Quanex Expands With Acquisition of U.K.'s' HL Plastics
Leading North American suppliers of energy-efficient window and door systems acquires major U.K. PVC extrusion company.
The PVC construction business has been improving both here and across the pond, as is indicative by this newly announced acquisition. Houston-based Quanex Building Products, a leading manufacturer of cutting edge energy-efficient window and door systems and components has just acquired HL Plastics, the U.K.’s fastest-growing PVC profile extruder.
HL is best known for its Liniar brand of lead-free PVC profile extrusions for windows, doors and conservatories. Its Liniar bi-folding door was reportedly the first bespoke PVC door of its type, and continued development has shown that it can provide the strength, security and stability of an aluminum bi-fold with the thermal benefits of a cost-effective PVC door. The company has recently invested in an in-house robot to test its products.
A Quanex spokesman told me the HL acquisition expands the company global presence at a beneficial and opportune time in the U.K. housing market. It also leverages Quanex’s existing expertise in the U.K. market obtained thought its 2011 acquisition of Edgetech, a technological leader of insulating glass spacer systems for the window and door industry. Add this spokesman, “From a customer perspective, the acquisition adds HL’s highly-skilled vinyl extrusion expertise to our Mikron business in the U.S.”
Quanex’s Mikron products, based on its MikronBlend PVC compound, have been field-proven to stand the test of time, surpassing strict industry standards for colorfastness and UV degradation.
One of the other Quanex technologies that characterizes the company’s innovations is its patent-pending AirCell process that is used in its EnergyCore brand window systems. AirCell reportedly drastically improves thermal performance over hollow and manually foam-filled PVC. Using an exclusive, tri-extruded manufacturing process, AirCell technology is said to ensure fully insulated, corner-welded windows that provide superior thermal performance. The company says, windows made with this technology are proven to block thermal conductivity six times better than fiberglass, four times better than rigid PVC, and three times better than wood for energy efficiency that is up to 15% better than hollow PVC.
Want to find or compare materials data for different resins, grades, or suppliers? Check out Plastics Technology’s Plaspec Global materials database.
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