A. Schulman

A. Schulman (NASDAQSHLM), is a global plastics supplier, headquartered in Akron, Ohio. A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. The Company’s principal product lines consist of proprietary and custom-formulated engineered plastic compounds, color concentrates and additives that improve the appearance and performance of plastics in a number of specialized applications. Rather than being considered a plastics manufacturer per se, the Company is in the plastic compounding business.[1]

A. Schulman
Type Public (NASDAQSHLM)
Industry Chemicals
Founded 1928
Founder(s) Alex Schulman
Headquarters Akron, Ohio, USA
Key people Joseph Gingo (Chairman, President, CEO; from Jan 2008)
Gustavo Perez (COO, Americas)
Products plastic compounds, color concentrates & additives
Revenue ~$2,000 Million (2009)
Employees ~2,200
Website http://www.aschulman.com/
References: Foundation[2]; Key people[3],[4]

Contents

History

In April 2010, the Company completed acquisition of ICO, Inc. as part of its overall globalization and diversification strategy.[3][5] ICO (NASDAQICOC),[6] which was incorporated in 1978, was a public company dealing globally in production of specialty polymer resins.[7] Also in 2010, the Company acquired McCann Color, Inc. in order to "advance the profitable growth of our North American color operations." Also in 2010, A. Schulman acquired Mash Compostos Plasticos in Brazil.

The globalization strategy which led to the 2010 ICO acquisition was crafted by the incumbent CEO as of August 2010, Joseph Gingo, in collaboration with Charles River Associates.[3]

Significant facility openings and closures

In 1929, within a year of its founding, the Company had built its first production plant in Akron, Ohio.[2][3]

1935-Opened the East St. Louis Plant supplying custom-fabricated precision rubber parts for the automotive industry

1955-Opened the Bellevue Plant in Bellevue, Ohio for mixing and processing PVC, ABS resins, PP, PE, and PS

1959 Opened the Orange Dispersions Plant in Orange, Texas for processing polyethylenes

1963-Opened Bornem Plant in Belgium

1973-Opened the Kerpen Plant in Germany and the Crumlin Plant in the United Kingdom

1990-Opened the Givet Plant in France

1994-Acquired Comalloy International in Nashville, Tennessee

1995-Opened San Luis Potosi Plant in Mexico

1996-Opened the Indonesia Plant

1996-Acquired Specialty Compounding Division in Sharon Center, Ohio

2000-Acquired Gorla Plant in Italy

2007-Acquired Delta Plast in Sweden

2008-The Company closed its facility in St. Thomas, Ontario.[3]

2009-Opened Akron Polybatch Plant

2010-The Company closed its facility in Sharon Center, Ohio, a consequence of the acquisition of McCann Color.[3]

Factors which impact company performance

The Company produces and distributes materials used by other companies to fashion finished products. The automobile industry is the second largest of the Company's markets.[8] A historical reliance on the auto market in the United States led in part to lack of profitability in the US division in the 2000s, in contrast to profitability in the Company's European and Mexican divisions.[3]

As a company which creates workable manufacturing materials from raw materials, changes in the cost of raw material can significantly impact the Company's profitability.[8]

Products

A 1997 directory of thermoplastics manufacturers, compounders and distributors provided information on what types of plastics the Company produces and some of the trade names underwhich they were distributed.[1]

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Bashford, David (1997), Thermoplastics: directory and databook (1st ed.), Springer (Chapman & Hall), ISBN 978-0-412-73350-5, OCLC 36085968, http://books.google.com/books?id=ycLq-EYaE0QC&dq=a.+schulman&source=gbs_navlinks_s, retrieved 7 August 2010 
  2. ^ a b A Schulman Inc
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Steve Minter (17 March 2010). "On the Rise -- A. Schulman Inc.: Molding a Global Strategy". Industry Week (IW). Penton Media. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/mainframe.php. Retrieved 6 August 2010. 
  4. ^ "A. Schulman names COO of the Americas". Yahoo! Finance. Akron, Ohio: Associated Press. 21 July 2010. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/A-Schulman-names-COO-of-the-apf-3734891868.html?x=0&.v=1. Retrieved 5 August 2010. 
  5. ^ "A. Schulman Announces Completion of ICO Acquisition" (Press release). PR Newswire. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5rlpPuhW9. Retrieved 5 August 2010. 
  6. ^ "ICO Inc (ICOC) Stock Quote". TheStreet.com. The Street. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5rlq1i3Vn. Retrieved 5 August 2010.  Note that the "ICOC" symbol is no longer recognized in a symbol lookup at NASDAQ.com
  7. ^ ICO, Inc SEC Form 10-K (Report). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. 2009. 76-0566682. http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/353567/000035356709000064/form10kbody.htm. Retrieved 5 August 2010. 
  8. ^ a b Steven Halpern (30 December 2007). "Best Stocks for 2008: Forbes quant picks A. Schulman (SHLM)". BloggingStocks. AOL. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5rlv5rVxS. Retrieved 5 August 2010.