Preferred Rubber acquires Associated Rubber

Barberton, Ohio - Preferred Rubber Compounding Corp. has purchased Associated Rubber Co., giving customers for both mixing firms the benefits of multiple production facilities, expanded geographic coverage and a larger range of processing technologies and proprietary products, said the company.

Preferred operates two facilities - one for black and one for coloured compounding - at its Barberton site, and Associated has plants in Tallapoosa, Georgia Fruithurst, Alabama, and Huntingdon, Tennessee.

Preferred President Tim Eburne said the transaction - effective May 1 - is good for both companies. Their combined process offerings now will include tangential - both 4-Wing ST and 2-Wing - and intermeshing style internal mixers, tilt mixers and mixing mills, plus straining, pelletising, calendering, slitting, blending and stripping services.

Customers also will benefit from the combined laboratory facilities with small batch mixing capabilities and additional technical staff to aid in compound development and customer service, said the company.

"All of these added features will strengthen our speed-to-market initiative," Eburne said.

"Associated´s technology relationship with (calendered sheeting supplier) Vita Calender, and Associated´s strategy for roll compounding and other niche markets, including high- value FKM compounds, will enable Preferred Rubber to be the one stop shop for many customers," said Bruce Corson, Preferred director of business development.

In turn, Associated´s current customers will now have access to Preferred´s support in Shanghai, China, through their existing partnership with German rubber maker Kraiburg Rubber Services, Corson said.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)