Teknor Apex Co., a U.S.-based compounder of specialty PVC, thermoplastic elastomers and color concentrates, plans to start a European TPE compounding operation in 2008, officials said at Fakuma 2006.
At the show in Friedrichshafen, Teknor Apex introduced its beefed-up European sales and service organization - the first time the company has done direct sales in the region.
Teknor Apex plans to install a small compounding operation next year in the Oldbury, England, factory of Chem Polymer, according to Andre Toczek, sales and marketing manager of the European operation. Teknor of Pawtucket, R.I., bought Chem Polymer Ltd. in early 2005.
Chem Polymer compounds engineering polymers, including nylon, polybutylene terephthalate and PET. The British operation is Teknor's European headquarters.
Teknor officials have not decided the location of the full-scale TPE production, although Oldbury is one option, Toczek said Oct. 19 at the show.
Making both engineering resins and TPEs will help Teknor Apex become a full-service supplier to the market for two-part injection molded parts that have soft-touch components molded over a rigid structure, he said.
Teknor Apex is spending 4 million euros ($5 million) to re-engineer the Oldbury factory. Most of the money already has been invested. The planned laboratory line is not included in that amount.
Teknor also announced that Nick Sandland was named TPE market manager for Europe. He has spent 18 years in the plastics industry, including 10 as technical manager for Zeon Europe's elastomers.