Hexpol expands in Mexico as demand grows

Queretaro, Mexico - Hexpol AG has invested $9.2 million (€8.7 million) in a 135 litter rubber mixing line, adding about 12,000 tonnes of capacity to its Queretaro facility.

The plant’s capacity now stands at 53,000 tonnes per year and represents Queretaro's third mixing line. Hexpol also added significant building and infrastructure additions to the site's campus.

Hexpol also operates a site in Aguascalientes, Mexio, which has three rubber mixing lines and 27,000 tonnes of capacity per year.

"We are very proud of the achievements made by the business community here in Queretaro and throughout Mexico, and certainly honoured to be part of this growth and Mexico's progress to date. We look forward to years of mutual success ahead," Tracy Garrison, president and CEO of Hexpol Compounding North America, told the audience of a 16 Nov open house to celebrate the new addition.

Employment at Queretaro has increased to more than 160, compared to 90 in 2014. Hexpol said Mexico continues to be a country of unique development opportunities, primarily as a result of business growth in the automotive industry.

The firm cited Mexico's structural reforms and strategic trade agreements as primary drivers of the country's economy. Hexpol said the country has great potential for growth going forward, with 16 automotive plants in Mexico's production corridor and four others from Audi, BMW, Nissan and Kia coming online in the near future.

Hexpol said these investments are positioning it to capture the projected 4.9 vehicles to be assembled in Mexico in 2020, up from 3.5 million in 2016. It added that Mexico is ranked No. 4 in the world for car exports and No. 7 for car production.

Other industries also have growth potential, with Hexpol citing aerospace, energy, oil and gas, electronics, appliances, mining, construction, footwear, and general industry applications.