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Hutchinson launches seventh components plant in Poland

PARIS—French-owned automotive parts maker Hutchinson is set to launch full production at its seventh plant in Poland by the end of this year.

The group’s latest facility, constructed at Zawada, near Debica in south western Poland, will produce Hutchinson’s car body seal systems for customers including the PSA Group and Volvo Cars.

This 226,000-sq.-ft. production and warehouse unit, constructed in just six months, is at the heart of the firm’s newest expansion project worth about $44 million.

Inauguration of the facility on July 19 was symbolic as it was not immediately operating, though component-assembly was expected to begin within days, Piotr Gaska head of Hutchinson’s European body sealing system division said at the ceremony.

Gaska stressed that the unit was intended to ease production pressure on the company’s existing Polish sealing systems and transmission belts plant at Lodz.

The Zawada plant will be equipped with three extrusion lines by the year-end and is set to employ an initial workforce of 240 by then. The employee total eventually will increase to 700, according to the company, part of the Total energy group.

Hutchinson Poland’s original plant was a 151,000-sq.-ft. unit making fluid transmission fuel lines, established in the south central town of Zywiec in 1997. A second plant to produce water pipes for vehicle cooling liquids and ventilation and heating systems opened there in 2000.

The first Lodz facility was launched with an area of almost 193,750 sqaure feet in 2003, while Hutchinson went on to add a second unit of 215,000 square feet there in 2007 making precision and aerial seals and antivibration systems.

A fifth production unit appeared at Bielsko-Bialain 2005 serving the automotive air conditioning and power steering systems segment. Hutchinson built its sixth unit in the country at Zywiec last year to turn out rubber compound used by the other plants.

During the recent launch, Hutchinson group CEO Jacques Maigne pointed out that Poland is the group’s “number one” location in terms of production and employment. “In 2018, we plan to exceed the level of employment to over 10,000 employees in Poland,” he said.

Last year, the group, which has an international workforce of 45,000 in 25 countries around the world, reported annual sales of more than $4.7 billion.

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Medron adds extrusion capabilities

SALT LAKE CITY—Medron L.L.C. is expanding its thermoplastic capabilities by adding both equipment and personnel.

The subsidiary of Flexan L.L.C. has hired Clarence Williams as its vice president of thermoplastics extrusion services and, in a joint move, is investing to add two new extrusion lines at its Salt Lake City site to rehouse thermoplastic extrusion production.

The project is forecast to be complete in the coming months and is expected to add 3-4 new jobs at the site. Investment figures were not disclosed.

Flexan said the new equipment and capability will result in significant savings and inventory control in addition to providing the firm with new opportunities for extrusion projects and prototyping. Speed to market is one of the biggest benefits to adding these new extrusion capabilities. Williams said.

“We’ll be able to go after some of the other OEM catheter operations that we haven’t been able to in the past,” Williams said.

“We’ll be able to help customers with whatever issue they’re facing and be able to turn things around faster than it would normally take. When you have extrusion right there, you can get them in less than a week. Those things are huge when it comes to getting the R&D developers their parts in their hands. Anytime you can turn things around quicker, it’s always in your favor.”

The new business will utilize a wide variety of thermoplastics, including polyvinyl chloride, polyurethanes, thermoplastic elastomers and nylon. Williams said Medron is aiming to have production validated and operational.

“I’m really excited about this,” Williams said. “Between Medron, FMI, Flexan and now bringing in the thermoplastics extrusion, we will be able to do basically everything there is with a catheter shaft.

With Medron’s ability to do the secondary operations we can now be a one-stop shop when it comes to extrusions. We will be able to do what most people can’t do.”

Williams brings more than 30 years of experience in thermoplastics extrusions, most recently serving as president of InnoTech Extrusion, a company he founded in 2015. He’s also spent time with Vesta, Interface Catheter Solution and Innovative Extrusion, another company he co-founded.

During his time at Vesta, he met Flexan CEO Jim Fitzgerald, who was an executive vice president with Vesta from 2008-12.

