Guardian Industries Corp. has agreed to buy Siegel-Robert Inc.'s automotive business.
The firms announced the deal April 11, saying they expect to close the transaction May 1.
Siegel-Robert Automotive claims to be the largest plastic chrome-plating company in the world, and the No. 1 producer of plastic chrome-plated parts in North America. The business produces decorative trim products for automotive and nonautomotive customers. It also is a leader in chrome-plated and painted door handles.
Other Siegel-Robert Automotive products include grilles and exterior and interior trim.
Siegel-Robert Automotive operates six facilities in the United States, as well as a plant in Suzhou, China. The automotive unit's injection molding sales in North America were about $375 million in 2007, according to Plastics News data.
Other businesses for Fenton, Mo.-based Siegel-Robert Inc. include tape, barrier bag and film producer Advantek Inc.; gas-detection equipment maker Sensidyne Inc.; and Continental Disc Corp., which manufactures industrial rupture discs.
Guardian Automotive produces various automotive components, including front- and rear-end systems, body side systems, side window systems, windshields and backlight systems. It operates six injection molding plants in North America and had estimated injection molding sales of $432 million in 2007 million, according to Plastics News' data.
Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Guardian Industries is one of the world's largest float glass manufacturers. The firm's building products group is a major distributor of such products and makes fiberglass insulation.
Since the parties have signed a preliminary agreement and both companies are privately held, no further details are available, said Siegel-Robert President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Gilchrist, in a recent telephone interview.
A Guardian spokeswoman declined to comment.
