Recticel adds to encapsulation business

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Oct. 17)—Recticel S.A., a maker of polyurethane-based foams and specialty products, has acquired the glass encapsulation compounding business of Elastogran GmbH, a BASF A.G. subsidiary. The purchase adds about $3.65 million in annual sales and includes the German firm´s related knowledge. Recticel said it will add expertise relating to systems based on aromatic isocyanates to its knowledge of aliphatic materials. Globally, Brussels-based Recticel values its encapsulation business at $40 million. About half of this is in the form of compounds supplied to third parties in the U.S., a Recticel spokesman said, adding that the U.S. business is expected to reach $27 million by 2002, up more than 50 percent over its current size.