“Jim Fitzgerald contacted me while they were in the process of acquiring Medron,” Williams said. “All he could tell me at that point was that they were acquiring a company that was heavily reliant on extrusions. Once the acquisition cleared, we talked in more detail.”

Chicago-based Flexan, a global manufacturer of high-precision elastomer parts, operates under two business units—Flexan for industrial applications and FMI for silicone-rubber molded components for Class II and Class III medical device—with more than 600 employees and five global manufacturing facilities.

Medron is a medical device contract manufacturing services company that offers a range of outsourcing services, including high volume manufacturing, customer private label capability, design engineering, product development and prototyping.

It works with a variety of materials, primarily urethanes, silicones and thermoplastics at its two facilities in Salt Lake City.

Flexan acquired Medron in December of 2016.

“We have the backing and the resources to help out in the capital portion more than anything else,” Williams said. “With Medron already doing most of the secondary operations, with that already in their repertoire, and then bringing on the thermoplastic extrusions distinguishes it right away. We will immediately be able to offer things that other companies can’t.”

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Quilvest buys Ohio auto extruder

Creative Extruded Products Inc., which makes plastic and rubber moldings for the automotive-glass market, was acquired by the private equity arm of Quilvest Group.

The transaction was announced March 1 but no terms were disclosed except that ownership transferred from Brian Wenrick, who founded Creative, based in Tipp City, Ohio, in 1979, to Quilvest Private Equity on Feb. 24.

Quilvest is a Luxembourg-based financial firm held by the same family for seven generations. The firm invests in small- and medium-sized privately held companies and assists with long-term development strategies. Creative has estimated sales of $27 million and ranks 90th among North American pipe, profile and tubing extruders, according to Plastics News’ latest ranking.

Creative’s management and employees will stay on to maintain customer relationships and roll out growth initiatives developed in the last year, including the introduction of an EPDM rubber product line.

A custom profile extruder, Creative uses EPDM and thermoplastic materials for parts and assemblies to serve automotive OEMs with moldings for windshields, sun roofs and wheel wells; the automotive aftermarket with moldings trademarked as FlexiTrim, RightTrim and GripFlex; and industrial customers needing moldings, seals and trim for garage doors and marine and other applications. The business has 36 patents, 250 employees, 100,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space, and engineering and sales staff in Detroit.

Creative President and CEO Timothy Mach said the acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for the company, which sells its products in North America and overseas and also offers engineering support and fabrication. He called Quilvest “the right partner for us” in terms of quality products and customer service as well as growth.

“Our growth strategy is to serve adjacent products and markets,” Mach said in a telephone interview. “They’re helping us go after and capture some new customers and new markets that we don’t serve today.”

Quilvest says it manages about $5 billion of assets with a team of about 100 professionals all over the world who bring global expertise and “the patience and values of a family office.”

“We are pleased to announce our investment in Creative Extruded Products, a business with a strong track record of producing high quality products for the automotive and industrial sectors. We look forward to working with the management team to execute the company’s future growth plans,” Lawrence Neubauer, a Quilvest partner, said in a news release.

The Quilvest Group is held by the Bemberg family, which traces its business success back to a beer brewery in Argentina in 1888 and has 13 offices of investment professionals worldwide.

Source: 

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German auto supplier Boge expanding into Mexico

German automotive industry supplier Boge Rubber & Plastics Group is building its first production plant in Mexico, it said December 13.

The 54,000-square-foot facility in San Luis Potosí, 270 miles northwest of Mexico City, is scheduled to come on stream in mid-2017.

Boge Rubber & Plastics specializes in vibration technology and plastics component production. It created a local subsidiary, Boge Rubber & Plastics México SA de CV, in early 2016. It is investing about 5 million euros ($5.3 million) at the site.

It expects to employ 30 when production begins, and up to 200 in the medium term.

“As a global player we are thus supporting our customers who, for the most part, already have their own production facilities in Mexico or are in the process of creating further [production] capacity,” CEO Torsten Bremer said in a news release.

