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A global alliance to expand materials availability in North America, Europe, and Asia has been formed by custom compounder Star Plastics, Ravenswood, W.Va. and Italy’s engineering thermoplastics compounder . The move will enhance both companies’ specialty product lines and broaden the sales network of LATI materials further into North America. Said president and founder of Star Plastics Doug Ritchie, “The alliance with LATI will extend new opportunities for our customers and our companies, driving growth and increasing exposure with markets in which we already exist.”

This partnership aligns strategically with Star Plastics’ current North American and Asian customer base within the electrical, electronics, and appliance markets, as well as other applications that require engineering grade plastics. LATI material grades that will be available through Star Plastics include flame-retardant, lubricated, antistatic, conductive and other high-performance materials. LATI’s nylon and other specialty compounds, including glass and carbon reinforced PBT, PP and PEEK are a complementary fit with Star’s PC, ABS, and PC alloys.

Said LATI’s CEO Michela Conterno, "We found in Star Plastics a perfectly complementary product offering to that of LATI and the same approach to the market, based on creating solid partnerships with customers, to develop innovative solutions. This will allow both companies to expand their market reach and improve their global presence. Under this agreement, LATI specialty plastic compounds will be available through Star Plastics with a focus in the U.S. and Canada, with the same level of quality and service that both companies have a reputation for in the market.”