Shanghai — England-based masterbatch maker and compounder Colloids Ltd. is expanding its China operations, spending $2 million to upgrade its plant and bringing in new executive leadership.
The Merseyside-based company appointed a new general manager of its Chinese operations and used the Chinaplas show in late April to unveil a flurry of products for Chinese customers.
As general manager of Colloids Plastic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Craig MacDougall will be responsible for the day-to-day running of Colloids' operations in Changshu, China, and helping to grow its Asian-Pacific business.
"This is a very exciting time to be joining Colloids, which is clearly committed to developing its business in China and Asia," MacDougall said. Currently, about 8 percent of the company's sales are to Asia.
"China will be the best market for us going forward, we believe," Colloids CEO Russell Livesey told reporters on the eve of the Chinaplas show in Shanghai.
A 22-year veteran of Americhem Europe, MacDougall joined Colloids in March.
At Chinaplas, the company showcased T-TEC, a range of amorphous and semi-crystalline engineering polymers that can withstand continuous operating temperatures above 150° C.
Colloids also exhibited E-TEC, a line of 11 electrically conductive and electrostatically dissipative (ESD) compound grades.
E-TEC reduces static buildup and discharge in packaging, storing and shipping electronic goods. Other applications include chair casters, footwear and storage boxes.
The Changshu plant began operations in 2016. Colloids invested $2 million in the plant last year and plans to invest another $2 million in high-temperature equipment this year.
Since 2008, Colloids Group sales have tripled to 45 million pounds sterling ($61 million) last year. Total annual capacity for the group, including its two northern England plants, is 30,000 metric tons.
Founded in 1967, Colloids Group in 2004 became part of Israel-based Tosaf Group, with sister companies in Germany, Turkey, Netherlands and the United States. Tosaf Group has 11 manufacturing plants worldwide. Its U.S. plants are Arlington, Texas, and Bessemer City, N.C.
Tosaf Group specializes in black, white and color masterbatches, compounds and performance-enhancing additive masterbatches. It has more than 1,000 employees worldwide.