The company’s headquarters are in Damme. It did not specify what components it would manufacture in Mexico. Its initial customers will be German automakers with plants in Mexico along with Tier 1 suppliers. It is seeking business with U.S.-based automakers.

Through November, auto plants in Mexico had assembled 3.2 million light vehicles, 1.5 percent more than in the same period in 2015. Mexico ranks seventh among the world’s largest producers of light vehicles.

The Mexican automotive industry has grown at an average of 8 percent a year over the past five years, Boge pointed out. By 2020, experts expect it to assemble 5 million light vehicles annually for local and global markets.

“With its location in Mexico, Boge Rubber & Plastics is closing a gap in its production network and also increasing its attractiveness among customers when it comes to awarding global platforms,” Boge added.

Once the new plant is up and running, the group will have 11 production sites in eight countries on four continents, Boge said. It employs 4,000 and has annual sales of about 740 million euros ($787.2 million).

Source: Plastic News

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Toyoda Gosei to expand sealing plant in Mexico

Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. plans to expand its facility in Mexico with a $35.5 million investment in response to increased automotive demand in North America.

The firm said in an Aug. 25 news release that its subsidiary, Toyoda Gosei Automotive Sealing Mexico S.A. de C.V. in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, will increase weatherstrip production about 50 percent by 2020.

When the expansion is complete, Toyoda Gosei projects its work force will increase by 540. Employment currently sits at 910 as of March 31, and the company’s sales likely will grow to $124 million annually, up from $60 million, by 2020.

“The expansion is really just to help handle orders from our customers in Mexico who are increasing production,” a spokeswoman said. “There have been a lot of increases from the OEMs which has led to us needing to expand.”

In addition to adding capacity, the firm has acquired land adjacent to the building to add about 20 percent — or 82,000 square feet — to its current footprint, bringing the building to 523,100 square feet by 2020. Toyoda Gosei said this addition will be used to add trial manufacturing equipment to the facility, improving the pre-production processes. It also will provide additional team member training.

The San Luis Potosí plant produces opening trim weatherstrips, door weatherstrips and glass runs, among other weatherstrips, using both EPDM rubber and thermoplastic vulcanizate. The spokeswoman said the expansion will help serve Toyota, Ford and Honda, with more than half of the new production being exported to the U.S. market. New equipment will be installed at the site in phases as business dictates.

Construction is projected to be finished by November, the spokeswoman said. The trial manufacturing center will build prototypes, improve pre-production and help train new employees.

This is the second weatherstrip-related expansion the firm has made in the last four months. Toyoda Gosei revealed plans to establish a new facility in Bawal, India, projected to be operational in March 2017.

The new plant represents an $8.2 million investment, which includes constructing a 26,250-square-foot building, populating it with equipment and a 65,600-square-foot plot of land. The factory will produce air bags and rubber weatherstrips for Toyota, Honda and Maruti—a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corp.

It has been an active time for Toyoda Gosei in Mexico, where part of its goal is to triple its sales in the country by 2020. The spokeswoman said the firm reported about $98.4 million in Mexican sales for fiscal year 2015.

Recently, Toyoda Gosei opened a facility in Irapuato, Mexico. The plant represents a $53.2 million investment and will focus on the company’s interior/exterior business such as radiator grilles, console boxes and plastic parts in addition to its functional components business.

The firm said production of plated products is scheduled to start in the summer of 2017. It projects $110 million in sales for fiscal 2020, and the plant employs about 135. The building is nearly 400,000 square feet and rests on a 1.65 million-square-foot plot of land.

Toyoda Gosei operates two facilities in Matamoros City, Mexico—one for safety systems and the other for fuel components. Manufacturing for all four of the firm’s product lines are localized in Mexico.

Headquartered in Kiysou, Japan, Toyoda Gosei produces rubber and plastic automotive parts with 100 plants and offices in 18 countries.

