NEWS Omikron shares sold to Orinko


Italian polypropylene compounder Omikron is selling 70% of its share capital to Orinko Advanced Plastics, a Chinese compounder operating in the automotive sector, for a sum reported to be around €20m. The deal, subject to various approvals, is expected to close within the first half of 2026. The ownership sale transaction


“ensures full management continuity, with Alberto Borio and Giancarlo Rizzi remaining at the operational helm of Omikron in the coming years, ensur- ing stability and preserving estab- lished relationships with customers and partners”, said Omikron. “The agreement also maintains employ- ment continuity, consolidating the role of the Robassomero plant as a strategic hub for the European market. Orinko’s contribution of investments and technological


OxyChem is bought


US investment conglomer- ate Berkshire Hathaway has acquired OxyChem from Occidental for $9.7bn. Headquartered in Dallas,


Texas, OxyChem, a pro- ducer of PVC, chlor-alkali and chlorinated organic chemicals, and calcium chloride, has operations in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Its products support critical applications in water treatment, pharma- ceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, personal hygiene, and residential and commercial construction. The company will continue to be managed by President and CEO Wade Alleman. � www.berkshirehathaway.com


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expertise will accelerate ongoing development and innovation plans.” “This partnership represents an


excellent opportunity to consolidate and exponentially increase our company’s presence in the European automotive sector,” said Borio and Rizzi. “Integration with Orinko will allow us to access new technologies, expand our product range, and serve European customers more effectively.” Orinko, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Hefei, Anhui


province, already has a considerable global presence with seven produc- tion facilities in Asia, over 2,000 employees, and 2024 revenue of RMB 6.09bn (approximately €740m). It operates through two main product portfolios; polymeric materials and multifunctional films, and is active in the automotive, home appliances, new energy, consumer electronics, and electrical/electronic sectors. �www.omikroncompound.com �www.orinkoplastic.com


Vynova problems continue


News outlets in Belgium have reported that PVC producer Vynova has been granted creditor protection for its facility in Tessenderlo- Ham, Limburg province, which employs 600 people. The company has four months to reach an agree- ment on a recovery plan.


Vynova, owned by Germany’s ICIG group, has been struggling for some time due to high energy prices, global overcapacity, competition from cheaper regions, and weak demand for PVC products. As a result, it closed a factory near Maastricht in the Nether-


lands last summer and applied for a court settle- ment for sites in Germany and the UK. The company also ceased PVC production activities at its site in Beek, the Netherlands, last November, blaming global overcapacity. �www.vynova-group.com


Westlake expands with ACI purchase


US-headquartered Westlake Corp has completed the acquisition of the global compounding solutions businesses of the ACI/ Perplastic Group, collec- tively known as ACI. Headquartered in Portugal, ACI is a global manufacturer of specialty materials, primarily serving the wire and cable sectors.


COMPOUNDING WORLD | January/February 2026 “The integration of ACI


with Westlake’s compound- ing operations represents a strong strategic alignment, offering significant opportu- nities to further strengthen our Housing & Infrastructure Products business,” said Jean-Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westlake. “This acquisi- tion will enhance the reach


of Westlake Global Com- pounds and introduce new specialty products and advanced technologies to our portfolio.” The acquisition expands


Westlake’s manufacturing footprint into Portugal, Romania, and Tunisia, and adds to its existing opera- tions in Mexico. � www.westlake.com


www.compoundingworld.com


IMAGE: OMIKRON


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