Edge Rubber reopens

Edge Rubber, a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, rubber recycling company, has reopened under new ownership. The company had filed for bankruptcy protection late last year.

The company was forced to close this past May because of financial difficulties. However, the investment firm Anzu Partners, based in Washington, acquired the property at a Sheriff’s sale this past fall. On Nov. 10, 2016, Anzu Partners, along with the local management staff, acquired Edge Rubber. Less than three weeks later, Edge Rubber announced that it has begun producing material for its customers.

Sam Kauffman, the former vice president and chief operating officer of Edge Rubber, has been named the CEO of the company.

Kauffman says that despite the plant being closed for a few months, the equipment was kept in good condition, which has allowed the company to start producing material so quickly.

At full capacity the company expects to produce around 50 million pounds of crumb rubber per year.

The company has made one strategic change, Kauffman points out. It previously operated two facilities – one location shredded tires, the other facility recycled the tires into crumb rubber products. Under its new ownership, the company has brought both operations together under one location, which includes a 30,000-square-foot building.

“We are excited to see the loyalty of our customers returning to us, and we are renewed in our commitment to serve them with the best recycled rubber products available on the market,” says Kauffman.

Since reopening the company has hired more than 20 of its previous employees and has gotten many of its former customers to start buying the crumb rubber products.

“We are committed to growing Edge Rubber and delivering reliably for our customers,” adds Whitney Haring-Smith, part of the new ownership team from Anzu Partners.

Edge Rubber says its Chambersburg facility is the longest-standing facility producing fine rubber powder in the United States. The company says it is the only manufacturer using its proprietary wet-grind technology to produce a premium, fine grade product with special surface characteristics providing recycled content and performance enhancement for the automotive and other industries.