Business memo 09/07/04

Spartech Corp. buys three divisions of VPIThe St. Louis-based Spartech Corp. recently announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of three divisions of Vinyl Plastics Inc., which is based in Wisconsin.

Those VPI operations acquired include the sheet products division that serves graphic arts, medical packaging and retail markets; the contract manufacturing division, which provides noncarpet flooring and sound barrier products to the transportation industry; and the film and converting division, which prints and laminates products for distribution. Sales of those three divisions run at an annual rate of around $110 million.

Spartech has 48 facilities in Canada, Mexico, Europe and the United States, including two in Cape Girardeau.

Two local companies get grants from stateThe Missouri Department of Economic Development and its Division of Workforce Development have approved a second round of customized training funds, totaling almost $2 million that will assist with employee training for 64 companies across the state. Among them are Jackson's Rubbermaid and Perryville's Sabreliner. Each of the companies will receive an $11,500 grant.

-- From staff reports