Page 50 - Plastics News July 2018

Business news

RL Hudson acquires Rapid Production Tooling

L Hudson has completed the acquisition of Colorado-based the country's most capable precision plastic injection mold
RRapid Production Tooling, Inc., a technically superior and tooling manufacturers. Rapid has a comprehensive
injection mold tooling company. The acquisition will allow array of state of the art robot-controlled CNC equipment,
RL Hudson to leverage additional technology and capability EDM, laser, grinding, polishing and measuring equipment
to provide turnkey service to customers. From material capable of producing molds to the most demanding
development, specifications.
to part and
mold design, BASF plans $10 billion project
to prototype
and production in China
parts, RL Hudson
now can respond ASF CEO Martin Brudermüller has signed a nonbinding
quickly with high Bagreement with Chinese authorities to build a new
precision molds, integrated chemical complex in Guangdong, China.
other tooling and molded components. The German chemical giant says investment in the new
site could reach $10 billion by 2030. The project would
The partnership positions RL Hudson as a top technical be the chemical firm’s largest ever investment. And it
solutions provider and provides important market would establish the company’s newest site incorporating
diversification into new high-tech markets. We are the company’s
delighted to be able to join forces with Rapid Production “V erbund”
Tooling," said Rick Von Drehle, President / CEO of RL principle of
Hudson & Company. "Rapid is a terrific company with meticulous
great people, technical capabilities and equipment. For integration.
RL Hudson, the acquisition of Rapid will enable us to Brudermüller
move faster and with much better precision in our s ig ned the
plastic injection molding business." Headquartered agreement in
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, RL Hudson & Company was founded the presence
in 1980 by Rick Hudson. Rick Hudson's passion for rubber of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese
chemistry and rubber and plastic molding technology Premier Li Keqiang, who is visiting Germany. BASF says
focused on the need for specialized rubber, sealing and the site would be its third largest after Ludwigshafen,
plastic product development for numerous markets and Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium, which are also
industries. Recognizing the growing demand for technically Verbund sites. The installation would have a 1-million-
sophisticated production intent parts, the company built metric-ton-per-year ethylene cracker. The preliminary
new facilities and launched new in-house manufacturing scope of the project includes basic chemicals such as
and assembly capabilities for plastic injection molding ethylene oxide, acrylic acid, oxo chemicals, propylene
and tooling. Providing affordable injection molding oxide, and butadiene. Downstream from these would be
for prototypes, low volume parts, bridge tooling and ethylene glycol, surfactants, amines, superabsorbent
validation builds was a primary focus of the initiative. polymers, acrylates, polyols, and performance
Benefits to customers include cost reductions through polymers. BASF would own the Guangdong site without
design improvements, metal to plastic conversions, a wide a partner and expects to open the first plants in 2026.
range of machine sizes and quick turn around on prototype The company says Guangdong is home to many of
and production parts by a professional design and its most important customers in the automotive and
engineering team. Rapid Production Tooling of Berthoud, electronics industry.The company started up its other
Colorado was founded in 1997 by three talented, visionary Chinese Verbund site—a joint venture with Sinopec
journeyman toolmakers. Through the years a number of in Nanjing—in 2005. That site generates $3.1 billion
other employees also invested in the company to help it in revenues per year. BASF’s other Verbund sites are
grow. At present, Rapid has 38 employees and is one of Freeport, Texas; Geismar, La.; and Kuantan, Malaysia.

Plastics News July 2018 50