New products have masterbatch concentrates maker Neko Colors Inc. on track for growth of at least 30 percent in 2020.
Neko, which is based in LaSalle, Quebec, has seen recent success with odor guard materials as well as bioresins, Operations Vice President Ron Stark said in a recent interview. The odor guard products are used in retail and trash bags and potentially can be "a significant portion" of Neko's business, he added.
In bioresins, Neko can custom produce blends and compounds based on polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) on a per-client basis, Stark said.
Neko was founded in 2014 and now operates five twin-screw extrusion lines at a 40,000-square-foot location. The firm employs 35 and has annual production capacity of around 50 million pounds.
In 2019, Neko posted sales of more than $12 million. Since its inception, the firm has averaged sales growth of 30-50 percent per year. It has sales reps throughout Canada and the United States.
Neko's product mix includes white, color and additive concentrates, primarily for the film market, but also for applications in injection molding, blow molding and sheet, Stark said. Its concentrates are based on polyethylene and other commodity and specialty resins.
Company officials added that Neko can double its current production and expects to do so within the next three years.