Materials firm A. Schulman Inc. is moving a shared service center from Belgium to Poland.
The center will move from Londerzeel, Belgium, to Poznan, Poland, by May 2016. The move is expected to cost Fairlawn, Ohio-based Schulman about $7.8 million over the next year. By fiscal 2017, the move will provide annual savings of almost $5.6 million, officials said in a May 4 news release.
The decision to move the center — which serves the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region — “is in line with our ongoing cost control initiatives,” EMEA general manager Heinrich Lingnau said in the release. “This action will enable us to enhance service levels to our customers and improve our cost structure.”
He added that Schulman is “working diligently to support the transition of associates directly affected by this strategic decision.” Job totals for the current site and the planned site were unavailable.
EMEA finance director Isabel Casimiro added in the release that Schulman's operations in Poland “are strong and growing.
“This action will not only benefit the region, but will help to further develop our team in the country and leverage our previous success,” she said.
Schulman's sales for the first half of its 2015 fiscal year — ended Feb. 28 — were down 1 percent to $1.16 billion, due mostly to currency conversion. The firm has been on an acquisition streak in recent years, culminating with its recent $800 million deal for Citadel Plastics, a compounder and composites maker based in West Chicago, Ill. Schulman now has made 11 acquisitions in less than six years.
Schulman ranks as one of the largest compounders and concentrate makers in both North America and Europe.