PolyOne’s ColorMatrix opens first Africa facility

ColorMatrix, a supplier of liquid color and additives for plastics, recently opened its first Africa facility in Cape Town.

The company, which is a subsidiary of PolyOne Corp., opened the new facility due to the number of customers in Africa, particularly in South Africa, Bjoern Klaas, director of new product and technology development for ColorMatrix, told PlasticsToday.

"The facility will enable us to store a number of products in bulk, including those that are regularly ordered by our existing South African customers," he said. "This means we could potentially turn orders around in a matter of hours while the on-site color laboratory will facilitate a rapid color development service."

Services will include sales, technical support and an on-site color laboratory for rapid color development. Klaas said right now the key focus is its existing customers in South Africa operating in the PET packaging and polyolefin injection molding industries.

"Once the facility is operational, we will aim to grow this customer base and explore further opportunities," he said.

Primary products will be brought in from the company's Knowsley, UK and Eindhoven, Netherlands manufacturing facilities.

According to a Frost and Sullivan research analyst, Kholofelo Maele, the South African plastics packaging market will grow to a potential size of $1.4 billion by 2016, up from $1 billion in 2009.

In 2011, PolyOne acquired ColorMatrix for $486 million in a move the company said, at the time, would not only accelerate its specialization strategy, but also expand its geographic presence.

Stephen Newlin, PolyOne's chairman, president and CEO, called the purchase of ColorMatrix a "game-changer."

ColorMatrix is a supplier of specialty additives, liquid colorant and dosing technologies. Within packaging, its products are used to increase product shelf life, preserve taste and improve recyclability. In fluoropolymers, it supplies colorant and specialty additives that provide lubricity, high-level heat insulation, static dissipation and x-ray opaqueness. 

"When PolyOne acquired ColorMatrix last year, we committed to a global invest-to-grow strategy that would add value to our customers and our shareholders. Our new facility in South Africa illustrates our commitment to this strategy," said Robert M. Patterson, executive vice president and chief operating officer for PolyOne Corp."While these operations will initially focus on ColorMatrix products and services, this affords us an excellent foothold to leverage other PolyOne businesses and services throughout the region in the future."