LyondellBasell sells Replas to MDT

Material Difference Technologies LLC (MDT), a Sarasota, Florida-based supplier to polymer product manufacturers, has acquired the assets of Houston-based Replas from Lyondell-Basell, one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. The facility has rebranded as MDT Replas.

The Houston-based facility is capable of producing a variety of custom formulations with consistent specifications that meet plastic processor requirements at a significant price advantage over prime resin, MDT says in a July news release announcing the purchase, which closed March 31.

Rich Odato, a spokesman for MDT, tells Recycling Today that Replas uses a variety of polypropylene (PP) feedstocks, though he did not disclose the volume of material the facility produces annually.

“Replas is a great addition to our capabilities,” says Mark Stokes, vice president of MDT. “This acquisition is a great fit with what we already do well. MDT is very strong in recycled resins and prime and generic prime resins. MDT Replas sits in between prime resin and recycled material, which allows us to produce custom formulations to fit customers’ product requirements.”

MDT Replas features washing, drying and blending operations and has rail access, large silo capacity, a quality control lab and a dedicated bulk truck fleet for delivery. The plant’s silos allow for custom blends with targeted melt flow, according to the company.

MDT says it acquired the plant, equipment and assets of Replas in the deal.

LyondellBasell had acquired the Houston facility as part of its purchase of Ohio-based A. Schulman Inc. in 2018, the news release notes.

MDT says it supplies engineering procurement services to manufacturers and was founded on the concept of providing engineering, tooling, raw material selection, processing and production services to customers to help them achieve overall cost savings.