Hexpol Compounding acquires Robbins LLC

June 11, 2014

The Tire Retread and Repair Information Buerau (TRIB) announced that member Hexpol Compounding HQ sa, a Belgium-based global provider of elastomer compounds, has solidified its position in the tire industry with the integration of Robbins LLC into the Hexpol family.

Robbins LLC is a manufacturer of quality envelopes and curing tubes for tires, as well as a leading U.S. rubber compounding company with a strong position in mining and agriculture, notes TRIB, which adds that acquiring Robbins LLC has proven to be a perfect complement to Hexpol's breadth of technology, existing capabilities, and industry knowledge.

During the past year, Hexpol's NAFTA integration team introduced Robbins LLC business lines to appropriate Hexpol locations, merged the sales teams from both companies, implemented financial controls and cost reductions, and adjusted inventory levels to reflect the new business model and better serve Hexpol and Robbins customers.

Under the leadership of new Managing Director Christopher Poirier, the Robbins Muscle Shoals, Alabama, facility recently completed its initial ISO 14001 environmental assessment and was named Hexpol's "Most Improved Facility."

"Our associates worked hard and put a lot of effort into making improvements and meeting Hexpol's standards," Poirier explained.

"Now we're working to ensure that Hexpol customers can draw on Robbins LLC expertise from all of Hexpol's NAFTA facilities."

The Robbins LLC brand within Hexpol recently developed a specialized tire market sales team to focus on multiple aspects of serving the tire industry, including:

  • tire compounds: providing compound volumes exceeding 500,000 pounds per day, or prototype formulations as small as 100 pounds for custom compounds;
  • retreading options: molded envelopes to cover tires during the curing process and curing tubes to force the tread rubber into the mold;
  • specialty solutions: Hexpol develops custom formulated and standard specialty products and additives for the tire industry, from accelerators and vulcanizing agents to colorants, process aides and tire mold lubricants.

"Robbins LLC has the perfect complement of product and service offerings for Hexpol,” said Tracy Garrison, CEO and president of Hexpol Compounding NAFTA.

"Together, we bring industry leading solutions to our customers, while elevating our position in the tire industry to second to none."

For more information visit www.hexpolcompounding.com or robbinsllc.com.