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About us
Achilles USA is the North American manufacturing subsidiary of Achilles Corporation, a worldwide conglomerate of plastic film manufacturing. Located in Everett, Washington. Our manufacturing plant calenders, extrudes, laminates, and slits polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and co-extrudes multi-layer films (PE, PP, EVA, EVOH, COPE, Nylon, Plastomers, Elastomers)
We are a custom plastic film manufacturer. We formulate and compound our own films, which allows us to guarantee that you will get the film you need. For over 50 years, Achilles has been dedicated to quality, service, and innovation. We are loyal to our customers, suppliers, and employees. Our motto and reputation are built on the very best quality and customer service.
Our story
Achilles Corporation was founded in May 1947 as Kohkoku Chemical Industry Limited in Tokyo, Japan. What started as a manufacturer of rubber products grew into an internationally recognized name in the production of rubber cloth, footwear, and vinyl film.
By the early 1970s, demand for high-quality vinyl film in the United States was growing fast. In response, Achilles USA was established in 1973 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Achilles Corporation. Construction of a new manufacturing facility began shortly after on a forty-acre site in Everett, Washington, with the first calendering production line installed and production launching in 1974, dedicated entirely to double-polished clear vinyl.
The facility expanded quickly. A 32" calender line came online in 1976, built to handle thicker gauge material in wider widths for the waterbed industry, while also flexible enough to produce very thin gauge materials like UL-rated insulation facing and brattice cloth for the mining industry.
In 1980, a 28" calender replaced the original production line, adding the ability to produce soft and semi-rigid windows in clear, translucent, and opaque vinyl film and sheeting. Six years later, in 1986, a 24" calender line was added specifically to serve the bookbinding and advertising industries, producing semi-rigid, double-polished, clear, orange peel, and translucent film. A pelletizer joined the operation in 1989, rounding out the facility's growing capabilities.
A dedicated research and development lab was built in 1991, reflecting a long-term commitment to quality and continuous improvement. Then, in November 2011, a new cast extrusion line was completed, marking a significant turning point: Achilles USA was now producing non-PVC plastic film for the first time.
That commitment to investment continued into the next decade. A laminator was added in 2019 to keep pace with growing customer demand. In 2024, the cast extrusion line underwent a major retrofit, introducing a cleanroom environment and advanced extruders built for high-performance multilayer co-extruded films. Building on that upgrade, 2025 saw Achilles USA begin manufacturing medical-grade films with up to five layers of diverse resins for critical applications in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.
Today, Achilles USA operates five calender lines, a cast extrusion line, and full converting capability, giving customers access to a wide range of custom film solutions across industries worldwide. From PVC to co-extruded multilayer films, the same drive that started on a forty-acre site in Everett more than 50 years ago still shapes everything we make.
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