in the design and configuration of extrusion equipment, specializing in custom engineered turnkey systems for the plastic and rubber industries. In addition to the TEM Series co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw extruders, NFM offers their WE Series of counter-rotating non-intermeshing twin-screw extruders as well as their HSX-II and HRX-II single-screw extruders for plastics and rubber applications.

NFM also provides parts, repair and refurbishing services for any OEM extruder and their components, global field service, and an in-house pilot plant for process development and lab trials.

The relationship between the two companies dates back to 1998. Says Paul Roberson, NFM president, “We have worked with Shibaura for over 26 years. This third license renewal will make it 35 years of working together and will hopefully continue beyond that. NFM has experienced an excellent relationship with Shibaura both in business and on a personal level. Shibaura has the best technology available and maintains the highest degree of quality. TEM and NFM’s other product technologies have highly elevated NFM’s presence in the overall marketplace.”

Adds Kazuhisa Iwami, managing executive officer of Extrusion Department in Shibaura Machine, "It has been a great pleasure to push each other for this precious 35 years, and we are looking forward to the continuous development on both companies. We also hope to continue this relationship and deepen it further."