About Toyoda Gosei

Established in 1949 and headquartered in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Toyoda Gosei is a leading specialty manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive parts and LEDs. Today, the Toyoda Gosei group provides a variety of high-quality products internationally, with a network of approximately 100 plants and offices in 18 countries and regions. Through its flexible, integrated global supply system and leading-edge technologies for automotive safety, comfort, and environmental preservation, Toyoda Gosei is a global supplier that aims to deliver the highest levels of quality, innovation, and satisfaction to customers worldwide.

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Cabot Corporation to Introduce Reinforcing Materials for Weather Stripping Applications in Asia

Cabot expands current portfolio with high performance carbon blacks for automotive weather stripping

SHANGHAI & BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 29, 2016– Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) recognizes that the continued development of the automotive market in China has driven increased sophistication in automotive rubber part applications. As a result, Cabot is introducing three carbon black products that are specifically designed for demanding weather stripping applications. SPHERON® 5000A carbon black, SPHERON® VHA carbon black and STERLING® SO-1 carbon black are now available immediately for all customers in China and the rest of Asia. These products supplement Cabot’s current portfolio to provide a full range of carbon blacks for weather stripping applications to meet high and standard surface quality requirements.

The rubber weather stripping on vehicles operates to keep a vehicle safe and secure. It lines the doors and windows to ensure they seal properly when closed, prevents water from leaking inside, protects the vehicle from the elements and reduces noise to improve ride quality. Weather stripping is a key consideration for car manufacturers when it comes to the overall aesthetics of a vehicle. In understanding the key requirements and complexities of rubber fabrication for weather stripping applications, Cabot offers a variety of carbon blacks to meet the needs of customers around the world.

Class A automotive weather stripping surface finishes demand a very low level of defects that could cause visible surface imperfections leading to rejected or scrap materials. In response to this market requirement, Cabot’s SPHERON®A carbon black series is engineered to deliver a very high purity level that results in excellent dispersion and reduced scrap rates for automotive parts manufacturers.

Cabot now offers two Class A carbon black products that combine the cleanliness of the SPHERON A series with optimized morphologies that reduce the visual imperfections on the surface of extruded rubber parts.

Cabot’s flagship SPHERON 5000A carbon black offers very good dispersion and allows excellent high speed processing, smooth extruded or calendered surfaces, and good dimensional stability. It is the product of choice for automotive weather stripping applications that require very high surface finish requirements.

SPHERON VHA carbon black is a newly developed, cost-effective product for very high surface finish requirements. It is ideally suited for applications that require both very low surface defects, without compromising reinforcement, and ultra-high frequency /microwave activity.

For extruded rubber product applications without Class A very high surface-critical requirements, Cabot provides a variety of products to fit customers’ needs. For automotive weather stripping parts with less stringent surface quality requirements, STERLING SO-1 carbon black is now available and offers fast compound processing and high extrusion speeds.

“China is one of the largest markets for industrial rubber products due to advanced technological developments in the automotive industry,” said Bart Kalkstein, president, Reinforcement Materials Segment. “We continually strive to not only meet but stay ahead of market demands. With the introduction of these carbon black products, we offer a full range of solutions that will improve the performance and aesthetics of our customers’ weather stripping products.”

Cabot’s full portfolio of high performance carbon blacks for automotive weather stripping available in China includes SPHERON® 5000A, SPHERON® VHA, SPHERON® SO, STERLING® SO-1 and SPHERON® 6400A carbon blacks. To learn more about Cabot’s products for weather stripping applications, please download the brochure.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION
Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of rubber and specialty carbons, activated carbon, inkjet colorants, cesium formate drilling fluids, fumed silica and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company’s website at: http://www.cabotcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot’s business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Mantaline Corporation Adds New Facility for Injection Molding and Thermoplastic Extrusion

New 30k Sq. Ft. Facility in Hiram Increases Capacity for High Tech Material Products

HIRAM, Ohio, Aug. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Mantaline Corporation has expanded its manufacturing capabilities by adding a new facility in Hiram, OH.  This addition, aptly named the Thermoplastic Extrusion and Injection Molding Innovation Center, enables the company to address a new set of requirements residing within the current customer base as well as creating a platform for growth.

