Ashland Performance Forms Alliance with Acell

Ashland Performance Materials of Dublin, Ohio, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. has formed a strategic alliance with Acell S.r.l, based in Milan, Italy, to foster North American market development for Acell's SMC-based sandwich panel processing technology, according to a February 10 company release.

The Acell foam and processing technology offers fabricators an opportunity to compete in new applications requiring panel technology, such as entry doors, exterior sheathing for commercial buildings, or residential roofing, according to the release. The panels can be tailored any number of ways offering weathering, strength, insulating properties and fire resistance among other benefits with minimal capital investment.

"We are excited to partner with Acell as part of our ongoing efforts to grow the composites industry in North America," says Mike Wallenhorst, director of product management for Ashland Performance Materials, in the release. "Their technologies have tremendous promise for converting applications from traditional materials to composites, especially in building and construction markets."

Under terms of the alliance agreement, Acell will partner with Ashland to identify new customers and market opportunities in North America. "We have had good success in Europe and felt it was time to expand in to North America," says Michael Frieh, Acell commercial director, in the release. "Acell won the award for Best Process at the ACMA Composites show in 2011, and this is where we first met the Ashland team."