Sabic buys RheMax long-fibre PP compounds

Sabic Innovative Plastics has purchased the RheMax-brand line of compounds from RheTech Inc.

Terms of the purchase have not been disclosed.

Pittsfield, Mass.-based Sabic said it would combine RheMax with its own Stamax-brand line of long glass fibre-filled PP compounds. RheTech, based in Whitmore Lake, Mich., will now produce the Stamax line for Sabic at a plant in Fowlerville, Mich.

Stamax and RheMax essentially are the same product, both based on technology licensed from Owens Corning Inc. of Toledo, Ohio. Stamax primarily is used in automotive applications such as front-end modules, door modules, instrument panels, liftgates and tailgates.

“We believe the American automotive industry plays a pivotal role in the design and development of automobiles on a global basis,” said Sabic automotive vice president Greg Adams. “The expansion of Stamax composite production in North America and the RheMax acquisition are key aspects of Sabic’s growth strategy.”

Sabic and RheTech had worked together to market Stamax/RheMax since RheTech was granted a North American license for the product about four years ago, RheTech vice president of sales and marketing David Bening said.

Sabic ranks as one of the world’s largest makers of engineering resins, with more than 9,500 employees and annual sales estimated at more than US$6 billion.