Polytec expanding, buying Austria plant
HÖRSCHING, AUSTRIA — Austria's Polytec Holding AG has benefited from the improving auto sector in Europe — the supplier saw its shareholder value increase 182 percent in the last 12 months, more than four times the industry average.
Now the company is investing about 15 million euros ($22 million) on extra capacity.
H"rsching-based Polytec announced Aug. 3 that it is adding injection molding capacity at its plant in L"hne, Germany. The company also is buying a molding plant in Ebensee, Austria, from PPI Plastic Products Innovation GmbH & Co KG.
Polytec said it has new orders in hand from both automotive and non-automotive customers.
On the investment front, the firm is spending 5 million euros ($7 million) to expand the plant in L"hne and add capacity at its car-styling plant in H"rsching. The L"hne plant is seeing higher production volumes, especially in cylinder head covers.
On the acquisition side, Polytec said it chose to buy the Ebensee plant rather than expand an existing Polytec plant in Wolmirstedt, Germany.
The PPI plant is in proximity to “the most important automotive hubs,” such as Munich and Ingolstadt, Germany; Gy"r, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; and the Austrian engine plants of BMW and Opel, Polytec said in a news release. Because of that, the plant “represents a sound addition to the production network of Polytec's components business
Polytec's total consideration for purchasing the PPI plant is 10 million euros ($14 million), including 1.5 million euros ($2.2 million) in equity and the remainder in assuming PPI's financial liabilities.
Huhtamäki buying a Brazil's Prisma Pack
ESPOO, FINLAND — Flexible packaging company Huhtamäki Oyj has an agreement to buy Brazilian hygienic films manufacturer Prisma Pack Indústria de Filmes Técnicos e Embalagens Ltda.
Espoo-based Huhtamäki said Aug. 12 that it will pay 20 million euros ($29 million) for Prisma Pack.
“With Prisma Pack we gain a strong position in hygienic films in the fast-growing Brazilian market and improve our ability to serve our global customers in South America,” said CEO Jukka Moisio, in a news release.
Camaçari, Brazil-based Prisma Pack's films are used in personal-care products including disposable diapers and feminine protection. The company employs 200 and had 2010 sales of about 40 million euros ($53 million).
Huhtamäki employs 12,000, has 53 manufacturing plants and posted 2010 sales of 2.6 billion euros ($3 billion).
Neutrex expanding its Purgex capacity
HOUSTON — Neutrex Inc. announced Aug. 12 that it plans to boost capacity for its Purgex purging compounds by 50 percent.
The Houston company has outgrown its present space, and the new expanded facilities will be on stream by the end of 2011, the firm said in a news release. The expansion will include additional manufacturing and warehousing capability, and will give the company flexibility to develop new products.
“As we grow, a high level of [research and development] activity will continue,” said President Arthur Haag.
Haag introduced Purgex in 1992 to clean injection molding and extrusion equipment during color and material changeovers, and as part of routine or preventive maintenance.
Acquisition of IRM moves NDC into metal
IRWINDALE, CALIF. — NDC Infrared Engineering, a firm that specializes in equipment for plastics and rubber manufacturers, is branching off into metal.
NDC, part of Spectris plc, has acquired Alleur, Belgium-based IRM Group SA, a manufacturer of high-technology measuring systems for the metals industries.
IRM will become aligned worldwide within Irwindale-based NDC, a producer of web gauging equipment for the plastics, rubber, non-woven and extrusion-coated businesses.
IRM employs about 70 and creates products to test the flatness, width, thickness, edge profile and coatings of metals. NDC Infrared Engineering employs more than 200.
Penn Color openings plant in Milton, Wis.
DOYLESTOWN, PA. — Color concentrates maker Penn Color Inc. will open its new plant in Milton, Wis., by the end of June — only a few months after adding concentrates production to a plant in Venray, the Netherlands.
The 50,000-square-foot Milton plant will employ 12-15 and represents an investment of almost $2 million. The site will make color concentrates for use in cups, toys and other products, officials with Doylestown-based Penn Color said.
In the Netherlands, Penn Color earlier this year completed a 15,000-square-foot addition to an inks and coatings plant it already operated there, industry manager Bob Kaminski said in a June 3 phone interview.
Previously, the firm had supplied the European market with color concentrates made at its U.S. locations. The expansion will allow Penn Color to create eight to 10 jobs, Kaminski said.
The two new concentrates sites join Penn Color's three other such facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia. Privately held Penn Color does not disclose annual sales. The firm employs 600.