NEWS


Nordson sells screw division


Nordson is to sell the screws and barrels product line from its polymer processing systems division to Altair Investments. The transaction is


expected to close in early 2021. Nordson says the divestment represents a portfolio realignment consistent with its strategy. The company plans to focus its resources on precision technology solutions that will deliver profitable growth. Sundaram Nagarajan,


Nordson president and CEO, said that the product line was a market leader in the industry. “While this product line no longer fits Nordson’s strategic focus, we believe it will do well with Altair,” he said. The division, which


generates annual revenues of over US$70 million, employs around 500 people. � www.nordson.com � www.altairinvestmentsinc.com


Primo exits Polish pipe JV to focus on profiles


Inter Primo of Denmark has sold its Polish pipe making subsidiary in order to concentrate on its core business of plastic profiles. Primo has sold its 49%


stake in Spyra Primo after 28 years of co-ownership. The buyer is its joint venture partner, Czeslaw Spyra. In 2019, Spyra Primo had a turnover of €15 million. “Czeslaw Spyra took the


initiative to cooperate 28 years ago, and its technical expertise and insight in the market has built an econom- ically sound and solid company,” said Claus Tønnesen, CEO of Inter Primo. “With the forecasts for the continuous rollout of fibre cables in Europe, there are good market prospects for the company in future – and we are confident this is a good time to let it develop independently.” Primo delivers profiles to diverse business areas including medical, offshore, automotive and construc- tion. It has made a number


Tønnesen: “We need to focus more on integrating our sales organisation”


of divestments and acquisi- tions – including buying Profilex (with facilities in Germany and China) – and Essentra Extrusion of the Netherlands in 2019. Primo says the sale fits its


strategy to focus on its core business and streamline growth through synergies between its extrusion plants in Europe, Russia, and China.


“Now, we need to focus even more on integrating our sales organisation, so


that we appear as a unified unit in all the markets in which we operate,” said Tønnesen. n Primo’s Polish based profiles subsidiary has developed a new composite material based on rein- forced ABS that can be used to make more efficient window and door profiles. Polish door producers have begun using the material, and Primo expects it to have “international potential”. � www.primo.com


Nexam and Uponor settle PEX dispute


Nexam Chemical and Uponor Innova- tion have settled a patent dispute that deals with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe production. In the settlement, Nexam will


withdraw litigation against Uponor for the patent – which includes products based on Nexam materials. At the same time, Uponor has issued a licence to Nexam, allowing it to sell products under the same patent with a licensing fee.


6 Under the agreement, Uponor will


exclusively buy the active component from Nexam. The patented technology makes it possible to create peroxide-free PEX pipes, by using a bismaleido crosslink- er, according to the patent. This can improve the pipe’s processability and properties – including reduced leaching of chemical residues. “This agreement sets a solid ground for both companies,” said Johan


PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | January/February 2021


Arvidsson, CEO of Nexam Chemical Holding. “We now can continue to focus on innovative differentiating technology in the pipe market instead of a patent dispute.” Reetta Härkki, general counsel for


Uponor, added: “We are equally satisfied with the result and about the possibility to concentrate on the development work in this area.” � www.uponor.com � www.nexamchemical.com


www.pipeandprofile.com


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