NEWS


Tigre takes over Dura Plastic


Tigre, a Brazilian pipes and fittings manufacturer, has acquired US-based Dura Plastic Products. Dura has two produc- tion units – in California and Tennessee – as well as six distribution centres across the USA. Tigre itself already has a US subsidi- ary, which has a manufac- turing facility in Wisconsin. Although the two companies make similar products, Tigre says that they have complementary portfolios. “This acquisition


accelerates our goal of serving the market with a high-quality and more comprehensive portfolio,” said Vicente Smith Amu- nategui, executive director of international business at Tigre. � www.tigre.com.br � www.duraplastics.com


Low raw material prices help Simona post profit


Germany-based Simona raised its profits in 2020, due in part to lower raw material prices.


Despite a 9% improve- ment in pre-tax profits, which reached nearly €31 million (US$37m), sales declined by nearly 10%, to €390 million (US$469m). The most pronounced sales decline was seen in the Americas, but this was mainly due to a dip in the aircraft interiors sector – which affected the com- pany’s sheet business. The sales decline in semi-finished products such as sheet was more pro- nounced than in pipes and fittings. In pipes and fittings, sales exceeded €83m, a decline of nearly 6% which was attributed to “a reduc- tion in project business”. For comparison, sales from semi-finished products


earnings, despite the significant impact of the pandemic in some markets.” The company added that


Schoenberg: “Our 2020 performance was better than anticipated earlier in the year”


exceeded €306m, an 11% decline compared to 2019. “The year-on-year


increase in profits was driven by lower raw material costs and satisfactory levels of capacity utilisation,” said the company. “All three regions – Europe, the Americas and Asia – made a positive contribution to


Baerlocher starts India additive plant expansion


German additives producer Baer- locher has begun building a new plant in India. The so-called Dewas-2 plant is


situated on a 25-hectare site next to the company’s existing facility in Dewas, in Madhya Pradesh. It will have a capacity of 30,000 tonnes/year of calcium-based PVC stabilisers.


Baerlocher says it is now focusing only on calcium-based PVC stabilis- ers for future investments, though said it continues to provide choice


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for convertors with traditional systems “to enable their transition towards sustainable calcium-based stabiliser systems for all PVC applications.” “The global PVC industry is under varying stages of transition to more sustainable additive solutions,” said Jayen Modi, managing director of Baerlocher India Additives. “We want to be ready when our custom- ers decide to convert their products away from traditional stabilisers.” � www.baerlocher.com


PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | May 2021


preliminary results for 2021 show a 14% increase in sales to nearly €122m (US$147m) in the first quarter. This equated to a similar increase in profitabil- ity (EBIT) to nearly €11m (US$13m). Growth in Europe and Asia was particularly strong. The company has now revised its 2021 forecast upwards to €420- 435m (US$506-524m). “Our 2020 performance


was better than originally anticipated earlier in the year,” said Matthias Schönberg, CEO of Simona. “We were able to contain the revenue decline at just under 10% thanks to diversification and global efforts.” � www.simona.de


Pipeline to build fourth US facility


US-based Pipeline Plastics is to invest US$4.6 million in a new production facility in North Carolina, with plans to create 44 new jobs. The company says the new plant will


expand its geographical presence on the east coast of the USA. It has three existing plants – in Texas and South Dakota. “This facility will not only create jobs


and careers for this location, but be a significant multiplier for the local econo- my,” said Mike Leathers, president and COO of Pipeline Plastics. � www.pipe.us


www.pipeandprofile.com


IMAGE: SIMONA


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