H. Muehlstein & Co. Inc. has boosted its compounding lineup by snagging Trinity Specialty Compounding LLC, a custom compounder in West Unity, Ohio.
Trinity, which opened in 1998, produces polyolefin-based compounds for a variety of markets, including wire and cable and telecommunications. The firm posted sales of about $3 million last year. Muehlstein's purchase price was not disclosed.
Trinity employs 17 and runs a single continuous mixer with annual capacity of about 10 million pounds. Timothy Walkowski, Trinity's founder and president, will stay with the firm.
Norwalk, Conn.-based Muehlstein, a major international resin distributor and reseller, will operate Trinity as part of Muehlstein Compounded Products in Houston. MCP currently has annual capacity of 100 million pounds on five lines and employs 65.
Mark Bruner, MCP general manager, said Muehlstein particularly is interested in Trinity's expertise in flame-retardant polypropylene compounds, a product that has been growing quickly for both firms.
``Getting a geographical foothold in the Midwest is important,'' Bruner said in a recent telephone interview. ``But it's also important for us to acquire a company with a complementary product portfolio. Both of our businesses are on the leading edge of product development.''
Muehlstein posted sales of $875 million last year. The company distributed 2.4 billion pounds of resin to customers in 72 countries.
