CHAM, SWITZERLAND — Colorant-Chromatics Group, which was taken over seven months ago, is growing its high-performance polymer compounding and colorant business across the world. The Cham-based company is expanding its laboratories on Aland island, Finland, and in Bethel, Conn.
This $500,000 investment in equipment will allow the company to improve quality control and develop a full range of fluoropolymers and other high-performance compounds, said joint Managing Director Philippe Fran‡ois.
In addition, Colorant-Chromatics is expanding manufacturing and reorganizing its Far East operation at Ibaragi, Japan. There, the firm has just installed a new extrusion line to allow it to extend the range of compounds offered to customers, it said.
"We are investing in Japan to make anti-static and other fluoropolymer compounds. Until now we have been shipping product from Finland," Francois said.
The company's U.S. subsidiary, Chromatics Inc., is boosting its specialty compound and color masterbatch sales following the appointment of David G. Ely, former business manager at Asahi Glass Fluoropolymers, as sales and marketing vice president.
The parent company was formed in 1978 in Knivsta, Sweden, by Obi Jacobson. The company was purchased last year by an investment team that included two former M.A. Hanna Co. employees.