New York — Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has added more medical silicone parts to its portfolio thanks to a late 2016 acquisition.
In June 2016, Trelleborg — a unit of Trelleborg AB of Sweden — bought Specialty Silicone Fabricators, a precision seals maker in Tustin, Calif., that had specialized in medical.
Trelleborg had done work with medical silicone applications before, but now has capabilities to do parts for other applications, according to Drew Rogers, an SSF executive who's now with Trelleborg. Rogers spoke at the UBM Advanced Manufacturing Expo, June 13-15 in New York.
Trelleborg does work with both LSR and HCR type silicones at two plants in California and a plant in Elk Rapids, Mich. Rogers, global director of health care and medical, said that the health care market is growing 6 to 7 percent worldwide.
“The population is aging, but living longer,” he said. “So patients are coming home needing more attention. There's a lot of innovation and product development in the area of home health care.”
In a separate deal announced June 23, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions said it has signed an agreement to acquire Automated Dynamics, a U.S.-based, privately-owned manufacturer of advanced composite components.
Trelleborg said composites were "a strategic, adjacent technology" which offered it high potential in multiple industries.
"The acquired company provides key capabilities in composites, bringing new competences to Trelleborg Sealing Solutions," said Claus Barsoe, president of the sealing business.
Based in Niskayna, N.Y., Automated Dynamics reported sales of $7.39 million in 2016 and is specialized in the design and manufacture of composite structures and automated equipment. The firm, which is active in aerospace, defense, oil & gas and automotive industries, provides Trelleborg with new product opportunities, specifically within the aerospace and oil & gas markets, Barsoe said.
The Swedish company also expects to leverage Automated Dynamics' expertise in production automation into its other manufacturing facilities.
Trelleborg said the acquisition should be completed in the third quarter of 2017, upon approval of relevant authorities. Financial details about the transaction were not disclosed.
European Rubber Journal contributed to this report.