Celanese plans acquisition of Israeli polyamide compounds producer

Celanese Corporation is to acquire the polyamide (PA) compounds business of Israeli firm Nilit Plastics. The purchase of the business will expand Celanese’s presence in the engineering plastics field. The company is already a leading supplier of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyacetal (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), iquid crystal polymers (LCP), and long glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) to a variety of end users.

Celanese will acquire Nilit Plastics’ PA compounding product portfolio as well as customer agreements and manufacturing, technology and commercial facilities. Nilit will retain ownership of the PA fibers and PA polymerization businesses worldwide, including facilities in Israel, the United States, China, and Brazil. Financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed at this time.

“Nylon compounds continue to be a material of choice in automotive, E&E, consumer and industrial applications, and this acquisition delivers on Celanese’s intention to complement its broad portfolio by becoming a leading, global nylon compound supplier,” said Scott Sutton, Celanese executive vice president and president of Materials Solutions. “Celanese will extend its global leadership position in the engineered materials business with the acquisition of Nilit Plastics as nylon continues to be adopted in growth industries where Celanese is already focusing significant product, solution and customer-focused development activities.”

“The nylon product portfolio of Nilit Plastics is one of the broadest in the market for polyamide compounds. This breadth is matched by the company’s expertise in compounds based on polyamides and an in-depth knowledge of target markets and applications,” said Ilan Melamed, managing director of Nilit Plastics. “Nilit Plastics is regarded by the market and its customers as a solution provider with its ability to develop and produce compounds exactly fit for the application. We are pleased to join Nilit Plastics with the Celanese family and bring our world-class products, technology and valued employee base to a global engineered materials leader where both our products and people will continue to grow.”

Celanese expects to integrate Nilit Plastics’ PA compounding product portfolio (and production capabilities into the Celanese engineered materials business to include the following registered brands:

·       Frianyl flame retardant grades for electrical and electronics industries, meeting most stringent industry requirements, and in almost all colors.

·       Nilamid technical grades for industrial and automotive applications.

·       Nilamid specialty portfolio for extended performance requirements in terms of thermal, electrical, mechanical and tribological properties in particular.

·       Ecomid grades containing high-quality polyamide fibers and textile recycled for a combination of quality, high lot-to-lot consistency and competitiveness.

The most recent additions to the Nilit Plastics range, developed to cater to new market trends, include XS and XT types. Nilamid XS grades are compounds based on semi-aromatic PAs, and Frianyl XT and Nilamid XT are compounds based on polyphthalamide (PPA) provide superior performance, particularly in terms of high heat resistance and mechanical strength.

Nilit Plastics manufactures compounds based on PA 6 and PA 66) as well as different types of partially aromatic polyamides, including PPA. The division is dedicated to high quality specialties and has developed more than 3,000 different formulations in the last 40 years. Many of these compounds have been certified by independent authorities and more than 85 compounds are UL and VDE listed for flammability and electrical performances. Nilit Plastics has compounding production facilities in Europe and China.

The parties expect to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2017, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Until closing, Celanese and Nilit Plastics will continue to operate as independent businesses.