US compounder A. Schulman (Akron, Ohio; www.aschulman.com) has announced plans for another “major compounding line” at its production plant in Givet / France. The company said that although the site is the biggest masterbatch production facility of its kind, its current output does not suffice to meet growing demand from France and Europe as a whole. Plasteurope.com was unable to receive a response from the company by press time concerning the cost, anticipated start-up date and nameplate capacity of the addition.

The announcement was made in the wake of the company’s participation at the French Strategic Attractiveness Council, where prime minister François Hollande and a number of other government representatives met with a select group of 26 business leaders, including A. Schulman CEO Bernard Rzepka. At the council meeting, Rzepka confirmed the centrality of France to the company’s operations, adding that it employs about 300 people in the country. As part of a realignment of its European production structure, A. Schulman in 2010 moved 10,000 t/y of masterbatch capacity from its former site in Crumlin / UK to Givet and Bornem / Belgium (see Plasteurope.com of 02.09.2010).

The company purports to be the largest producer of speciality plastics in France, turning out masterbatches in both Givet and Oyonnax, with another plant specialised on engineering plastics located in L’Arbrese. In addition, A. Schulman is currently consolidating its speciality powders production at a new facility in Saint Germaine Laval.