Altana Chemie strengthens its packaging coatings area.

Altana Chemie AG has signed an agreement to acquire the U.S.-based Rad-Cure Corporation. Rad-Cure is a specialist in the field of overprint UV curable coatings and adhesives for the paper and board packaging sector. The completion of the transaction is planned for the first quarter 2006. With this acquisition in the packaging materials area, Altana Chemie will further strengthen its market presence in North America after the recent acquisition of Kelstar, and has taken another step in the consolidation of its Coatings & Sealants division.

Rad-Cure generated sales of approximately $10 million in 2005. Altana Chemie will take over the market specialist for label applications, including all employees and the production equipment. Details of the sales price have not been disclosed.

"The acquisition of Rad-Cure is an additional step to further strengthen the Divisions footprint in the packaging coatings area," said Guido Forstbach, president of the Coatings & Sealants division. "Rad-Cure allows us to enrich our UV and adhesives product portfolio in the U.S. market with well recognized technology."