Compounder Aurora Plastics LLC has made another acquisition, this time buying engineering resins compounder EnCom Polymers Inc. for an undisclosed price.
It's the sixth acquisition since 2017 for Streetsboro, Ohio-based Aurora, and the firm's first since late 2022 when it merged with Enviroplas Inc. of Evansville, Ind.
EnCom, also based in Evansville, will be grouped with Enviroplas in Aurora's Engineered Thermoplastics unit, officials said in a news release.
"EnCom increases Aurora's exposure to a mix of additional materials and end markets that are very attractive," Aurora CEO Darrell Hughes said. "Through collaborative efforts, we plan to further accelerate EnCom's growth."
EnCom was founded in 1999 by Rick Kaskel. The firm makes compounds based on nylon, polycarbonate, ABS and other engineering resins for several markets, including automotive, building and construction and consumer goods.
Kaskel will take an advisory role with Aurora. All of EnCom's employees will continue their employment with the company.
"Aurora and EnCom have closely aligned company cultures, with a strong commitment to customers and employees," Kaskel said. "Aurora's track record of accomplishments will ensure ongoing success."
EnCom employs 50 at a 54,000-square-foot production site and a warehouse covering more than 80,000 square feet in Evansville. Aurora officials said those sites will remain open, along with the Enviroplas facilities in Evansville, because Aurora "is growing and needs the additional capacity and capabilities that EnCom brings."
Aurora declined to disclose annual sales for EnCom. The firm is majority owned by Kaskel, with executives Larry Beard and Josh Maddox as minority owners. All three will remain with Aurora.
In late 2023, EnCom partnered with Italian flame retardant compounders Vamp Tech SpA to support the growth of each other's product portfolios to OEMs in their respective regions.
Aurora is in the process of completing a 20,000-square-foot expansion in Streetsboro. The expansion will include a new blending line, increasing the site's annual production capacity by 100 million pounds. The project also will create 30 new jobs.
In addition to Streetsboro, Aurora has manufacturing plants in North Carolina, Quebec, Massachusetts and Texas. Major end markets for Aurora include siding, deck and rail, window and door, and footwear.
Aurora has been majority owned since 2021 by investment firm Nautic Partners of Providence, R.I. Nautic has been an active plastics investor, acquiring plastic plumbing products distributor Commercial Industrial Supply of Rock Hill, S.C., in 2022.