This week we publish our updated annual directory of 210 compounders and concentrate makers.
Every year I consolidate listings due to acquisitions or at least add one listed firm as another's new parent company. This year is no exception, there are plenty of changes. Seven firms were consolidated due to acquisitions and quite a few more had name changes.
Ravago SA and Aurora Plastics LLC have been busy taking recent purchases under the wings of the corporate umbrella. Firms Like Polymer Technology & Services and JPI South respectively. Cabot, Celanese, Chroma, Domo, PolyOne, and Teknor Apex have followed suit.
This sector loves change, and so does Plastics News.
Last year, in an effort to gather more in-depth data on materials, we started asking our survey respondents to tell us the total pounds they process annually. Some 27 percent answered the question, which might seem like a slow start, but it's a good response for a quiet roll out. True, it's too small a data pool to find any meaningful statistics, but it is enough to say the average volume per company is 39.7 million pounds, with more than 68 percent proprietary and about 29 percent in toll compounding.
We also started tracking what type of machinery is in use, here they are in order of popularity, for those that responded.
• Twin-screw extrusion
• Blending equipment
• Mixing equipment
• Single-screw extrusion
“Change for the sake of change” is one of my favorite ironic sayings. I've met many folks who really do need practice embracing change, they are so bad at it. So, the next time you get asked for statistical information, try saying “yes” and give everyone a leg up on understanding what drives our shared businesses.
