Masterbatch acquisitions span the globe

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 11, 2003

Ampacet Corporation has signed letters of intent to purchase three major suppliers of custom colour masterbatches in Europe and South America.

Ampacet Corporation has signed letters of intent to purchase three major suppliers of custom colour masterbatches in Europe and South America.

The companies are: Polimaster, Busto Garolfo, Italy; PolyColour, Telford, UK; and the masterbatch business from Norpack of Camacari, Bahia, Brazil.

In addition, Ampacet also announces plans to expand current facilities in South America, Canada and Asia.

Polimaster and PolyColour produce custom colour masterbatches and are equipped with the latest processing technology.

These two locations will be integrated within Ampacet Europe, headquartered in Luxembourg.

The deal with Norpack includes its masterbatch manufacturing facilities and related inventories in Camacari, Bahia, Brazil which will be integrated within Ampacet South America, headquartered in Argentina.

Terms of these transactions have not been disclosed.

"These acquisitions and expansions are designed to enhance our global strategic commitment to custom colour masterbatch innovation, services and solutions for the rigid and flexible packaging markets", says Bob DeFalco, President and CEO, Ampacet Corporation.

"As major consumer packaging companies reach globally for local colour innovation and supply, Ampacet is positioning itself to ensure that those companies have a single global supplier of colour and additives masterbatch that understands the demands of plastic packaging and can help streamline production processes".

Ampacet's Canadian, Asian and South American operations are expanding internally through new facilities and the implementation of the latest equipment available to the industry.

This announcement comes on the heels of Ampacet's recent plant expansion and laboratory upgrade of its Heath, Ohio facility.

Ampacet Canada plans to build a new 5600m2 manufacturing facility in Delta, British Columbia, with operations scheduled to begin in spring 2004.

The facility will feature new processing equipment and laboratory upgrades to ensure product quality in engineered resins for custom colour applications in injection moulding and blow moulding.

A 2700m2 addition to Ampacet Asia's Rayong, Thailand, facility will feature new manufacturing and warehouse space as well as the installation of new twin screw extruder lines for the production of custom colour masterbatches.

These products will be marketed for blown and cast film, blow moulding, and injection moulding and related end-use applications.

Expanded operations are expected to begin by February 2004.

New manufacturing and laboratory equipment in Ampacet South America's Sao Paulo, Brazil, facility will give it the ability to produce custom colour masterbatches.

Production is scheduled to begin in September 2003 with custom colour products being geared to blow moulding and injection moulding customers.

Combining these capabilities with its current warehouse and distribution facility will permit faster service and accelerated product development to customers in Brazil and surrounding regions.

The site also will offer colour development and quality control services.