ICO
Acquisition of Rotec Chemicals in UK / Growing position in compounding
ICO Inc (11490 Westheimer, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77077, USA) has reached an agreement to purchase Rotec Chemicals Ltd (24 Norris Way, Wellingborough Road, Rushden, GB-Northants NN10 6BP), a supplier of specialist materials for the rotational moulding market in the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe. Rotec also manufactures masterbatches for a wide variety of plastics processes. Its turnover for 1996 was GBP 6.25m.
ICO is primarily involved in oil field related services, but recently it has been rapidly building a position in plastics processing services. In May 1996 it acquired Wedco Technology Inc which has 6 plants in the USA and sites in the Netherlands, UK and Sweden. This group is best known for its grinding and size reduction operations but its plant in the Netherlands also carries out compounding and it is building a new plant for compounding in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in the UK and putting in compounding facilities in Sweden. ICO is also soon to complete a takeover of the joint venture operation Micronyl Wedco (3 route de la Grande Paroisse, F-77130 Montereau), which carries out compounding, and is presently looking to establish a manufacturing facility in Italy. So within the space of one year the group has rapidly built a position within Europe.
ICO's European operation, ICO Polymers (Parklaan 1, NL-3016 BA Rotterdam) has also acquired the "Escorine" micropowder business from Exxon Chemical. This LDPE/EVA-based product is largely used for the manufacture of carpet backing and in compound and masterbatch production. ICO Polymers is involved in supplying proprietary powders mainly for rotational moulding industry and for carpet backing applications. The purchase of Rotec can be seen as reinforcing its position as a leading materials supplier to the rotational moulding industry.
ICO has also been growing its polymer activities in the USA. It recently bought PSI Inc, which has been fully absorbed into Wedco, and Bayshore Industrial (1300 McCabe Road, La Porte, TX 77572, USA) a significant masterbatch producer with a USD 30m turnover.
ICO is primarily involved in oil field related services, but recently it has been rapidly building a position in plastics processing services. In May 1996 it acquired Wedco Technology Inc which has 6 plants in the USA and sites in the Netherlands, UK and Sweden. This group is best known for its grinding and size reduction operations but its plant in the Netherlands also carries out compounding and it is building a new plant for compounding in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in the UK and putting in compounding facilities in Sweden. ICO is also soon to complete a takeover of the joint venture operation Micronyl Wedco (3 route de la Grande Paroisse, F-77130 Montereau), which carries out compounding, and is presently looking to establish a manufacturing facility in Italy. So within the space of one year the group has rapidly built a position within Europe.
ICO's European operation, ICO Polymers (Parklaan 1, NL-3016 BA Rotterdam) has also acquired the "Escorine" micropowder business from Exxon Chemical. This LDPE/EVA-based product is largely used for the manufacture of carpet backing and in compound and masterbatch production. ICO Polymers is involved in supplying proprietary powders mainly for rotational moulding industry and for carpet backing applications. The purchase of Rotec can be seen as reinforcing its position as a leading materials supplier to the rotational moulding industry.
ICO has also been growing its polymer activities in the USA. It recently bought PSI Inc, which has been fully absorbed into Wedco, and Bayshore Industrial (1300 McCabe Road, La Porte, TX 77572, USA) a significant masterbatch producer with a USD 30m turnover.
15.04.1997 Plasteurope.com [19452]
Published on 15.04.1997