Omnova, Rohm and Haas form joint venture

MOGADORE, Ohio (May 1)—Omnova Solutions Inc. and Rohm and Haas Co. have formed a joint venture to market, sell and service latex binders, pigments and specialty chemical additives for coating applications in the global paper and paperboard industries. The two partners will own equal shares of the joint venture firm, to be called RohmNova L.L.C. and headquartered in Mogadore. The companies have been working together in this area as an integrated strategic alliance for more than a year, so the transition to a joint firm is expected to be smooth, the two firms said. Both partners will continue to make products in their existing plants and market them under the same brand names. Omnova is a market leader in styrene butadiene latex technology while Rohm and Haas specializes in acrylics. Gus Cottros was named general manager of RohmNova.