Xaloy acquires Spirex

(Youngstown, OH) have joined, with Xaloy acquiring Spirex on Sept. 24, 2009, combining strength in the extrusion market for Xaloy with the injection-focused Spirex. Tom Bametzrieder, VP global marketing at Xaloy, told Plastics Today that at this time the plan going forward is to retain some elements of the Spirex brand, and, as far as Spirex management and employees are concerned, Bametzrieder said that at this time, “Everything is status quo.”
 
According to Bametzrieder, Spirex and Xaloy, given some shared history and players, have kept in touch over the years, and described last week’s transaction as a “mutual coming together process.” Bametzrieder, who joined Xaloy in January of this year, said there is some overlap in products and customers, but looked at in aggregate, the combined companies have synergies that can be exploited, adding that strengths will be strengthened, and respective weaknesses addressed, with the result being a company that represents the “best of the best.” Spirex President Paul Colby jr. declined to comment.

Founded in 1978 by Paul Colby sr., who was inducted into The Plastic Academy’s Hall of Fame during NPE2009, Spirex manufactures plasticating systems, including screws, barrels, and front-end components. Xaloy’s roots date to 1929 and California, when it was founded as Industrial Research Laboratories, a contract research group. In 1931, that company developed a hard, wear-resistant iron-boron alloy that was later patented and trademarked "Xaloy." More recently, Xaloy acquired Colby’s former employer, New Castle Industries, in 2003, strengthening its capabilities in screw design and manufacturing. In 2006, Xaloy expanded its extrusion equipment offerings with the acquisition of Dynisco’s extrusion business unit. In December 2001, Spirex acquired Bimetalix, a producer of bimetallic single and twin barrels, serving the plastic- and food-processing industries. The merger added barrel manufacturing to Spirex’s capabilities.

In late 2008, Baird Capital Partners (Milwaukee) sold Xaloy to Industrial Growth Partners (IGP), a San Francisco-based private investment firm, for an undisclosed price (see Plastics Today’s initial coverage here). Ron Auletta, who became president and CEO in late 2008, replacing Walter Cox, announced a series of management changes earlier this year, which among other things, resulted in the exit of plastics industry veterans Randy Pearson, president of Xaloy North America, and Günther Hoyt, executive VP. —Tony Deligio