“This facility permits us to blend a whole new set of materials with state-of-the-art processing,” said Tom Mlinar, Vice President of Business Development for Mantaline Corporation. “We are pleased to offer our customers new advances in thermoplastic injection molding and thermoplastic extrusion which will assist them as they compete in their served markets.”

The building is air conditioned building which assists in keeping materials and equipment moisture free. On the extrusion line a separate drying system to completely eliminate moisture from the raw materials is part of the overall manufacturing plan. The first of what will be several extrusion lines is outfitted with two new state-of-the-art quality assurance digital comparators. This permits associates the ability to monitor product being formed by three extruders in-line, in-process so that real time quality is “baked-into” the product.

The thermoplastic materials (TPE, TPV, and TPO) have many benefits including the ability to be formed economically in a wide variety of processes, color-matching, and re-cyclability. This material group is extremely environmentally friendly, which helps customers, such as auto-makers, reach their long term goals.

“With this facility we harness “best available” technology.  Our goal to deliver strategic componentry that enhances automotive safety and as well as improve the esthetic beauty to the end product,” explained Mlinar. “This facility allows us to work around the clock with new capacities and capabilities and add new products to our portfolio.”

The company expects to run two shifts immediately at the 30,000 square foot facility.  In addition, the site provides the venue for longer-term expansion; the building sits on an eight acre site.  The Hiram Plant is about 15 minutes from the company headquarters in Mantua, OH.

The mayor and council president were among the large group of attendees of local residents and associates on hand to celebrate the grand opening on August 17.

ABOUT MANTALINE CORPORATION

Founded in 1964, Mantaline is headquartered in Mantua, Ohio and currently employs about 175 associates. The company is a Tier 1 supplier to the global commercial vehicle market, especially heavy trucks, and a Tier 2 supplier to the automotive industry.

Mantaline Corporation is an employee-owned, world-class leader known for its engineering competence, quality and precision in the design, development, and production of precision molded and extruded components for a variety of industrial markets.  Recently this expertise has come to include materials of sophisticated thermoplastic formulations as well as an extensive variety of rubber and silicon materials.

For more information about Mantaline, visit their website at www.mantaline.com, call (800) 321-0948, or email[email protected].

Media contact: Chris Brown
Email
Phone: 330-656-9793

SOURCE Mantaline Corporation

Related Links

http://www.mantaline.com

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Michigan Rubber receives GM supplier award

By Nick Green

CADILLAC — Michigan Rubber received a General Motors’ supplier award Wednesday for their high quality and standard of parts manufactured for the automotive company.

About 350 North American sites — a plant or operation where parts are produced — and 1,440 global sites receive the Supplier Quality Excellence Award each year.

Butch Bruce, Michigan Rubber general manager, said an on-going relationship with GM has helped keep employment numbers up, parts production high and kept the company striving to reach the next level of excellence.

“There is a high standard that GM sets,” Bruce said. “GM is creating new quality standards — we met those standards and maintained them for a year.”

Mark Vanderheyden, GM representative and award presenter, said that this is not an award that is given — it is earned.

“This award is given to the best of the best globally,” Vanderheyden said. “It is based on metrics, strictly objective and the strongest set of numbers win.”

Michigan Rubber is both a tier one and tier two supplier to GM, meaning they supply directly and indirectly via a third party.

Cindy Hamner, Michigan Rubber quality manager, worked tirelessly for this award and to achieve a Built in Quality Supplier accreditation, Bruce said.

“This award was a collaboration from everyone on the shop floor to senior staff,” Hamner said. “We worked and are working together to continuously improve our quality standards.”

A pre-audit for the BIQS accreditation was completed six months ago and Wednesday was the final audit carried out by GM.

Vanderheyden added that he always enjoyed visiting Cadillac and the plant. The continuous strive for excellence gets him excited for GM’s future and its suppliers, he said.

source: cadillacnews.com

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Toyoda Gosei expands to South America, Mexico

SAO PAULO—Toyoda Gosei is growing its presence in South America and Mexico through multiple investments.

