Norplex-Micarta, located in Iowa, USA, announced on September 21 that it has signed a definitive agreement with Solvay Specialty Polymers, located in Georgia, USA to acquire a product line called CYPLY. Vice President Denny Ford said that this acquisition will help Norplex-Micarta expand its position in laminated sheet products to a new set of high-performance applications.
Solvay said that the CYPLY series material (originating from ScotchPLY) is a sheet based on non-woven continuous parallel E glass fibers and epoxy resin. It is said that this type of structure can minimize fiber stress, which can shorten the fatigue life of traditional reinforced plastics. After the acquisition, the CYPLY brand will be renamed NorPLY.
Solvay and Norplex-Micarta are actively planning the transition of the assets included in the acquisition, and the transaction is expected to be completed in early 2021.
"Although NorPLY is a laminated sheet, its basic feeding and pressing technology is different from Norplex-Micarta's current process. With this in mind, we decided to establish a new entity called Norplex Advanced Composites, To hold these assets and provide services to this segment of customers. Ford added that Norplex Advanced Composites will be located in a proprietary factory in Manhattan, Montana. Alan Johnson has been appointed as the general manager of the new company and will Moved to Montana at the end of 2020.