US Compounding Start-Up to Set Up in South Carolina

A new US-based compounding start-up, Orion Performance Compounds, is to invest $13m to establish a 4,600m² manufacturing plant at Lugoff in South Carolina. Production is expected to start in Q2 of this year.

Orion Performance Compounds COO Tom Drye – a compounding industry veteran and former Techmer executive – said the new plant will be equipped with three compounding lines in its first phase, a combination of twin and single screw equipment. It will also include R&D and QC laboratories.

“Orion Performance Compounds will focus on high-end custom engineered compounds,” Drye told Compounding World. “The portfolio will be broad based – high mechanical performance, lubricated, conductive (electrical and thermal), FR, custom colour – with a broad look at renewable resins and reinforcements.”

He said the company has already “multiple projects” on the table for launch and a number of other potential customers interested in its compounding business offer. “Orion core doctrine is the right product, at the right time,” he said. “Delivering initial samples in two weeks or less and production quantities among the best lead time in the industry.”

The Lugoff location, in Kershaw County, was selected after an extensive multi-state search, Drye said. “The state of SC and Kershaw County were very welcoming to our planned business and removed any hurdles along the way.”