Leverkusen, Germany-Chemicals company Lanxess GmbH has sold iSL-Chemie GmbH & Co. KG of Kürten, Germany, to Berlac AG, Sissach, Switzerland for Euros 20 million. iSL-Chemie, a subsidiary of Lanxess unit Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH of Mannheim, Germany, makes colour pastes and speciality plastics coatings. Lanxess's 2 Dec statement on the sale said the transaction takes effect immediately."iSL-Chemie is a well-positioned manufacturer of innovative products," said Lanxess chairman Dr Axel Heitmann. "We divested this company because it was not among Rhein Chemie's core activities. In the Swiss Berlac group we have found a purchaser who will support iSL-Chemie in growing its business."iSL-Chemie, which has been in existence for over 35 years ago, employs about 130 people and its predicted sales for 2005 are about Euro25 million.Berlac is a global manufacturer of high-end special lacquers and effects for the design-oriented industry. Applications for the group's products include automotive and telecommunications, the ski and snowboard industries, and the watch-making and eyewear sectors. "Acquiring iSL-Chemie enables the Berlac group to reinforce its position as one of the leading producers of specialty coatings and color pastes for plastics substrates," said Berlac group president Daniel Kesselring, in Lanxess' statement. Berlac is represented in Germany by bomix Chemie GmbH of Telgte.As well as colours for epoxy resins and PVC, iSL makes a range of colour pastes for use in all types of polyurethane systems. Fine dispersion makes the pastes suitable for pre-colouring of the polyol component and for dispensing via mixing heads, says the company. ISL also has a range of high intensity colours, used mainly for flexible foam. Alsp part of its range is solvent- or water-based one- or two-component paints for in-mould painting of moulded polyurethanes. "
