LEVERKUSEN, (March 14, 2012)—Lanxess A.G.' subsidiary Rhein Chemie has purchased Tire Curing Bladders L.L.C., a maker of bladders for the tire industry based in Little Rock, Ark.
Tire Curing Bladders operates a factory with an annual capacity of 400,000 units, had sales of $21 million last year and employs about 100, Lanxess said. The company primarily serves the North American market.
The companies didn't disclose financial details of the deal, which has closed.
“The acquisition of TCB is a further cornerstone in our strategy to position Rhein Chemie as a global producer of high-quality bladders,” said Lanxess Board Member Rainier van Roessel. “We are gaining capacities to serve our growing list of tire customers and we also gain access to bladders for tires of trucks, off-road and agricultural vehicles, as well as building machines.”
Last year Rhein Chemie entered bladder production when it bought Argentina's Darmex.