Materials maker Techmer PM LLC has acquired OptiColor Inc. of Huntington Beach, Calif., for an undisclosed price.
Techmer CEO Mike McHenry said that in the next 12 months, Techmer will consolidate OptiColor's Huntington Beach location into Techmer's larger location in Rancho Dominguez, about 25 miles away. All of OptiColor's machinery and equipment will move to Rancho Dominguez, and employees are expected to move to the new site as well, he said.
In an Oct. 4 phone interview, McHenry described OptiColor as "a selective acquisition with new technology and markets." He added that there was "very little overlap" in markets and customers served by Techmer and OptiColor.
"Some of the materials were the same, but the applications are different," McHenry said.
Techmer will continue to seek out selective acquisitions, McHenry said: "We're still out there looking for opportunities."
OptiColor owner Jennifer Bryan will join Techmer as vice president of technical sales for optics, laser, lighting and sheet. She's been with OptiColor since 2012 and became president and CEO when she acquired the company in 2021.
"Joining forces with Techmer PM will allow us to leverage their extensive expertise and resources," Bryan said. "Together, we can continue to drive innovation and deliver exceptional solutions to our customers that require consistent, superior quality and customer service."
Prior to becoming CEO, Bryan was OptiColor's sales and marketing manager.
OptiColor is a producer of color compounds and concentrates that employs 35 at a 22,000-square-foot location. It has annual sales of between $10 million and $15 million. The firm was founded by Daniel Neufeld in 1995.
OptiColor specializes in compounding custom concentrates, pre-colored materials and specialty dyes into transparent, translucent, opaque, clear, white and color products. Those materials then are used in critical applications, such as performance eyewear, military lasers and sustainable lighting.
Bryan has more than 30 years of experience in the plastics and metals market. Her father, Gary Bryan, worked in plastics for many years before retiring as vice president of operations at compounder Chroma Corp. in McHenry, Ill. Jennifer Bryan worked there briefly then spent 21 years in the metals market before returning to plastics.
The acquisition is Techmer's second in less than 18 months. In July 2023, the firm acquired color and additive compounder Advanced Color Technologies LLC of Dalton, Ga.
Techmer is based in Clinton, Tenn., and also operates U.S. plants in Rancho Dominguez; Wichita, Kan.; Dalton, Ga.; New Castle, Del.; and Batavia, Ill. It also operates a plant in Querétaro, Mexico, and employs more than 600 worldwide.
Since 2014, Techmer has been named to Plastics News' Best Places to Work list six times, most recently in 2021. The firm is one of North America's 30 largest compounders and concentrate makers, according to PN data.
In September 2022, private equity firm Gryphon Investors of San Francisco bought a majority stake in Techmer. Techmer management and investment firm SK Capital retained minority stakes in the firm.