Polyplastics USA announces merger with affiliate Topas Advanced Polymers

Polyplastics Co., Ltd. ("Polyplastics"), a leading global supplier of engineering thermoplastics, has announced that its affiliate TOPAS Advanced Polymers, Inc. ("TAP USA"), based in Florence, Ky., will be merged into Polyplastics USA, Inc. ("Polyplastics USA"), effective April 1. The merger will add TOPAS® cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) resins to Polyplastics USA's existing portfolio of POM (acetal), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) engineering polymers. The combined business will be headquartered at Polyplastics USA's existing offices in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Polyplastics has held an ownership stake in TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH (TAP GmbH) for over a decade, and the merger is a key milestone in Polyplastics's efforts to build a strong market presence in the Americas. "We plan to leverage and further enhance TAP GmbH's global leadership position in COC as Polyplastics moves forward to expand its market reach in the Americas," said Lindsey Deal, President of Polyplastics USA, and Timothy Kneale, President ofTAP USA, in a joint statement.
Polyplastics USA has retained the majority of TAP USA' s personnel to ensure continuity for the growing number of COC customers in the packaging, healthcare, and other industries where polyolefin performance enhancement is needed. For the TOPAS® COC business, the merger will deliver additional resources to support the strong growth of COC markets and applications. American TOPAS® COC sales have more than doubled since parent Polyplastics, based in Tokyo, acquired the company in 2005.

Upon completion of the merger, TAP USA will no longer exist as a legal entity. The merger will have no effect on TAP GmbH's European arm, TAP GmbH, which will continue to manufacture COC in Oberhausen, Germany, and handle sales for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

About Polyplastics USA, Inc.

Polyplastics USA, based in Farmington Hills, Mich., supplies DURACON® POM (acetal), DURANEX® polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and DURAFIDE® polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) in the Americas. The company, which began operations in July of 2012, is responsible for covering the North and South America region for its Tokyo-based parent company, Polyplastics Co., Ltd. Principal activities include sales, marketing, application development, and technical assistance supported by both a local Technical Solutions Center and a Global Technical Service network.

Polyplastics Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, is a global leader in the development and production of engineering thermoplastic solutions. The company's broad product portfolio includes DURACON® POM, DURAFIDE® PPS, DURANEX® PBT, TOPAS® COC, and LAPEROS®liquid crystal polymer (LCP). The company has the largest global market share of POM. With more than 50 years of experience, the company is backed by a strong global network of R&D, production, and sales resources capable of creating advanced solutions for an ever-changing global marketplace. 

About TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH

TOPAS Advanced Polymers is the world's leading maker of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), a glass-clear and extremely pure plastic for healthcare, packaging, and electronics applications. From insulin delivery, to food-contact films, to tablet and smartphone components, TOPAS® COC is the high-performance material.