In line with the growing use, two US-based masterbatch companies have made announcements. Ohio-based compounder A. Schulman says that it has added equipment in its manufacturing facility in Dongguan, China, to accommodate increasing demand in the company's masterbatch Solutions business. This new production line, which the company expects will ramp up in volume over the next several months, will double the current masterbatch production capacity at the facility and enhance its ability to serve the needs of the packaging and personal care & hygiene industries in China.

"A. Schulman is aiming to expand its global footprint in emerging markets, especially in China, where we can build on our proven expertise and technological leadership in this market," said Derek Bristow, Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific for A. Schulman. "In addition, we plan to expand our engineered plastics production capacity in China by mid-2015 to meet the growing needs of the mobility and electric & electronics market. These key investments in China are in line with our global strategy to focus on fast-growing markets and improve our capabilities to serve customers." The company employs approximately 3,900 people and has 42 manufacturing facilities globally.

Meanwhile, New Jersey-based Infinity Engineered Compounds, part of the Americhem group of companies, is acquiring LTL Color Compounders, a producer of custom colour engineered thermoplastic compounds. Infinityand LTL will be joined to create Infinity LTL Engineered Compounds, an Americhem group company.

Founded in 1990, LTL is focused on a wide variety of industries, including medical, automotive, recreational vehicle, const ruction, electronics, consumer and aerospace. It has a 70,000-sq-ft compounding plant in Morrisville and a manufacturing plant and Asia headquarters in Dongguan, China. Both are certified to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 quality standards.

“With the creation of Infinity LTL Engineered Com pounds, these two respected entities will be run as a single company which will offer one of the industry’s widest product lines,” remarked Carlos Carreno, President of Infinity LTL. He went on to say that the broad product portfolio of engineered thermoplastic compounds will combine Infinity’s expertise in structurally reinforced, internally lubricated and electrically conductive compounds with LTL’s colour and polymer alloy technology.