Written on 14.07.2011 - Industry
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Rhein Chemie acquires tyre release agents business from Wacker

The Mannheim-based German company Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH has acquired the tyre release agents business of Wacker Chemie AG, Munich, as of 8 July 2011. The transaction includes the rights to the corresponding product formulations as well as the existing customer contracts and business inventories. Employees will not transfer to Rhein Chemie.

In addition, Wacker will supply Rhein Chemie with the required silicon-based raw materials. Wacker’s tyre release agents business achieved sales amounting to a mid single-digit million EUR amount in 2010. The purchase price was not disclosed.

“Acquiring Wacker Chemie’s tyre release agents business strengthens our already good position in the tyre industry and makes us the world’s leading supplier of tyre release agents," said Dr. Anno Borkowsky, CEO of Rhein Chemie.

The market for these products will grow worldwide by roughly 5 % per year in the medium term. The acquisition also opens up new business opportunities for Rhein Chemie, especially in the USA. The majority of the acquired products are aqueous, solvent-free dispersions based on silicone. They are to be marketed by Rhein Chemie under the name Rhenodiv.

“We now supply tyre manufacturers with an even more diverse range of solutions, thereby reinforcing our position in the growing market segments semi-permanent release agents and bladder coatings,” said Frank Lueckgen, Executive Vice President of Rhein Chemie’s Rubber Division.

At the beginning of the year, Rhein Chemie acquired the tyre release agent and bladder manufacturer Darmex S. A., Burzaco, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some weeks ago, the company also took over the two product lines Vocol and Santoweb from Flexsys.