Aurora Plastics announced the acquisition of compounder Elastocon TPE Technologies, headquartered in Springfield, IL, USA. Aurora said that this acquisition continues to expand its product line, bringing broader TPE compounding capabilities to its portfolio of PVC compounds, PVC alloys, CPE alloys, low-smoke flame-retardant concentrates, purge compounds. The company already has a portfolio of TPEs marketed under the brand names Auroralite, AuroraFlex, AuroraPrene, AuroraGuard.
In making the announcement on 15 April 2019, Aurora Plastics CEO Darrell Hughes noted: “Elastocon brings a broader offering of soft-touch and abrasion-resistant materials. It also deepens our presence and offerings to our valued customers in the medical, packaging, consumer, industrial, automotive and non-automotive transportation markets.”
Elastocon is an expert in soft TPE materials. The company has developed a comprehensive TPE line including overmoulding (two-shot injection molding), injection moulding and specialty grades. Additionally, they offer clear and oil-free grades with very good tensile and tear strength properties, highly resilient TPEs for various strap and tubing applications, and scratch- and mar-resistant materials for dampening pads and bumpers. The comprehensive line of overmould grades can be modified for many soft touch requirements. Coupled with its own experience in extrusion and co-extrusion based TPEs, Aurora expects the merger to allow customers to more easily procure the materials they need from a single source.
“Elastocon’s product line offers an alternative to other materials that might be higher cost and over-engineered,” explained Dave Barkus, president, Elastocon TPE Technologies, Inc. “We are proud of our odorless, phthalate and latex free materials and look forward to working alongside Aurora Plastics to allow us to strengthen our support network for our customers, including offering quicker shipment and enhanced lab and R&D facilities.” Barkus said that he is excited to play an on-going role within Aurora Plastics, helping to strengthen the commercial and technical teams’ ability to drive growth.
This is the fourth acquisition for Aurora Plastics in two years. In May 2018 the company acquired assets of JPI South. As part of this transaction, Aurora Plastics has also entered into a long-term lease for the former JPI site in Pasadena, TX, USA. The company invested heavily in this site and in February 2019 unveiled the expansion and renovation. In June 2017 Aurora Plastics acquired the Canadian PVC compounder Plastique Reinier Inc., Marieville, QC, Canada, and in October 2017 the PVC and TPE compounding expert S&E Specialty Polymers, Lunenburg, MA, USA.