Asset purchase of specialty hydrate operation strengthens Fire Retardant Additives

Huber Specialty Hydrates, LLC (HSH), a subsidiary of the J.M. Huber Corporation, announced on April 2, 2012, that it had purchased the assets of the specialty hydrate flame retardant business of Almatis, Inc., located in Bauxite, Arkansas. HSH will manufacture precipitated alumina trihydrate (ATH) for the Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) business unit of Huber Engineered Materials (HEM). The purchase includes the specialty hydrate manufacturing operation located in Bauxite and all product grades under the Hydral® and SpaceRite® brands.

The addition of Huber Specialty Hydrates and its employees is a good strategic fit for HEM. It represents the culmination of an effort that began in 2010, when HEM entered into a tolling arrangement with Almatis to sell, market and provide technical service support for its specialty hydrates. This asset purchase, coupled with HEM’s acquisition of the Kemgard® smoke suppressant product line in August of 2010, expands Huber’s fire retardant additives portfolio. It also builds on Huber’s more than 30-year history as a trusted supplier of non-halogen flame retardants and smoke suppressants.

The Hydral and SpaceRite products will continue to be manufactured in Bauxite. Huber has built strong global relationships with a number of customers seeking specialty hydrate flame retardants. The purchase further expands Huber’s ability to offer customers an extensive array of solutions in this growing market.

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