PAWTUCKET, R.I.—Teknor Apex Co. anticipates growth for its thermoplastic elastomers business in Europe as it recovers from the fallout of a major fire at its compounding plant in Oldbury, England.
“We anticipate continued steady growth of our TPE business in Europe and will add appropriate compounding capability in the region with further increases in demand,” said senior vice president Suresh Swaminathan.
In Europe, he added, the firm is structured to ensure regional supply and ready access to customer service, custom formulation, color matching, and engineering support.
Swaminathan's comments come a month after the company decided to sell off certain assets of its England manufacturing operation, following a blaze that destroyed much of its Oldbury plastics and TPEs compounding site.
At the time, Teknor Apex president William Murray said that his long-term plan was to manufacture styrenic TPEs and nylon compounds at other facilities in Europe.
The company manufactures compounds at a facility in Genk, Belgium, and stocks supplies of products in Europe from plants around the world. Its European sales office in Geleen, Netherlands, is described by the company as its “hub of support for TPE business in the region.”
Teknor Apex also announced it would display a wide range of TPEs for the European market at Fakuma 2015, to be held Oct. 13-17 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.