Niche Polymer has acquired four US resin powder plants from LyondellBasell Industries for an undisclosed sum, establishing a new business unit called Specialty Powders LLC to manage the expanded powder manufacturing operations.

The strategic acquisition enhances Ravenswood, WV–based Niche Polymer's manufacturing footprint and product portfolio in the specialty powders segment. The company, already known for custom compounding of thermoplastic engineering resins, will now leverage LyondellBasell's established powder technology that delivers consistent, high-performance results with precise particle sizing and tailored formulations.

This move comes amid LyondellBasell's broader strategic restructuring, which has included divesting select European olefins and polyolefins assets to Aequita in June 2025. That deal included the sale of select olefins and polyolefins assets and the associated business in Europe.

Shreyas Naik, president of Niche Polymer, told PlasticsToday the four powder plants the company acquired are located in China, TX; Grand Junction, TN; East Chicago, IN; and Allentown, PA. He noted that the plants currently employ about 200 people and operate 60 production lines among them.

“Specialty Powders will add to Niche Polymer's polymer processing portfolio,” he said. “It will strengthen our tolling arm by adding onto our preexisting tolling businesses and becoming the largest toller in the United States.”

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Naik explained that Westchester Plastics is part of the company's toll compounding business.

"It was purchased from Ametek Westchester in 2020," he said. "This business is located in Nesquehoning, PA, and has an annual capacity of 150 million pounds."

Polymer Alliance Services, another of the company's toll services plants, is located in Washington, WV. 

"This 400,000-square-foot facility was specifically designed to service large resin producers," he said.

Naik also emphasized that Niche Polymer has a clear vision for its newly formed Specialty Powders LLC.

“Specialty Powders is a great bolt-on to our already established tolling business unit, and continues to diversify Niche Polymer's vast capabilities in the polymer processing space,” he said.

For Niche Polymer, which operates plants in Ravenswood and Washington, WV; Nesquehoning, PA; and Killen, AL, the acquisition aligns with its expansion strategy that includes plans to open an 80,000-square-foot plant in Muscle Shoals, AL, focused on soft polymers later this year.