High-performance polymer manufacturer Victrex (Thornton Cleveleys / UK; www.victrex.com) is continuing to drive diversification. The company has acquired Zyex (Stonehouse / UK; www.zyex.com) for an undisclosed amount. Zyex manufactures PEEK fibres and mainly supplies the aviation and automotive sectors. In addition to developing new and existing applications, the investment enables exploration of additive manufacturing (3D printing) in the fibres area, says Victrex. Zyex was formed, as was Victrex, from the former chemical company ICI in 1994.

Since 2015, Victrex has made efforts to gain a competitive foothold in its range of applications. In February 2017, the company announced a joint venture for PAEK composites with the US high-performance plastics processor Tri-Mack Plastics Manufacturing (Bristol, Rhode Island; www.trimack.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 23.02.2017. Two months earlier, Victrex acquired a minority interest in underwater pipes manufacturer Magma Global (Portsmouth / UK; www.magmaglobal.com), and in 2015, it had bought the gear specialist Kleiss Gears (Grantsburg, Wisconsin / USA; www.kleissgears.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 23.07.2015.