Quadrant Acquires Poly Hi Solidur

Quadrant has signed an agreement with Menasha Corporation to purchase its Poly Hi Solidur, Inc. business, the world’s leading manufacturer of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) semi-finished products for machining and fabrication. The transaction will be completed in August of this year. This external growth step is the second largest in Quadrant’s history and significantly extends the company’s product range and its lead in the market for engineering plastic products.

Poly Hi Solidur, based in Fort Wayne, IN, operates production facilities in the USA, Germany, France, the UK, Japan and South Africa and has dedicated R&D, sales and business development resources among its workforce of over 1,000 employees worldwide. In 2004, the company posted total sales of US $169 million; approximately two thirds of which were generated in the US.

Glen Steady and Michael Koch, the two Co-CEOs of Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products (QEPP), commented on the benefits of the combined companies. “Poly Hi Solidur’s impressive materials line-up and leading position in polyolefins fill a longstanding gap in Quadrant’s global product line,” according to Mr. Steady, who is based at QEPP’s North American headquarters. “The two companies’ products offer complementary performance levels for different applications in the major industries we both serve. The combination affords a single, far more complete product portfolio and range of value-added application solutions for the unique performance needs of equipment design and maintenance engineers.”

Mr. Koch, who is located at QEPP’s European headquarters, also added, “As is the case with Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products, market recognition and strong preference for Poly Hi Solidur’s major brands, including TIVAR® and QuickSilver® is second to none in their field. This further strengthens our ability to offer the market a full line of shapes materials that are well-recognized for proven performance and quality in machined and fabricated components.”

Mark Yde, Poly Hi Solidur President, outlined other opportunities for synergy. “There is significant overlap in market segment focus and we share many of the same distribution partners. We have long seen the potential benefits of a merger of this type to these partners in areas such as transactions, logistics and joint development work in the field. In addition, marketing, sales and development resources can now be applied more effectively across a broader product line in the development of new business growth.”

For more information, contact Kress Schwartz, Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products at 610-320-6639, E-mail: kress.schwartz@qplas.com or Michael W. John, Menasha Corporation at 920-751-1015, E-mail: michael.john@menasha.com.