For The RecordFor The Record

MOLDERS/MOLDMAKERS

Acquisitions

United Plastics continues acquisition efforts. UnitedPlastics Group Inc., based in Westmont, IL, announced the acquisitionof another two firms. Representing United Plastic Group's fifthand largest purchase to date, SPM was acquired from Dynacast InternationalLtd. (Anaheim, CA). SPM has 10 manufacturing facilities locatedin the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and the U.K. Supreme Plastics Inc.(Gladewater, TX), the second acquisition, molds products for theelectronics and industrial/automotive industries. The acquisitionsare the second and third for United Plastics Group in 2000. Contact:William Kriss, United president and ceo,
(630) 654-9599.

Alcoa acquires Southern Plastics. Adding injection moldingcapabilities to an already large manufacturing base, Alcoa ClosureSystems International has acquired Southern Plastics Inc. (Kilgore,TX). Alcoa Closure Systems International, the unit that producesaluminum and plastic closures for beverage markets, operates 27plants and sales offices in 22 countries. Contact: Ron Glah, AlcoaCSI president, (317) 390-5070.

Rego Mold & Tool purchased by Textron. Manufacturinggiant Textron Fastening Systems (Troy, MI) recently acquired RegoMold & Tool (Wheeling, IL), a supplier of primary toolingand plastic injection molded components for the wireless telecommunicationsmarket. Rego will join Textron Fastening Systems' Advanced Solutionsgroup based in Gilbert, AZ. Rego's 1999 sales were approximately$10 million. Contact: John Janitz, Textron Inc. president andcoo, (401) 421-2800.

Agile Technologies bought by Polymer Design. PolymerDesign Corp., headquartered in Rockland, MA, has acquired AgileTechnologies (Indianapolis, IN), a builder of injection moldingtools. Polymer Design specializes in liquid resin casting. Contact:Frank Lessen, Polymer Design Corp. president and ceo, (781) 871-4606.

Comptec bought by investors. Comptec Inc. (Custer, WA)and its subsidiary Comptec International Ltd. (Surrey, BC) havebeen acquired by a group of investors, including the company'ssenior management team. The company will retain the Comptec identityand keep current management. Contact: Derek Service, Comptec vp,(604) 597-0681.

Joint Ventures

Loranger, B.M. SpA team up. Headquartered in Warren,PA, Loranger Mfg. Corp. has formed an alliance with B.M. SpA,located in Bergamo, Italy. The new joint venture will enable thecompanies to manufacture products for the automotive and E/E marketsin Hungary, Poland, Italy, Mexico, and the U.S. Contact: GeorgeLoranger, Loranger Mfg. president and ceo, (814) 723-8600.

Plastic Moldings Co., Wiesauplast join. WiesauplastGmbH & Co. (Wiesau, Germany) and Plastic Moldings Co. LLC,located in Cincinnati, OH, have announced a joint venture to provideadvanced thermoplastic vacuum brake booster technology to theU.S. automotive market. As a result, the companies expect majorbrake system suppliers will be better equipped to use thermoplasticbrake components. Contact: Tom Hennings, Plastic Moldings Co.president,
(513) 921-5040.

New Facilities

Trostel SEG dual-shot capacity expands. Trostel SEGInc., based in Geneva, WI, has invested in another dual-shot injectionmolding machine to accommodate the increased marketability anddemand for soft-grip applications in the power tool, appliance,and automotive markets. The new 80-ton press will augment thecompany's existing medium- to large-shot machine capacity. Contact:Tom Jablonski, manager of sales, (262) 248-1925.

Diversified Plastics adds plant. A new 34,000-sq-ftmanufacturing facility, just one block away from Diversified PlasticsInc.'s current plant in Brooklyn Park, MN, demonstrates the significantgrowth the company has experienced in recent years. The expansionis scheduled for completion this month. Contact: James Dow, DiversifiedPlastics president, (612) 424-2525.

Name Changes

Mack Plastics chooses Tri-Mack. Mack Plastics Corp.(Bristol, RI) has become Tri-Mack Plastics Mfg. Corp. The changereflects a company initiative focusing on three distinct areas-customparts manufacturing, prototyping and tooling, and proprietaryproducts. Tri-Mack Plastics Mfg. will continue to operate as aprivately held family operation. Contact: Edward J. Mack II, Tri-Mackpresident, (401) 253-2140.

Oneida-Rostone becomes ORC Plastics. Formerly Oneida-RostoneCorp. (Charlotte, NC), ORC Plastics has decided on a new namethat incorporates the firm's renewed commitment to its thermoplasticand thermoset processing capabilities. To further its renewedstance, the company has also brought in new management. Contact:Robert Snyder, ORC Plastics president, (704) 945-0142.

