Grupo Imsa has acquired the assets of Polymer Coil Coaters, an industrial continuous steel painting line in Fairfield, Ala., for US$29 million. Grupo Imsa executed the purchase from Magnatrax Corp. through Imsa Acero.

Santiago Clariond, Imsa Acero's CEO, explained, "This plant will be integrated into Steelscape's operations, expanding our geographic presence in the United States which is currently concentrated in the western region of that nation. One of our objectives for Steelscape is to grow in an ordered and profitable way in order to give us nationwide coverage to become the U.S. construction industry's most important pre-painted steel supplier." Mr. Clariond added, "Additionally, this acquisition is in line with our strategy of growing in high value added product lines, such as pre-painted steel, where we lead the markets in Mexico and on the west coast of the United States."

With the acquisition of Polymer Coil Coaters, Imsa Acero increases its industrial pre-painted steel capacity to a total of 845,000 tonnes per year. The new production capacity strengthens the company’s position in the North American market by allowing it to cover the west coast and southeastern regions of the United States from its U.S. plants and the south of the nation from its plants in northern Mexico.

Grupo Imsa, a holding company, dates back to 1936 and is today one of Mexico's leading diversified industrial companies, operating in three core businesses: steel processed products; steel and plastic construction products; and aluminum and other related products. With manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mexico, the United States, Europe and throughout Central and South America, Grupo Imsa currently exports to all five continents.