Lots of News in Engineered Compounding

Three companies, two of them domestic masterbatch suppliers, and one a German compounder, recently made new moves in engineered compounds for the U.S. market.

•Americhem expands: Color and additive concentrate producer Americhem Inc., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has acquired Infinity Compounding, LLC of Swedesboro, N.J. Infinity makes filled, reinforced, lubricated, electrically active, and precolored compounds, primarily in engineering resins. This is Americhem’s first foray into engineered compounding. As an Americhem Group Company, Infinity will continue to operated independently in New Jersey, under existing management.

•Lehmann & Voss Forms U.S. Subsidiary: German engineered compounder Lehmann & Voss & Co. has set up Lehvoss North America LLC in Pawcatuck, Conn., its first direct representation here. A local partner has been qualified to produce the company’s Luvocom compounds for the new marketing venture, which is headed by general manager Alfred Barkiewicz, formerly of Davis-Standard. Lehmann & Voss formerly had a U.S. joint venture with Techmer PM, which has been terminated (see below).

•Techmer forms new unit: Color and additive concentrate producer Techmer PM, Clinton, Tenn., has acquired full ownership of Techmer Lehvoss Compounds LLC (TLC), its former joint venture in engineered compounding with Lehmann & Voss of Germany (see above). Techmer has renamed the unit Techmer Engineered Solutions, LLC (TES). Techmer acquired all assets of the former j.v. except the Luvocom product line. Techmer did acquire the Plaslube and Electrafil product lines,  which the j.v. had previously acquired from DSM Engineering Plastics.