TEKNOR APEX ACQUIRES PLASTIC- TECHNOLOGIE-SERVICE ( PTS ), EXPANDING PRESENCE IN EUROPE AS COMPOUNDER OF TPEs AND ETPs
PTS Has Similar ‘ Customer- Centered ’ Focus and Brings New Products and Technologies that Further Diversify the Teknor Apex Portfolio
Teknor Apex Company has acquired Plastic-Technologie-Service ( PTS ), a German-based custom compounder of thermoplastic elastomers ( TPEs ) and engineering thermoplastics ( ETPs ). The deal , for an undisclosed amount , became final on March 31 .
PTS operates a state of the art manufacturing plant at Steinsfeld , Germany with more than 20,000 tons of installed capacity , as well as a technical support facility . A marketing office 10 km away in Tauberzell includes facilities for training , seminars and discussion with customers of possible solutions for automotive , electrical , consumer product , and other applications . The company has more than 100 employees .
The product portfolios of PTS are diverse . TPEs include block copolymers based on a number of polymer chemistries , TPVs , and polymer blends . ETPs include several types of polyamide plus PBT , polycarbonate ( PC ), and PC / ABS blends . “ PTS is well known for innovation and is the European leader in developing ‘ hard / soft ’ solutions that combine elastomers with rigid polymers ,” said Suresh Swaminathan , senior vice president in charge of the global TPE business of Teknor Apex . “ They will bring to our partnership a range of unique technologies and service capabilities .”
Among proprietary specialties of PTS is a hard / soft technology for over-molding TPEs onto polar ETP substrates , such as nylon and acetal , and producing a durable bond . Another specialty is radiation-crosslinked grades of ETPs and TPEs .
For the past year , PTS has manufactured TPE and
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ETP compounds for Teknor Apex under a tolling agreement . Now the PTS compounding facility at Steinsfeld becomes the second manufacturing site in Europe for Teknor Apex , which already compounds TPEs at a facility in Genk , Belgium . Teknor Apex also produces compounds at locations in the USA , Singapore , and China .
“ The acquisition of PTS is a natural fit in the strategic vision of Teknor Apex to support the market with a global footprint and local presence ,” said Jonathan Fain , Chairman and CEO of Teknor Apex . “ It also brings together two companies that have shared the unique culture of being privately owned and intensively customer-centered .” PTS was founded in 1986 by Uwe Stenglin , who will continue in his role as managing director . As a subsidiary of Teknor Apex , PTS will continue to supply products under its existing brands .
“ PTS and Teknor Apex have taken similar pathways to success ,” said Mr . Stenglin . “ We look forward to our growth together and to merging our complementary technologies into a more comprehensive global portfolio of products .”
Teknor Apex and PTS have enjoyed an excellent fifteen-year relationship involving licensing agreements , noted Jonathan Fain . Information on PTS is available at http :// www . pts-marketing . de / en / home