Minnesota Rubber and Plastics buys U.K.-based Primasil Silicones

MINNEAPOLIS—Expanding its European footprint, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics has acquired United Kingdom-based Primasil Silicones Ltd., a specialist in liquid silicone rubber compounding and injection molding.

Terms of the transaction, which closed March 7, were not disclosed.

"We're thrilled to add Primasil, a company with four decades of silicone materials science expertise, to our family," MRP CEO Jay Ward said in a statement. "Primasil's custom material formulation, mixing and molding expertise will complement Minnesota Rubber and Plastic's renowned materials science and molding capabilities. It will also provide a wide variety of new solutions for our clients."

For more than 75 years, MRP has provided custom development, engineering and manufacturing of both rubber and thermoplastic components, specifically for the medical, transportation and water industries.

MRP provides custom molded rubber and plastic parts and LSR injection molding, as well as assemblies (which can include both rubber and plastic components) and over-molded solutions.

The addition of Weobley, U.K.-based Primasil brings welcome expertise to MRP's LSR medical applications. Primasil is a custom compounder and manufacturer that also works in the HVAC and specialty industrial end-market spaces.

Primasil, founded in 1978, offers platinum-cured and conductive silicone, black rubber, fluorosilicone, and low smoke and toxicity silicone. The company provides precision manufacturing and clean room molding, as well as extrusion capabilities.

"We have a long history of successfully serving our customers in Europe, and the addition of a highly technical production presence in the U.K. and Czech Republic will allow us to take our local capabilities to the next level," Ward said.

The acquisition of Primasil by MRP will complement the launch of MRP's Innovation Center, set to open in the spring and designed as a research and development and engineering hub in materials science for MRP customers. The center also will be based in Minneapolis.

"Not only will the acquisition augment our materials science and manufacturing capabilities, but it will also expand our global scope—particularly in the medical end market—and further our plans to expand our European footprint while we actively look to partner and acquire technical elastomer companies across the region," Ward said.

Primasil leaders added that they are "excited about the opportunity" with MRP and will look to gain market share in the industries it serves, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical, rail and mass transit, among others.

"We look forward to working alongside our new colleagues at Minnesota Rubber and Plastics to continue serving our valued customers—in Europe and around the globe—with innovative technologies, great talent and more options than ever before," said Steve Wheeler, managing director of Primasil. "We're not just acquiring great products and capabilities to complement our current offerings; we're adding a world-class team."

Ward said ownership in MRP will be extended to the executive leadership at Primasil. Wheeler will continue to lead the company, reporting to MRP.