Sensient Acquires Formulabs, Syntec GmbH

Sensient Technologies Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, announced that it has acquired Kimberly-Clark Printing Technology, Inc., an Escondido, CA-based manufacturer of specialty inks for ink jet and industrial applications.
    
The company, a wholly-owned Kimberly-Clark subsidiary with revenues of approximately $20 million last year, markets products under the Formulabs brand.
    
“This acquisition adds new products and markets for our fast-growing line of technical colors,” said Kenneth P. Manning, chairman, president and CEO of Sensient. “The transaction fits our strategy to accelerate our expansion into non-food categories with advanced technologies and higher margins.”
    
Kimberly-Clark Printing Technology, Inc., is a leading supplier of inks for ink jet and industrial applications. The company’s product lines open several new markets for Sensient Technologies, including wide-format graphic inks, textile inks and other industrial inks. The transaction also enhances Sensient’s ink formulation and technical dye capabilities, complementing the company’s extensive ink-jet inks product line.
    
Sensient Technologies is a leading global supplier of colors, flavors and fragrances. Sensient manufactures a full range of ink jet inks, cosmetic and pharmaceutical additives, as well as colors and flavors for many of the world’s best-known brands.
    
Sensient also acquired SynTec GmbH, a manufacturer of specialty dyes and chemicals for the imaging industry based in Wolfen, Germany.
    
“We now have a presence in the laser imaging market that complements our leading position in ink jets. We will be able to offer a common customer group additional products and technologies,” said Mr. Manning. “SynTec expands our technical capabilities in highly purified organic chemicals and provides access into several rapidly expanding markets, including electrophotography and OLED (organic light emitting diodes). Our strategy to accelerate growth through acquisitions is working.”
    
SynTec was founded in 1992 and is a leading provider of electrophotography chemicals and dyes that act as photoconductors in laser printers and copiers. The company also produces specialized organic chemicals for OLED applications like cell phone screens, auto displays and flat screen televisions.  The company reported revenues of less than $10 million last year.