CLEVELAND—REP International S.A.S. has made two acquisitions in the last month that give it the resources and ability to devulcanize rubber scraps in order to reintroduce them into the production chain.
The Lyon-Corbas, France-headquartered rubber injection and compression molding machine maker purchased the devulcanization center Watson Brown HSM Berlin along with the patented HSM devulcanization technology on an exclusive rights basis to expand its capabilities, according to Tim Graham, president of REP Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of REP based in Bartlett, Ill.
Equipped with an operational devulcanization line and a test laboratory operated by a unit consisting of six people, the center will allow REP to diversify and expand its operation, said Stephane Demin, market development director for the parent company.
Graham said the acquired center will become REP's seventh subsidiary globally.
REP had built up a technical and commercial partnership with Watson Brown HSM to devulcanize rubber scraps and reintroduce them into the production chain and after testing the process it was determined the process worked, the two officials said at the International Elastomer Conference and Exposition, held Oct. 7-10 at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
The company has developed HSM machines for compounders and rubber processors that will tie in with its growing devulcanization service.