British Vita has bought US polyurethane supplier Synair

British Vita has acquired US polyurethane systems supplier Synair and its UK subsidiary Chemical Innovations (CIL) for $28.3m (E21.1m).

Synair, based at Chattanooga in Tennessee, is the leading producer of Tyrfil polyurethane for industrial tyres and also supplies a range of specialist bonding agents and elastomer systems.

The overall turnover figure of the Synair business and CIL last year was $33m (E25m), generating an operating profit of $3.7m (E2.8m); net assets total $12.5m (E9.2m). Vita’s chief executive David Campbell said the deal would enable the company to build on the position of its Hyperlast operation in the UK, acquired in 1998.

Synair launched TyrFil, a two-part PU, in 1973 and developed a method of replacing air in mining and heavy equipment tyres. Today, the company says, worldwide sales of tyre filling material are over 30,000, of which Synair supplies 40%.

Preston-based Chemical Innovations, which was set up in 1959, includes bonding agents, PU elastomers, one and two component PU systems and mould release agents in its portfolio.