Positive early reviews for Georgia Gulf's merger with part of PPG Industries are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Industry analysts Steve Brien and Dmitry Silversteyn each said the deal would improve Georgia Gulf's integration in raw materials needed to make PVC. Brien is with IHS Chemical in Houston, while Silversteyn is with Longbow Research in Independence, Ohio. Georgia Gulf ranks as one of North America's largest PVC makers. The merger will create a new company with 2,000 employees and annual sales of about $5 billion. ompounding expansions by Infinity Compounding and REPI also are featured in this week's video. Infinity added its fifth compounding line and created six new jobs at its plant in Swedesboro, N.J. The new line was needed to handle growth from medical and other markets. In Dallas, N.C., Italian concentrate maker REPI has opened a 43,000 square foot plant. The firm's North American sales have been growing at a rate of 12 percent per year. The video wraps up with news that bioplastics maker Solegear Bioplastics has won additional funding from private equity firm Yaletown Venture Partners and from several angel investors. Both Solegear and Yaletown are based in Vancouver, B.C. Solegear makes Polysole-brand bioplastic and Traverse-brand biocomposites.
N. American PET bottle resin prices fall 7 cents
May 20, 2013 12:18 pm ET
