Total S.A. (Paris, France; www.total.com) has acquired a majority 68% interest in Germany’s Polyblend, which manufactures polymer plastics intended primarily for the automotive industry. The transaction is aligned with Total’s strategy of developing higher-value-added polymers and differentiating itself in markets away from commodity plastics.
Total recently began building two polypropylene compounding lines at the Carling Platform as part of its project to secure the French site’s future. The lines are scheduled to start up in mid-2016.
“The acquisition allows Total to consolidate its position in the fast-growing market for polymers for automotive solutions,” explains Philippe Sauquet, president of Total’s Refining & Chemicals. “Accentuated efforts to lighten vehicles to improve their efficiency mean that this type of product, whose technology is constantly evolving, enjoys a strong growth outlook. The Polyblend acquisition complements the current investment in new production lines at the Carling site. We will be able to tap expertise and synergies at the main facility in Carling and the Polyblend site in Bad Sobernheim, just 150 kilometers away, to productively expand in this field.”