MOSCOW (MRC) -- HEXPOL Compounding, a leading global provider of elastomer compounds, continues its commitment to rubber compounding in Mexico with the installation of a new, advanced 135 L rubber mixing line, said the company in its press release.
The line will include significant building and infrastructure extensions to the current HEXPOL facility in Queretaro, Mexico, and will cost approximately 9.2M USD. Anticipating customer growth and expanding production needs, HEXPOL is planning ahead. This investment in rubber compounding capacity will support the growing demand from HEXPOL's automotive and engineering customers in Mexico's automotive production corridor, which also includes HEXPOL's plant in Aguascalientes.
"When the new line is operational, we will have six advanced mixing lines with Best-in-Class equipment and technology," explained Tracy Garrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of HEXPOL Compounding. "As our customers grow, we will be prepared to support their continued success."
The new 135 L line is scheduled to be commissioned and on stream sometime in the second half of 2016, and will increase HEXPOL's rubber compounding capacity in Mexico to more than 70,000 tons, strengthening HEXPOL's continued commitment to the Mexican market.
Impressive production growth in the automotive corridor during the past few years has increased compounding demand and strong volume is expected to continue. The new line planned for 2016 is in addition to the second mixing line commissioned at Queretaro this past November, when the facility celebrated 15 years of service to its customers. HEXPOL has been in operation in Mexico longer than any other rubber compounder – since 2000.
As MRC informed earlier, HEXPOL has acquired the US-based rubber compounderPortage Precision Polymers Inc from the founder Doug Hartley and his family in a deal worth about USD13.2 million on a cash and debt free basis.
HEXPOL is a world-leading polymers group with strong global market positions in advanced polymer compounds (Compounding), gaskets for plate heat exchangers (Gaskets) and wheels made of plastic and rubber materials for forklifts and castor wheel applications (Wheels).
MRC