The firm has established its second Brazilian subsidiary, GDBR Industria e Comercio de Componentes Quimicos e de Borracha Ltda., at the company’s premises in Sao Paulo. Combined with its existing presence, Pecval Industria Ltda., the company has local production for three of its four core product groups.

GDBR President Makoto Hirako said the firm invested about $3.5 million in GDBR, which opened in April and employs about 260. The 194,000-sq.-ft. building is located on a 2.37 million-sq.-ft. plot of land. The new facility is Toyoda Gosei’s 24th in the Americas region.

“The South American automotive market can be expected to grow in the long term,” Hirako said. “Until now, the main South American market has been compact cars, but they can be expected to shift from compact cars to midsize cars. We’re expecting future demand.”

GDBR will produce automotive sealing parts such as door weatherstrips; interior and exterior parts such as instrument panel components; and safety systems such as air bags. Hirako said the facility utilizes EPDM to produce the weatherstrips, along with thermoplastic polyolefin and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene to produce some of the other components.

“We look forward to growing in Brazil, especially Itapetininga, with increasing localization to serve the needs of the Brazilian automotive market with its long-term growth potential,” Toyoda Gosei Chairman Tadashi Arashima said at the opening ceremony.

In a separate move, Toyoda Gosei said it is investing an undisclosed amount in its Pecval subsidiary. Pecval employs about 150 and produces interior/-exterior plastic parts at its 118,400-sq.-ft. facility.

Hirako said that the firm is not worried about the Brazilian market, despite its recent downturn. It projects the Brazilian economy will improve in the mid to long term, and as it does the company expects the automotive market to transition from compact cars to mid-sized vehicles.

“Their present economy is slow,” he said. “But in the mid- to long-term viewpoint, Brazil has a lot of potential for operation growth, natural resources and industrial presence. But right now the economy is very slow.”

The firm has localized production for three of its four product groups—automotive sealing parts such as weatherstrips and glass runs; interior/exterior plastic parts such as instrument panel components; and air bags. The company’s functional components line, which includes plastic fuel filler pipes, does not have manufacturing in the region yet. He said if a customer requests this line in the future, the company will consider establishing production in the country.

However, on May 16 the firm opened its previously announced Toyoda Gosei Irapuato Mexico S.A. de C.V.—located in Irapuato, Mexico, and fourth facility in the region. The addition gives Toyoda Gosei a manufacturing presence there for all four main product groups. The automotive supplier is one of numerous related firms announcing expansions in recent years, following many auto makers setting up new facilities in Mexico.

Irapuato represents a $53.2 million investment and will focus on the company’s interior/exterior business such as radiator grilles, console boxes and plastic parts in addition to its functional components business. Toyoda Gosei said production of plated products is scheduled to start in the summer of 2017. The firm projects $110 million in sales for fiscal 2020, and it employs about 135. The building is nearly 400,000 square feet, which rests on a 1.65 million-sq.-ft. plot of land.

Arashima said during the opening ceremony the company wants to grow together with its customers in Mexico and now can provide products from a location closer to its automotive business partners.

Toyoda Gosei operates two facilities in Matamoros City, Mexico—one for safety systems and the other for fuel components. The firm’s local automotive sealing facility is located in San Luis Potosi.

Headquartered in Kiysou, Japan, Toyoda Gosei produces rubber and plastic automotive parts with 100 plants and offices in 18 countries.

source: rubbernews.com

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ChemChina to Acquire KraussMaffei Group for €925million

According to KraussMaffei, the transaction is subject to closing conditions including customary regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to accelerate the growth of the company considerably in light of potential business synergies. ChemChina together with GUOXIN International Investment Corporation and AGIC Capital will make this acquisition.

ChemChina is a strategic and long-term oriented investor “With ChemChina, we have found a strategic and long-term oriented investor who has been interested in our Company for many years,” said Frank Stieler, CEO of the KraussMaffei Group. The KraussMaffei Group will continue to operate in its current corporate structure.

