Malvern, Pa.-based CertainTeed LLC acquired one of its suppliers, Canadian molding and trim manufacturer Vi-Lux Building Products, to increase production capacity of cellular PVC trim materials.
Founded in 1997, Vi-Lux is based in Napanee, Ontario, where it has a plant with 49 workers who will become employees of CertainTeed's parent company, Cie de Saint-Gobain SA, which is headquartered in France and posted global group sales of about $45 billion in 2020.
Founded in 1904, CertainTeed generated an estimated $740 million of the group sales, making it the fifth-largest pipe, profile and tubing manufacturer in North America, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.
CertainTeed produces mostly PVC products for interior and exterior use, such as trim, siding, fence and railing, roofing, solar, insulation, drywall and ceilings.
Vi-Lux manufactures specialty millwork products from cellular PVC for indoor and outdoor residential and light commercial uses. The products are lighter, easier to install and need less maintenance than wood products.
"Our siding business is experiencing great growth, and this acquisition fits squarely into our strategy of expanding our product offerings for the residential market," David Rosen, a company spokesperson, said in an email.
Another Vi-Lux specialty line has architectural details and is suitable for uses where moisture is a concern, such as kitchens, baths, basements and laundry areas.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
However, Rosen also said, "Based on our shared capabilities in PVC extrusion, we do hope to capture some synergies in raw materials and other cost areas."
Vi-Lux had been a trusted CertainTeed supplier for years, according to Joe Bondi, vice president and general manager of CertainTeed Siding Products Group.
"This acquisition allows us to expand our offering of standard and specialty trim and millwork products, giving us new flexibility to meet the needs of each individual customer. Saint-Gobain's sales network and market reach, united with the manufacturing and design capabilities of the Vi-Lux team, will make a fantastic combination," Bondi said in a news release about the deal.
Saint-Gobain has seen "very good performance" from its North American operations, according to a Feb. 25 release about 2020 sales. Sales rebounded sharply by 11.2 percent in the second half and were up 2.8 percent over the full year due to increases in home renovation, home construction and an effective pricing strategy.