NEWS IN BRIEF...
German machine manufac- turer Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) has acquired US-based Addex, a supplier of blown film extrusion equipment. Addex will continue to operate under its own name, though Brad Humbolt – sales director of corporate accounts at W&H in the US – becomes president in place of Bob Cree, who becomes director of special projects at the company.
www.whcorp.com
Amut of Italy has appointed Extrudamerica as sales agent in the mainland Northeast and Mid-Atlantic US. The company will help Amut connect with proces- sors across the territory by identifying customer needs and offering technical consultation.
www.amut.it
Simona sales rise but profits fall in first half
Simona of Germany saw a rise in sales – but a dip in profits – for the first half of the year. The company reported
sales of €302 million – an increase of just over 1% compared to the same period last year. However, profitability (EBIT) fell by around 22% to just under €17m.
Simona saw a decline in
two of the three regions in which it operates. In EMEA, sales grew by 7% to €193m. This was driven mainly by increased sales volumes in its infra- structure business. At the same time, profitability in EMEA rose to around €3.5m – about 15% higher than the same period in 2024, according to the company.
Schönberg: “Simona expanded revenue and sales volume in the first six months, despite tariffs”
In the Americas, sales fell by 6% to nearly €86m (US$104m), due mainly to “sluggish demand in the mobility and advertising & building business lines”. EBIT fell by around 8% to
around €14.7m. The region’s main business is in thermo- plastic sheet for aircraft interiors. In Asia-Pacific, sales fell by 12% to nearly €23m due to weak demand the chemical and photovoltaic industries.
“In an environment of
uncertainty – in the wake of US tariffs and geopolitical conflicts – we expanded revenue and sales volume in the first six months,” said Matthias Schönberg, CEO of Simona. “This is a testament to
growth in infrastructure applications in EMEA.” Simona expects full-year
group revenue to reach €610-620m – a growth of 5-7%. �
www.simona.de
Strategic partnership in battery separator film
Asahi Kasei is to supply its Hipore lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator film to Toyota Tsusho in North America, after agreeing a strategic partnership. The agreement entitles Toyota
Tsusho to a preferential share of Asahi Kasei’s Hipore output. From mid-2027, Asahi will supply Toyota with coated Hipore separator from its plant in Charlotte, North Carolina – which is currently being built. This will allow Asahi Kasei to mitigate the risk of market fluctuations and maintain high rates of operation. Toyota Tsusho will benefit from a stable supply of LIB separator. “This alliance fits our global growth
strategy to build and strengthen a supply chain in North America,” said Ryu Taniguchi, lead executive officer
6 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | September 2025
www.filmandsheet.com
at Asahi Kasei, who is responsible for the company’s separator business. Last year, Asahi Kasei announced
that it would build a LIB separator plant in Port Colborne, Canada. Commercial production is scheduled to begin in 2027.
IMAGE: ASAHI KASEI Kazuyuki Urata, COO of Toyota
Tsusho’s circular economy division, added: “This collaboration is an impor- tant step toward the acceleration of electrification in North America and a sustainable mobility society.” �
www.asahi-kasei.com
Asahi Kasei is to supply its Hipore lithium-ion
battery film to
Toyota Tsusho in North America
IMAGE: SIMONA
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