Clariant Masterbatches Benelux (Louvain-la-Neuve / Belgium; www.clariant.masterbatches.com) and European Masterbatch (EMB), a subsidiary of Sioen Industries (Ardooie / Belgium; www.sioen.be), have agreed to swap certain product lines. Clariant will purchase EMB’s pigment granulates, manufactured in Bornem / Belgium, while EMB will purchase Clariant’s PVC pigment pastes, produced in St Jeoire / France.

The transactions cover customer and product portfolios and some manufacturing equipment but not personnel or employees. Both companies will shift manufacturing to their sites. Thomas Bernhardt, head of Clariant Masterbatches’ Europe West business, said the acquisition will enable former EMB customers to work with “Clariant’s advanced technical capabilities and global network of production and site services”. Pascale Sioen, chief executive of Sioen Chemicals, commented: “By selling this niche, we can concentrate even further on our core business, which is the production of pastes, inks and varnishes.”