Royal Acquires Quebec Extruder, Enters J.V.

Royal Group Technologies Ltd. has announced plans to purchase Laval, Quebec-based Thermoplast Inc., as well as its subsidiary, Profiplast Inc., for an undisclosed price. The two companies primarily extrude window profiles and sliding patio door systems for both new construction and renovation markets in Canada and the northeastern U.S.

Thermoplast, with 1998 sales that exceeded $28 million, is ISO 9002 registered and has received an award as one of Canada’s 50 best managed private companies. Thermoplast president, Pierre Grand’ Maison, said the acquisition by Royal will provide further resources to pursue growth opportunities and expand its customer base in the U.S. Royal said the purchase will allow it to expand its operations in Quebec and integrate its technologies and custom profile extruders into the Thermoplast and Profiplast facilities.

Royal also announced the company has entered into an agreement with Ultraframe PLC to jointly manufacture and market conservatory and sunroom systems in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The 50/50 joint venture, named Royal Ultraframe, will manufacture systems that combine Ultrframe’s patented roofing systems with Royal’s extruded PVC profiles, to produce affordable additions to a wide range of residential and commercial buildings. Royal Ultraframe will commence operations this month from premises in Ontario adjacent to existing Royal facilities.

NEW BLOW MOLDING COMPANY FORMED

Two former employees of the defunct blow molder Olympus Plastics Ltd., along with two other partners, have formed a new blow molding company, Creative Molders Inc., based in Barrie, Ont. Doug McKenzie and Brian Turner, former Olympus employees, have teamed with Charles Williams and W.R. McNary, to purchase the assets of Olympus Plastics, which went bankrupt last November. Creative began producing bottles for consumer products in January. The new firm operates six machines in a 32,000 sq. ft. facility and employs 16 people. McNary and Williams will handle sales through their firm, McNary Agency, in Southfield, MI. Creative plans to branch into the automotive market once it acquires its ISO 9001 and QS 9000 certifications.

NEW INTERNET SERVICE FOR EXPORTERS

The Standards Council of Canada has launched a new Internet-based service called Export Alert!, designed to track changing standards and rules under NAFTA and the WTO. Subscribers to the free pilot service choose from among 41 fields of interest, and are notified by e-mail whenever a government is proposing a change to a technical regulation, conformity assessment regime or mandatory standard. Subscribers can also obtain full regulatory texts and relay comments back to government officials. Subscriptions can be initiated at the Standard Council’s Web site: www.scc.ca.

NPE 2000 LABOR RULES EASED

The SPI has concluded a new labor agreement with unions presiding over NPE 2000 to make the show more affordable and efficient for exhibitors. Liberalized work rules will allow exhibiting companies to do more of their own work during installation and dismantling periods, rather than having to employ union personnel. Overtime rates for evening and Saturday work have been reduced for decorators, carpenters and riggers, and a unified labor pool will enable exhibitors to use the services of decorators and carpenters for the same booth work rather than have to employ them separately. NPE 2000 will take place from June 19 to 23, 2000 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

SUPPLIER NEWS……

DSM Performance Polymers has announced the completion of the negotiations to sell its ABS business to BASF, although the sale is still pending approval by anti-trust authorities at press time. DSM reports that the divestment of its ABS business fits in with the company’s strategy of focusing on core activities in which it can achieve leading positions. BASF is one of the world’s leading producers of ABS and other styrene copolymers. DSM is to be renamed DSM Polypropylenes on April 1st.

Kreyenborg Industries, Norcross, GA, has appointed Dier International, Unionville, Ont., as Canadian representative. Kreyenborg specializes in extrusion equipment, such as melt filters, pelletizers, and continuous screen changers for compounding heavily contaminated reclaim material.

Filtroil North America Inc., Charlottesville, Va., has appointed Blow Moulding Parts & Systems Inc. (BMPS) , Concord, Ont., as representative to the plastics industry in Ontario and Quebec. Filtroil manufactures filtration systems for hydraulic oil.

COMING EVENTS…

SPE Ontario meeting, Mississauga, Ont. April 15, Contact: Paul Waller 416/745-0736.

Structural Plastics 1999, SPI, Boston, Mass. April 18-21, Contact; 202/974-5247.

SPE Quebec meeting, Levis, Que. April 20, Contact: 514/626-6277.

GFTC Food Industry Trade Show, Guelph, Ont. April 29, Contact: Cliona Reeves, 519/821-1246.

ANTEC, SPE, New York, NY May 2-6, Contact: 203/775-0471.

ANTEC seminars, SPE, New York, NY May 3-7, Contact: 203/740-2671.

CPIA/PFMAC Ontario Chapter AGM golf tournament and dinner, May 10, Board of Trade Golf and country club, Woodbridge, Ont. Contact, Charmian Entine, 416/323-1883.

CPIA Ontario Spring Golf Tournament & Dinner, May 26, Shawnecki Golf Course, Sharon Ont. Contact Erin Cimino, 416/323-1883.

MMO Partnership’s ’99 conference, June 10, Toronto Congress Centre. Contact: Colleen Mulholland, 905/823-2020.

SPE Golf Tournament, June 18, Rolling Hills/Gormley Green Golf Club, Gormley, Ont. Contact Ralph Nunnaro at 905/827-0349.

Canadian Plastics 4th Annual Resin Outlook Conference, Oct. 19, Toronto Congress Centre. Contact: Cathy Donaghy, 416/442-2255.

EXPOPLAST, Oct. 27-28, Montreal, Que. Contact CPIA at 905/678-7748. CPL