Americhem Acquires Engineered Compounds maker Vi-Chem Corporation

Mergers & Acquisition

Americhem Acquires Engineered Compounds maker Vi-Chem Corporation

Americhem Group, a global provider of colour, additive and engineered compounds for the polymer industry, has announced the acquisition of Vi-Chem Corporation, a supplier of specialty engineered compounds used in injection molding, extrusion and blow molding applications. The sale was completed on March 18, 2016, and the resulting company will be known as Vi-Chem, an Americhem Group company.

The Vi-Chem team has built a leadership position in specialty TPE and PVC compounds for the automotive industry, said Rick Juve, CEO of Americhem Group. We look forward to providing further resources to expand the business geographically and also into Americhem's other current vertical markets. This is about bringing continual innovation and broadened solutions to our customers across the globe.”

Vi-Chem, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., employs 85 people. In addition to the automotive market, they serve customers in the industrial, building and construction, medical, consumer, and electrical and electronic industries. The company’s headquarters in Grand Rapids encompasses 170,000 square feet and will serve as Americhem Group’s center of excellence for TPE and PVC compound solutions.

The consolidation of our companies will create a broad portfolio of products for our customers, said Bryan Kazmer, vice president and general manager of Vi-Chem. Our companies are focusing on technological solutions, deep relationships and customised products for our combined customer base. Together, we’ll give our customers more choices than ever before.”

Vi-Chem also houses research and development laboratories that are certified to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard, an authorisation that certifies the capabilities of testing and calibration laboratories. The company is also accredited to the ISO/TS 16949:2009 automotive specific manufacturing standard.

Americhem Group’s portfolio includes Americhem color and additive solutions, Infinity LTL engineered compounds and now Vi-Chem TPE and PVC compounds. The Group employs approximately 800 people across ten manufacturing and technical service sites across the Americas, Europe and Asia.