Turkish company Ozer, based in Eskisehir, has strengthened its production of polypropylene bubble guard board by implementing a new retrofit package on its existing extrusion line supplied by Colines. The line, in operation for over a year, produces PP-based alveolar sheets that are lightweight, versatile and mechanically robust, addressing the needs of several downstream industries including packaging, construction, furniture, automotive and graphic arts. Since commissioning, Ozer has combined the extrusion line with various converting machines to obtain a broad spectrum of finished products based on the same alveolar sheet technology, building internal know-how on both processing and application development.
According to the company, day-to-day production experience has allowed it to fully exploit the potential of the bubble guard board technology in terms of design flexibility and product performance. The multi-industry use of these PP-based sheets has encouraged Ozer to look for further optimisation on the extrusion side. This has led to the decision to invest in a dedicated retrofit package supplied by Colines, with the objective of increasing line efficiency while at the same time enabling an expanded product portfolio. The upgrade is intended to support the development of additional board variants and new applications derived from the same base technology.
From Ozer's perspective, the performance of the line and the cooperation with the equipment supplier were key factors behind the new investment. The company reports high satisfaction with both reliability and process flexibility, which are considered essential for serving multiple industrial segments. The long-term operation of the line under commercial conditions provided the basis for assessing where retrofitting could bring measurable gains and how the extrusion platform could be adapted to future product requirements without replacing the core line.
Operational experience and supplier support
Raşit Özkan Özer, chairman of Ozer, underlined the role of stable operation and technical support in the decision to proceed with the retrofit. He stated: "We are extremely pleased with our bubble guard board line and with the results achieved so far. The system has proven to be both reliable and flexible, perfectly matching our production needs. What we truly appreciate is the ongoing cooperation with Colines as their support did not stop after installation. From the start-up phase to the recent retrofit, their technical team has always been there, ensuring the best possible performance of our line."
The statement points to continuous collaboration beyond the initial sale and commissioning. For Ozer, the availability of technical support during start-up and regular operation, as well as during the implementation of the retrofit package, is cited as a contributing factor to achieving stable production and performance targets. The retrofit is positioned as a further step in this cooperation, rather than as a separate project, building on operational data and feedback gathered over more than a year of production.
Colines' role in extrusion technology and partnerships
Colines, the Italian supplier of the bubble guard board extrusion line and the new retrofit package, emphasises that its technology continues to support Ozer's growth and product development. For the machinery manufacturer, the Ozer project is presented as an example of a long-term partnership based on extrusion technology combined with tailored engineering solutions and after-sales service. The cooperation includes not only the initial design and delivery of the line but also subsequent upgrades aligned with the converter's evolving product strategy.
In this context, the bubble guard board platform is used as a basis for incremental improvements that target both process efficiency and application range. Colines states that the collaboration with Ozer demonstrates its commitment to supporting customers over the entire lifecycle of an extrusion line. The company links its approach to the combination of "cutting-edge extrusion technology" with personalised engineering and dedicated support functions that are maintained after the line has been put into operation.
By integrating the retrofit into an already established production environment, both partners aim to improve the competitiveness of Ozer's PP alveolar sheet products in the markets they serve. The project also underscores the role of retrofitting as a means of extracting additional value and performance from existing extrusion assets in the plastics processing industry.
