ZOTEFOAMS
Foams specialist acquires full control of Chinese joint venture / “T-FIT” high-performance closed-cell insulation products
The "T-FIT" range is designed to meet the demands of pipe and tube cleanroom insulation (Photo: Zotefoams) |
UK foam producer Zotefoams (Croydon; www.zotefoams.com) has acquired full control of its Kunshan Zotek King Lai (KZKL, Kunshan, Jiangsu / China) joint venture with King Lai Group (Kunshan, Jiangsu / China; www.king-lai.com). Financial details of the deal, which was completed in late 2016, were not disclosed.
Zotefoams and King Lai first set up KZKL in March 2015. The 51:49 joint venture focused on the manufacture of the UK group’s “T-FIT” range of high-performance closed-cell insulation products. Manufacturing first began at King Lai’s Kunshan plant in Q2 2016. Since then, Zotefoams has established a separate state-of-the-art plant in Kunshan that will now produce the range and distribute it to the global biotechnology, pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries, with the exception of North America.
The T-FIT family is based on Zotefoam’s elastomeric closed-cell “Zotek F42 HT LS” foam, produced by adding nitrogen to pure “Kynar” PVDF resin. The clean room components made of the material are said to have a chemical resistance that is higher than that of PVC and other conventional polymeric and elastomeric insulation foam materials. The clean insulation system is suitable for a temperature range of -80 to +160 °C, has hydrophobic properties as well as what Zotefoams called excellent moisture, chemical and UV resistance, and ultra-low smoke, flame and toxicity properties.
Commenting on the acquisition, Zotefoams chief executive David Stirling said, “With Kunshan Zotek King Lai now a wholly owned subsidiary, Zotefoams is well placed to fully capitalise on the potential of T-FIT clean-room products, while also giving us a platform to extend the range of products under the T-FIT brand during 2017.”
Zotefoams and King Lai first set up KZKL in March 2015. The 51:49 joint venture focused on the manufacture of the UK group’s “T-FIT” range of high-performance closed-cell insulation products. Manufacturing first began at King Lai’s Kunshan plant in Q2 2016. Since then, Zotefoams has established a separate state-of-the-art plant in Kunshan that will now produce the range and distribute it to the global biotechnology, pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries, with the exception of North America.
The T-FIT family is based on Zotefoam’s elastomeric closed-cell “Zotek F42 HT LS” foam, produced by adding nitrogen to pure “Kynar” PVDF resin. The clean room components made of the material are said to have a chemical resistance that is higher than that of PVC and other conventional polymeric and elastomeric insulation foam materials. The clean insulation system is suitable for a temperature range of -80 to +160 °C, has hydrophobic properties as well as what Zotefoams called excellent moisture, chemical and UV resistance, and ultra-low smoke, flame and toxicity properties.
Commenting on the acquisition, Zotefoams chief executive David Stirling said, “With Kunshan Zotek King Lai now a wholly owned subsidiary, Zotefoams is well placed to fully capitalise on the potential of T-FIT clean-room products, while also giving us a platform to extend the range of products under the T-FIT brand during 2017.”
16.01.2017 Plasteurope.com [235957-0]
Published on 16.01.2017