A. Schulman And INITZ Form A Strategic Alliance For The Commercialization Of PPS Compounds In EMEA And The Americas
AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM), a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, powders and resins, today announced that it has signed an agreement and a strategic partnership with the South Korean polymer producer INITZ for the compounding and marketing of INITZ Co., Ltd.'s ECOTRAN® Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) compounds. A. Schulman will be producing, selling and distributing the ECOTRAN® compounds in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
INITZ Co., Ltd. is a joint venture of SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., Korea (66% of the shares) and Teijin Limited, Japan, (remaining 34% of the shares).
"The combination of INITZ's know-how and A. Schulman's state-of-the-art global manufacturing capabilities and application development will support our customers in markets such as automotive, electronics, industrial, filtration and coatings to meet and exceed their halogen-free industry standards. Unlike other conventional PPS, ECOTRAN® will enable them to differentiate their product offering and further strengthen their market position," said Bernard Rzepka, COO and Executive Vice President of A. Schulman.
"Through almost 100 patents, SK Chemicals constructed its own technology systems and succeeded in developing the world's first environmentally friendly PPS production process without using chlorine and solvent," said Cheol Kim, CEO of SK Chemicals.
"According to our partnership, INITZ will focus on customers in the rapidly growing Asian markets. In the Americas and in Europe, we are counting on A. Schulman's extensive compounding know-how and excellent market coverage," said Hyokyung Kim, President of INITZ.
PPS is a semi-crystalline high-performance polymer and is typically used as 40% to 60% filled compound and is well known for its excellent thermal and chemical resistance, its mechanical strength and dimensional stability.
Through this strategic partnership, INITZ and A Schulman are committed to becoming a global leader in PPS with the ECOTRAN® brand, serving customers' needs across a diverse range of markets.
About A. Schulman, Inc.
A. Schulman, Inc. is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Since 1928, the Company has been providing innovative solutions to meet its customers' demanding requirements. The Company's customers span a wide range of markets such as packaging, mobility, building & construction, electronics & electrical, agriculture, personal care & hygiene, sports, leisure & home, custom services and others. The Company employs approximately 3,800 people and has 42 manufacturing facilities globally. A. Schulman reported net sales of $2.1 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at www.aschulman.com.
About SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Since the establishment in 1969, SK Chemicals has grown through continuous change and innovation into a green chemical and life science enterprise in South Korea. Green chemical business is steadily progressing as a leading global company in the environmentally-friendly materials business by developing the world's first bio-copolyester and bio-diesel to substitute petroleum resources. Life science business contributes to the enhanced health and life quality of mankind by developing new synthetic and botanical drugs, vaccines, innovative production technologies, and combining IT technologies with healthcare services. SK Chemicals reported net sales of 8,257 billion KRW on a consolidated basis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. Additional information about SK Chemicals can be found at www.skchemicals.com.
About INITZ Co., Ltd.
INITZ is a joint venture of SK Chemicals in Korea and Teijin in Japan, started in 2013. With its own technology and process, the company specializes in PPS resin business. INITZ uses the world's first solvent-free production process, a patented technology developed by SK chemicals, to produce PPS. With conventional PPS resins, chlorine and sodium from raw materials and byproducts remain in the resin, which can lead to the corrosion of molds and functional deterioration of metal parts, such as defective contacts. Also, chlorine has potentially harmful environmental effects if burned. It aims to distribute excellent products to the vehicles, machines, and electronics markets, and to become the world's top brand.
SHLM_all
SOURCE A. Schulman, Inc.
Related Links
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article