“We are strengthening our company with one of the leading global engineering groups, encompassing a 178-year corporate history. In doing so, we expect that KraussMaffei Group will maintain its identity and independence,” said Jianxin Ren, Chairman of ChemChina.

“We are investing in the Company’s strong management team and its technological expertise, which we believe will benefit our Chinese subsidiaries and position the chemical machinery business of ChemChina, which build and sell equipment for the rubber and chemical industry, to become a pioneer in achieving the ‘Made in China 2025’ program which aims to enhance Chinese industry. The growth potential of the KraussMaffei Group is tremendous, especially through improved access to the Chinese market, which we can make possible. We expect trends in the automotive industry towards advanced manufacturing and lightweight components will provide a huge development opportunity for the high-end plastic injection moulding industry. Together, ChemChina and the KraussMaffei Group will be well positioned for future growth,” added Ren.

“Following Onex’s acquisition in late 2012 KraussMaffei Group has achieved strong growth and had a very successful year in 2015. As part of ChemChina, we expect to considerably accelerate our growth strategy, especially in China and Asia, and to further strengthen the Company in Germany and Europe,” emphasised Stieler.

In China, the Company is expected to benefit in particular from the trend towards higher quality and sustainability. KraussMaffei explains, the machines and systems of its three brands – KraussMaffei, KraussMaffei Berstorff and Netstal – are especially suited to meet more challenging customer requirements. As a result of the transaction, the KraussMaffei Group will be able to accelerate its planned expansion in China.

“Accelerated growth will have a sustained positive impact for the Company globally. Our Company has a strong foundation and we will continue to build on our strengths, and create new jobs around the world,” said Stieler. “Our brands, KraussMaffei, KraussMaffei Berstorff and Netstal, will always stand for highest quality and sustainability.”

The KraussMaffei Group’s headquarters will remain in Munich and the operating and corporate responsibility for the Company will stay in Europe. This applies in particular to production, technology, patents as well as research and development. The KraussMaffei Group says it will continue to operate as a German company with a Supervisory Board based on co-determination. All existing collective agreements and location-based commitments will remain unchanged.

At present, the Company has approximately 4,500 employees globally, of which 2,800 are based in Germany. The Company intends to increase its workforce in 2016, including in Germany. Works council and IG Metall welcome the change in ownership The employee representatives and IG Metall welcome the planned change in ownership. “We consider the transaction as a significant opportunity for the KraussMaffei Group and its employees. We are confident that through further growth the existing jobs in Germany and Europe will be secured and expanded,” commented Peter Krahl, Chairman of the Works Council of the KraussMaffei Group.

IG Metall is also supportive of the change in ownership. “This change comes at the right time for the Company and offers a good perspective for further growth,” said Horst Lischka, Company Representative of IG Metall responsible for Munich and member of the Chairman’s Committee of the Supervisory Board of the KraussMaffei Group. “I am pleased that the German principle of co-determination is also enjoying greater appreciation abroad as a foundation for sustainable corporate success,” he added.

KraussMaffei explains that ChinaChem operates internationally and has a global expansion strategy, having acquired or invested in companies in Italy, France, Norway, the UK and Singapore in the last few years with the most recent acquisition being the high-end tire manufacturer Pirelli. When it comes to equity investments, ChemChina focuses on exceptional management expertise as well as the quality and value of the acquired companies. Following Onex’s acquisition in 2012 KraussMaffei Group says it has demonstrated sustained improvement in its financial and operational performance. In 2014, the Company generated revenues of approximately €1.1 billion and is expected to achieve year-on-year revenue growth of approximately 10 percent for 2015.

“We thank Onex for constructively supporting our Company over the last three years, which has allowed us to achieve record performance in 2015 and has positioned the Company well for the future,” commented Stieler. “Over the past several years we’ve worked closely with KraussMaffei Group’s management team to improve the performance of the company, further strengthening its leadership position in the global plastic and rubber processing industries,” said David Mansell, a Managing Director of Onex. “We’d like to thank all of KraussMaffei Group’s employees and management for their dedication and hard work,” added Mansell.

 

 

Source: NetComposites