A. Schulman (Akron, Ohio / USA; www.aschulman.com) is acquiring a 51% stake in Argentine PE powders producer Surplast (Buenos Aires; www.surplast.com.ar). The US-based plastics compounder said it will make a USD 1.1m (EUR 757,000) investment in the company. Surplast’s other shareholder is Argentine resins distributor Alta Plastica (Buenos Aires; www.altaplasticaflex.com.ar).

Gustavo Perez, general manager and COO for the Americas at A. Schulman, said, "We are the leading supplier of specialty powders in the world and our partnership with Surplast will enhance our ability to provide products for the rotational moulding industry throughout South America and better serve our customers in countries such as Chile, Uruguay and Argentina." The deal will give A. Schulman a facility in Argentina, in addition to the three Brazilian facilities it acquired through its purchase of ICO (Houston, Texas / USA; www.icopolymers.com) and Mash Compostos Plásticos (São Paulo / Brazil; www.mashplasticos.com.br) – see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2010.