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Huber Acquires Sherwin-Williams’ Kemgard Line

Friday, August 27, 2010

Huber Engineered Materials has acquired the Kemgard flame-retardant and smoke-suppressant business of Sherwin-Williams.

The agreement, announced earlier this month, “strengthens Huber's current alumina trihydrate (ATH) and magnesium hydroxide (MDH) product portfolio and leverages Huber's expertise in offering a wider spectrum of non-halogen flame retardant solutions,” Huber said in a statement.

The Kemgard products will continue to be manufactured in Coffeyville, Kan., and brand grades and product specifications will remain the same.

"The Kemgard products are already well-positioned and provide outstanding performance," said Jerry Bertram, vice president and general manager of Huber's Industrial Minerals business.

"We are looking forward to working with this technology and supplying customers with high performing Kemgard products, backed by Huber's excellent technical expertise and customer support."

The purchase "enhances our presence in the market and will be beneficial to Kemgard customers," Bertram said. "The Kemgard products complement our existing line-up perfectly, as the marketplace continues its shift toward more environmentally-friendly flame retardants and smoke suppressants."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and Sherwin-Williams issued no statement on the transaction.

Atlanta-based Huber Engineered Materials, a division of the J.M. Huber Corp., has been a supplier of flame retardants for more than 30 years. The company produces ATH and MDH products and provides technical expertise for a variety of end-use applications, including carpet backing, fiber-reinforced plastics, roofing, silicone rubber, wire and cable.