Successful Integration of Robbins LLC Strengthens HEXPOL's Position in the Tire Industry

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala., June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- HEXPOL Compounding, a leading global provider of elastomer compounds, has solidified its position in the tire industry with the seamless and profitable integration of Robbins LLC into the HEXPOL family.

Robbins LLC is recognized as the leading manufacturer of quality envelopes and curing tubes for tires, as well as a leading U.S. rubber compounding company with a strong position in mining and agriculture. Acquiring Robbins LLC has proven to be a perfect complement to HEXPOL's breadth of technology, existing capabilities, and industry knowledge.

During the past year, HEXPOL's NAFTA integration team introduced Robbins LLC business lines to appropriate HEXPOL locations, merged the sales teams from both companies, implemented financial controls and cost reductions, and adjusted inventory levels to reflect the new business model and better serve HEXPOL and Robbins customers.

Under the leadership of new Managing Director Christopher Poirier, the Robbins Muscle Shoals, Alabama, facility recently completed its initial ISO 14001 Environmental assessment and was named HEXPOL's "Most Improved Facility."

"Our associates worked hard and put a lot of effort into making improvements and meeting HEXPOL's standards," Poirier explained. "Now we're working to ensure that HEXPOL customers can draw on Robbins LLC expertise from all of HEXPOL's NAFTA facilities."

Building on this success, the Robbins LLC brand within HEXPOL recently developed a specialized tire market sales team to focus on multiple aspects of serving the tire industry, including:

• Tire Compounds – Providing compound volumes exceeding 500,000 pounds per day, or prototype formulations as small as 100 pounds for custom compounds.
• Retreading Options – Molded envelopes to cover tires during the curing process and curing tubes to force the tread rubber into the mold.  The company's Accu-Fit CMT™ process increases a shop's retreading productivity and lowers cost per cure. As new tires come into the marketplace, HEXPOL adds envelopes and curing tubes for use with those tires.
• Specialty Solutions – HEXPOL develops custom formulated and standard specialty products and additives for the tire industry, from accelerators and vulcanizing agents to colorants, process aides and tire mold lubricants.

"Robbins LLC has the perfect complement of product and service offerings for HEXPOL, said Tracy Garrison, President & Chief Executive Officer, HEXPOL Compounding NAFTA. "Together, we bring industry leading solutions to our customers, while elevating our position in the tire industry to second to none."

HEXPOL has partnered with the tire industry for 40 years, providing compounding and retreating options for cars, trucks, buses, aircraft, and off-highway vehicles for mining and agriculture.

For more information about HEXPOL Compounding and its products and services, visit the company's website at www.hexpolcompounding.com or robbinsllc.com.

About HEXPOL Compounding

HEXPOL is a leading global developer and manufacturer of quality polymer compounds. The company provides proprietary and standard rubber compounding solutions to the automotive and transportation, oil & gas, medical, industrial, tire-toll, and consumer markets.

Ten locations in North America include legacy names such as Gold Key Processing, Burton Rubber Processing, Colonial Rubber Works and Chase Elastomer. HEXPOL capabilities include: Rubber Compounding, Rolls, Specialty Products, Tire and Toll, Retreading, TPE Compounding, Silicone Compounding, and Outsourcing Services.

Based in Malmo, Sweden, HEXPOL has a global footprint, with manufacturing facilities strategically located to serve customers across North America, Europe and Asia. HEXPOL is a U.S. $1.2 billion a year business with 3,000 employees at 28 locations in nine countries. HEXPOL is a public company traded on the Nordic Stock Exchange.

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SOURCE HEXPOL Compounding