Novamelt/Jowat to continue collaboration after end of JV

Novamelt GmbH has acquired the outstanding 49 percent share of its US joint venture with Jowat, in a move which will see the two focus on different markets but continue to support each other.
 
Novamelt-Jowat LLC will now be known as Novamelt Americas LLC and will expand its geographic support role to include all customers in North, Central, and South America.
 
Novamelt expanded to North America in 2005 in order to support its global customer base with local manufacturing, plus research and development, and to establish a direct investment presence in the US dollar denominated economy. Jowat Corporation, a subsidiary of Jowat AG, was the perfect partner at that time as it had land and a successful business operation with established business functions to support the joint venture in the start-up period, Novamelt said. 
 
After the buy-out, Jowat and Novamelt will remain closely allied. Novamelt Americas will continue to be located on the Jowat Corporation site in North Carolina, although with separate operations. The two companies will aid each other in their respective market focuses: Jowat in the packaging, woodworking/furniture and automotive; Novamelt in the label, tape and medical PSA markets. 
 
Jowat’s packaging adhesives are designed for use in the manufacture of sacks, bags and pouches, cartons and folding boxes.
 
Jim Auber, current general manager of the joint venture, has been named president of Novamelt Americas LLC, and said: ‘Novamelt has grown significantly in North America since its founding in 2005. It is now independently handling the customer base, the applications support and the product manufacturing, and is financially mature enough to operate on its own. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with outstanding products and support.’
 
Novamelt CEO Harold Braun said: ‘It was time in the growth phase of the subsidiary to expand its role to include all of Latin America from its well-equipped and well-manned manufacturing and applications lab site in North Carolina. Novamelt will continue to place high importance and emphasis on its role and growth in the Americas.’