PolyOne brings TPE expertise to Spain

2 November 2006 – PolyOne has started up a new line for the manufacture of its OnFlex range of TPE compounds at its engineered materials facility in Spain, the first time the polymer specialist and compounder has manufactured these materials in the country. The new line has a capacity of 3,500tpa and brings the group’s overall European capacity to more than 10,000tpa. In addition to making the company’s existing range of OnFlex-S TPE-S, styrenic type compounds, the line will also be the first full-scale unit for OnFlex-U TPE-U compounds in Europe. PolyOne developed the OnFlex-U TPE-U product range through a coordinated development and marketing agreement with Spain’s Merquinsa Mercados Quimicos, a specialist in thermoplastic polyurethanes. The company plans to hold a seminar in Barcelona on 23 November for its customers when papers will cover presentations from both PolyOne and other industry experts.

The US group today reports record figures for both its third quarter and nine month periods with net profits of $19.6m and $108.8m respectively, against a $19.5m loss and $25.2m net profit for the equivalent periods of 2005.

“Our third quarter and nine month sales and earnings were our best ever and set new records for PolyOne,” said ceo Steven Newlin. However, he warned: “the quality of the mix of our earnings is not where we want it to be.”