Switzerland-based specialty chemicals provider Clariant has acquired XL Performance Chemicals – a
manufacturer and supplier of defoamers, antifoams, silicone fluids and emulsions, esters and
surfactants – from Dalton, Ga.-based Fibro Chem LLC and its affiliates. The acquisition follows
Clariant’s recent commencement of an exclusive strategic alliance to serve the $2-billion-plus
global foam-control market.
Foam-control products, defoamers and anti-foam agents remove or manage trapped air, bubbles
and foam that can cause manufacturing, process and performance problems in end-products. XL
Performance Chemicals has developed more than 100 foam-control products in markets served globally
by Clariant, including textiles, metal-working, paints and coatings, mining, oil services, crop
protection, construction and paper.
“At some point in virtually every manufacturing process – our own included – foam is
created,” said Hugh Fowler, North American head of Functional Chemicals, Clariant. “Eliminating
this foam or bubbles from such products as paints or cements is essential for these products to
perform optimally as designed. With the addition of the XL D-Foam-RTM products to our own extensive
range, we can offer our customers an even better comprehensive end-to-end service-oriented solution
to their foam-control challenges.”
Clariant will manufacture the defoaming products at a Greenville-based plant that operates
under a toll agreement. As the business grows, the company may transfer production to its own
plants located worldwide.
May 29, 2009
