Without disclosing the investment cost, A. Schulman (Akron, Ohio / USA; www.aschulman.com) has announced that it has added two new compounding lines at its site in Kerpen / Germany. The upgrade lifts the group’s compounding capacity for highly specialised engineering plastics, including PPS compounds. The US company also installed an automatic packaging line at the facility.

The capacity addition will help the company meet rising demand for high-performance compounds, including from the automotive and E&E industries, Heinrich Lingnau, senior vice president and general manager EMEA at A. Schulman said. Echoing his sentiments, Horst Klink, vice president of Engineering Plastics EMEA, said the investment will help expand the company’s product portfolio, especially with a view to the “Ecotran” PPS compounds. A. Schulman signed an agreement in late 2014 with Ecotran producer Initz, giving it the right to compound and market the range in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas (see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2014).

The Akron-based company reported a 4% year-on-year drop in sales to USD 2.4 bn in the financial year ended 31 August 2015, although adjusted net income, excluding certain items, achieved a record level of USD 69.9m (see Plasteurope.com of 26.10.2015).