Mexico City — Polymers supplier Geon Performance Solutions LLC of Westlake, Ohio, has launched a new thermoplastic elastomer manufacturing line at its facility in Ramos Arizpe in northern Mexico.
Alberto Rios, Geon Mexico's general manager, described the development as "a milestone in our commitment to invest and expand in Mexico."
"The Ramos Arizpe facility can now better support local customer growth with enhanced formulation, prototyping and sampling services, ensuring Geon remains a key innovation partner for the markets we serve," he added in a Nov. 13 news release.
The new line will produce a range of polymer compounds, including TPE and thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), Geon said in the release.
"This expansion builds on the technology and expertise obtained from Geon's acquisition of PolymaxTPE in December of 2023, and is a response to significant customer demand for these premium materials," it said.
The Ramos Arizpe facility came online in 2003. According to Geon, "its location delivers a distinct advantage to automotive original equipment manufacturers and consumer markets with short lead times for materials."
Geon supplies material solutions, such as "highly adaptable vinyl and polyolefin polymer technologies," for a broad range of markets including appliances, building and infrastructure, electronics, health care, transportation, power and communications, and others.
It employs about 1,000, has 12 manufacturing plants and is a portfolio company of private investment firm SK Capital Partners, of New York.
"The addition of TPE to Geon's portfolio of performance polymers drove investment in the company's Dyersburg, Tenn., facility where TPE and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) manufacturing capabilities were designed and commissioned to support growing customer demand," the company said.
Geon now has TPE manufacturing facilities in Mexico, the United States and China.