SUPPLIERS

New Facilities

Husky expands worldwide. Husky Injection Molding SystemsLtd. (Bolton, ON) has announced an 800-sq-m expansion of its large-tonnagemolding machine manufacturing facility in Dudelange, Luxembourg,scheduled for completion in January 2001. Also, Husky has openeda 6500-sq-ft technical center in Singapore to serve the ASEANmarketplace. Back at home, Husky is seeking more than 20 new salesand service people to fill its four new North American tech centers.Contact: Mike Urquhart, vp of service and sales, (905) 951-5000.

Dow expands Magnum ABS production. Dow Plastics (Midland,MI) has announced the expansion of production capacity for MagnumABS resins in Europe. Expansion of an existing plant, based inTerneuzen, The Netherlands, is projected for completion by theend of 2002, when production is expected to begin. Contact: JeffGardner, vp, engineering plastics, (517) 636-1000.

GLS TPE production continues to grow. GLS Corp. (McHenry,IL) recently expanded its Thermoplastic Elastomers Div. productionand manufacturing operations at its existing McHenry facility.With a total of 100,000 sq ft, manufacturing space will be doubled.Expected completion is targeted for this summer. Contact: WalterRipple, director of marketing,
(815) 385-8500.

PCC opens Connecticut facility. Plastics Color Corp.(Somerset, NJ), a producer of specialty compounds, custom colorconcentrates, and colorants, has relocated its main manufacturingplant to a 220,000-sq-ft facility in Dayville, CT. The move reflectsthe regional consolidation of PCC's New Jersey colorant operationswith its New England subsidiary, Plastics Color & CompoundingInc. Contact: Raymond Lachapelle, president, (732) 846-4222.

DSM expands for anticipated demand growth. DSM EngineeringPlastics Inc. (Evansville, IN) is expanding its main productioncompounding facility in Evansville. Adding 50,000 sq ft to theplant, the new space is scheduled for completion this summer.Contact: Bob Hartmayer, president, (800) 333-4237.

New TPE plant for Teknor Apex. A new 44,000-sq-ft TeknorApex (Pawtucket, RI) plant in Henderson, KY is expanding the company'sTPE production. Operation is scheduled to begin fall 2001. Contact:Jonathan Fain, president, (401) 725-8000.

Newline opens warehouse in CA. A new service warehousein Santa Fe Springs, CA represents the second addition of facilitiesin less than a year for Newline Color Inc., a manufacturer ofcolor concentrates and compounds for thermoplastics, headquarteredin Fitchburg, MA. The expansion is geared to accommodate strongsales in the western region. Contact: Greg Gitto, general manager,(978) 345-8700.

PPE, Budget Molders Supply expand. Plastic Process EquipmentInc. and Budget Molders Supply Inc. are building a new 44,000-sq-ftfacility for the manufacturing of conveyors, tumblers, and boxtilters. The new plant will adjoin the current location in Macedonia,OH. Contact: Ed Kuchar, president, (216) 367-7000.

Joint Ventures

GP, Dow announce distributor agreement. The GeneralPolymers Div. of Ashland Distribution Co. (Dublin, OH) and DowCorning Corp. (Midland, MI) are teaming up to name General Polymersa nonexclusive North American distributor of Dow's MB MasterbatchSeries additives and Si powder resin modifiers. General Polymerswill also provide related technical and applications support forDow. Contact: Dave Bening, Ashland General Polymers Div. vp, (614)790-4209.

ProtoMarket.com, Materialise form partnership. ProtoMarket.com(Chicago, IL), an online marketplace for the rapid manufacturingindustry, has announced a partnership with Materialise (Ann Arbor,MI), a leading software developer in the rapid manufacturing industry.ProtoMarket users will have (at no additional cost) access toMagics Communicator Enterprise, a collaboration tool developedby Materialise that allows multiple parties to view, annotate,present, and measure 3-D files on the Internet. Contact: JeffKatz, ProtoMarket.com president and ceo, (773) 477-7374.

Phillips, Chevron join forces. Creating America's largestproducer of HDPE, Phillips Petroleum Co. (Bartlesville, OK) andChevron Corp. (Houston, TX) have teamed up to form Chevron PhillipsChemical Co. Based in Houston, the new company will offer productsfrom 36 domestic and international plants. Contact: Jim Gallogly,Phillips senior vp of chemicals, (918) 661-6600.

BrainTech, ABB form alliance. In an effort to marketvision-guided robots, BrainTech Inc. (North Vancouver, BC) andABB Canada (Ville Saint-Laurent, PQ) have signed an alliance agreement.The vision-guided technology provides the robot with "eyes"to locate parts and then adjust its operating path accordingly.As usability is increased, the companies anticipate significantcost savings. Contact: Owen Jones, BrainTech ceo, (604) 988-6440.