Global custom engineered thermoplastics compounder RTP, which recently opened a technical centre in Shenzhen, China, has doubled the footprint of its Ladenburg, Germany, production facility to 9,700 sq m.

"This expansion was necessary in order for RTP to continue to meet the growing demand for engineered thermoplastic compounds in Germany and throughout the industrial regions of Europe," said Hugh Miller, President/CEO. "We have experienced healthy increases across the board, but especially in our very long fibre and conductive compounds -- including those materials that were part of our recent acquisition from Clariant -- that make it necessary for RTP to add additional production capacity in Europe."

In addition to relocating a compounding line from Clariant's site in Ahrensburg, Germany, that was included in the recent conductive compounds acquisition, RTP will be installing additional pultrusion lines for manufacturing very long fibre composites along with another compounding line during the expansion. With the additional equipment, its capacity will increase by 8 million kg/year.

The firm says it has experienced growth in many key market segments such as automotive, construction, industrial equipment, electrical and electronics, and medical.

Opened in April 2011, RTP Company's Ladenburg location is its second manufacturing site in Europe, the other facility is located in France.

(PRA)

Electronic Editions 2012