Compounder RTP (Winona, Minnesota / USA; www.rtpcompany.com) has acquired Zeon’s (Tokyo / Japan; www.zeon.co.jp) “Zeotherm” business. The transaction was completed in May 2019, but the purchase price was not disclosed. The Zeotherm range includes heat and oil resistant thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs), which the US company says bond well to nylon substrates in overmoulding applications. RTP’s strategy includes expanding its TPE activities.

In Europe, the US compounder is facing major delays to construct a compounding plant in Skibbereen / Ireland – see Plasteurope.com of 13.12.2018. At the end of July, local group Save Our Skibbereen (SOS; www.saveourskibbereen.ie) reported that Ireland’s High Court decided to delay permission of the proposed facility. SOS is opposed to the project on environmental grounds and said it was “ready to do whatever it takes to ensure that this development will never proceed.”