US chemicals and plastics producer Celanese (Dallas, Texas / USA; www.celanese.com) has confirmed recent speculation that it is seeking to further strengthen its presence in the PA compounding sector. On 1 February the company announced it had signed a “definitive agreement” to acquire the compounding business of Israel-based Nilit Plastics (www.nilit.com/plastics), a division of Nilit (Migdal Haemeq / Israel; www.nilit.com). Nilit will retain its worldwide PA fibres and polymerisation businesses, including production facilities in Israel, the US, China and Brazil. The deal, which includes customer agreements, process knowhow and commercial facilities, is expected to close in the second quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed but Israeli press reports put the acquisition price at ILS 900m (about EUR 220m). Celanese plans to integrate the business into its Engineered Materials unit, which incorporates its plastics activities.

Nilit Plastics‘ compounding operations include two sites in Germany, at Utzenfeld and Wehr, one Italian site, at Rho, near Milan, and one at Suzhou / China. The portfolio encompasses compounds based on PA 6 and PA 6.6 as well as different types of partially aromatic polyamides, including polyphthalamide (PPA). Applications include flame retardant grades for the E&E sector, sold under the “Frianyl” trademark, and technical grades for industrial and automotive applications, as well as specialities with enhanced thermal, electrical, mechanical and tribological performance, both sold under the “Nilamid” trademark. Nilit’s “Ecomid” grades stand for compounds made of recycled PA and textiles. The Israeli company claims to have developed 3,000 different formulations over the past 40 years, including around 85 UL-and VDE listed compounds.

Scott Sutton, executive vice president of Celanese and president of the core Materials Solutions business, said the acquisition delivers on the company’s intention to become a leading, global supplier of PA compounds, in particular as PA continues to be adopted in growth industries where it is “already focusing significant product, solution and customer-focused development activities.” Celanese entered the PA and PA 6.6 compounding segment in the first quarter of 2016 – see Plasteurope.com of 27.01.2016 – and further enhanced its presence in the fourth quarter with the agreement to acquire independent Italian compounder SO.F.TER. (Forli; www.softergroup.com), whose capabilities include PEEK in addition to PA – see Plasteurope.com of 08.12.2016.