Westlake Royal buys Palram Americas trimboard unit

Houston-based Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc. has acquired the trimboard business from its partner Palram Americas to expand its portfolio of brands for putting the finishing touches on the interiors and exteriors of homes.

Founded more than 50 years ago, Kutztown, Pa.-based Palram produces PVC and polycarbonate sheet, panel systems and finished products for stadium, airport, farm, commercial and residential applications.

Westlake Royal acquired the part of the business that offers Palight-brand cellular PVC foam boards and sheets; cellular PVC mouldings for windows, doors, ceilings and post wraps; and pre-made PVC profiles for corners.

The trimboard products are manufactured at a facility on the Palram campus that Westlake Royal will “assume responsibility for,” according to a news release about the deal that closed Nov. 30.

Terms weren’t disclosed.

In addition to the Palight product line, Westlake Royal purchased the production equipment and inventory, entered into long-term lease for the facility, and have agreements in place for use of Palight Trimboard and related names, Steve Booz, vice president of marketing and product management, said in an email.

About 65 operations personnel were retained and are now Westlake employees while other business functions will be handled by the Westlake Royal teams, Booz added.

“We anticipate a seamless transition of the production lines without disruption to customer support or supply, and we look forward to welcoming the associated Palram employees to the Westlake Royal team,” said Scott Szwejbka, vice president and general manager of Westlake Royal Building Products.

Szwejbka described the acquisition as strategic to add another brand of PVC trimboard to Westlake Royal’s product offering.

The cellular PVC boards and sheet, which resist rot, mold and insects, are reversible for smooth or woodgrain finishes and paintable. The products are used for exterior house trim, commercial construction, entertainment venues, decking trim and pergolas.

The cellular PVC mouldings, which are also paintable as well as lightweight and easy to cut, are for decorative accents in new construction and restoration projects.

Westlake will operate the acquired business unit as part of its Westlake Royal Trim & Mouldings Solutions business unit.

With $2.49 billion in annual profile and pipe sales, parent company Westlake Corp. ranks third among North American pipe, profile and tubing extruders.

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