Mitsubishi Chemical to acquire two Swiss plastics recyclers

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. has announced it is acquiring two Swiss engineering plastics recyclers, Minger Kunststofftechnik AG and Minger Plastic AG, through its parent group company, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, headquartered in Zurich. The two companies being acquired are known collectively as the Minger Group, which is headquartered in Appenzell, Switzerland. The purchase is part of the company’s efforts to promote the circular economy.

Minger Group collects engineering-grade plastic scrap and manufactures and sells recycled engineering-grade plastics. According to a news release from Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., the acquisition is not a stock acquisition, and the two companies’ manufacturing facilities and other assets will be transferred to Mitsubishi Chemical along with trade rights and other rights and obligations. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of February.

The circular economy is a key element to Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., and plastics recycling is an important initiative based on the Mitsubishi Chemical Holding Group’s Kaiteki Vision 30, the company reports. Kaiteki Vision 30 is a basic policy with 2030 goals that form the framework for the group’s next medium-term management plans. 

The Minger Group has proprietary recycling technologies for engineering-grade plastics, like PEEK (polyether ether ketone), PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) and nylon. It possesses a material collection network that spans much of Europe, a track record of recycled material transactions with more than 100 customers and an established business model for recycling engineering plastics in the region.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. says the acquisition will allow is to establish an integrated business model for engineering plastics, from manufacturing to sales, machining, collection and reuse. Going forward, the company says it will continue to strengthen its capability to propose solutions to users as a leader in the engineering plastics industry and will contribute to the realization of a recycling-based society.