Manufacturas de Hules SA (Manhusa) of Barcelona, Spain, a manufacturer of PVC membrane waterproofing sheet, has signed a distribution agreement with Pivide SA de CV of Naucalpan, Mexico, to distribute its products in Mexico and Central America. The Barcelona firm, part of the Belgian plastics and chemicals firm Solvay SA, produces a variety of calendered plastic sheet for roof covering and pool and pond liners.
It also has agreed to sell Pi-vide the technology for manufacturing inner-membrane products, once a market has been developed in the region, said Jean-Claude Chauffoureaux, Manhusa's general manager.
Pivide is a sister company of Mexican extruder and PVC film producer Pyn SA de CV of Naulcalpan and part of the family-owned business Misa. It manufactures nonwoven polypropy-lene and polyester geotextile outer lining used for ponds and pools.
Pivide exports products to the United States and Canada, but will not sell the Manhusa products outside Mexico and Latin America, Chauffoureaux said in a telephone interview.
Manhusa is responsible within Solvay for developing new markets in southern Europe, North Africa and Latin America, according to Chauffoureaux.
``Manhusa will not be manufacturing in Mexico. We said that it is too early to talk about joint venture or other things. We want to see how the market's developing. We could do more than sell our technology in the future,'' he said.
Chauffoureaux said that while the PVC membrane market in Mexico is currently ``peanuts,'' a market of 1.2 million square yards could be developed. Little polyethylene sheet is used for such applications in Mexico.
Pivide officials declined to discuss the deal.
