Huber Broadens Halogen-Free FR Portfolio

A key supplier of non-halogen flame retardants and smoke suppressants for over 30 years, Atlanta-based Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) has further diversified its broad portfolio with the acquisition of the Safire nitrogen and phosphorus halogen-free flame retardant technology from Belgium’s Floridienne Group and its wholly-owned subsidiary Catena Additives.

            This marks the third such acquisition for HEM within the last five years; in 2012, it was the specialty hydrate flame retardants business from Germany’s Almatis, while in 2010, it was the Kemgard flame retardants and smoke suppressant business from Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams. The Safire flame retardants open up new market segment opportunities for HEM as their use can be applied to thermosets such as polyurethane foams for transportation seating to engineered thermoplastics such as PC/ABS, nylon, PBT and PPO for such applications such as electrical/electronic components and housings.

Says Jerry Bertram, v.p. and general manager of HEM’s Fire Retardant Additives business unit, “This acquisition gives Huber the opportunity to work in a new category with nitrogen and phosphorus flame retardants, and we believe the synergistic benefits and value between Safire and many our current products will be advantageous for our customers…We look forward to working with companies who’ve expressed an interest in the Safire technology along with introducing it to those who aren’t as familiar with it.” Bertram confirms that HEM has been aiming to develop a full complement of halogen-free products that meet the most demanding fire retardant requirements faced by their customers.