Just three months after embarking on an exclusive strategic alliance to serve the $2-billion-plus worldwide foam-control market, Clariant is acquiring Dalton, Ga.-based XL Performance Chemicals from Fibro Chem LLC and its affiliates. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
The acquisition unites Clariant's network of sales, technical service and support with XL Performance Chemicals' family of technologies for more than 100 different foam-control products in end-use markets where Clariant already has a substantial global presence: metal-working, paints and coatings, mining, oil services, crop protection, construction, textile and paper.
"We see great business opportunity here in a global market that exceeds $2 billion and is growing annually at a rate of 4% to 5%," says Clariant's North American Head of Functional Chemicals Hugh Fowler. "At some point in virtually every manufacturing process – our own included – foam is created. Eliminating this foam or bubbles from such products as paints or cements is essential for these products to perform optimally as designed. With the addition of the XL D-Foam-RTM products to our own extensive range, we can offer our customers an even better comprehensive end-to-end service-oriented solution to their foam-control challenges."
Manufacturing will continue to be centered in the U.S. at a facility in Greenville, S.C. operated under a toll agreement, with the potential for Clariant to transfer manufacturing to its own strategically located plants elsewhere in the world as market penetration and growth increases.
For more information, visit: http://www.clariant.us.