Friedrichshafen, Germany — Materials firm Polymer Technology & Services LLC is looking for a place to stay in Europe.
The Murfeesboro, Tenn.-based company is seeking a European location with a partner in order to better serve its customers there, international development and marketing director Jonathan Guevart said Oct. 15 at the Fakuma 2015 trade show in Friedrichshafen.
Having a European location would allow shorter lead times and more technical support, he added. PTS, which specializes in UL-listed compounds, increased its European presence in late 2014 when it hired Mick Shorter as project manager for European Union business development.
“We're looking to grow in this part of the world,” Shorter said at Fakuma 2015. “Many products that use our materials are made in Asia, but a lot of specifications for those products are done in Germany or the U.K.”
Polycarbonate is the “core product” for PTS, according to Guevart, but the firm also supplies specialty grades of nylon, ABS, acetal and other materials, primarily for the electrical/electronics market. 2015 has been a good year for the firm, Guevart said, as it's benefited from a pair of recent deals.
In mid-2014, PTS began designing and producing Starflam-brand flame-retardant nylon compounds in North America for Eurostar Engineering Plastics of Paris. Then in December, PTS added the ability to make custom blends based on Xarec-brand syndiotactic polystyrene made by Idemitsu Group of Chiba, Japan. PTS had been distributing Xarec for Idemitsu for more than a decade.
PTS was founded in 1992 by industry veteran Tom Hooper, who continues to serve as the firm's president.