A. Schulman adds color to plastic resins but keeps them from getting red hot. Schulman adds chemicals to basic plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and PVC to give them color and desired characteristics like flexibility or the ability to retard flame. Its products include color and additive concentrates, engineered compounds (such as reinforced plastics), and value-added PVC. Customers include makers of plastics and auto parts, with more than a third of its sales to packaging manufacturers. In 2010 the company acquired ICO in a deal that valued the plastics maker at $190 million. The deal was designed to expand both Schulman's global presence and its masterbatch and molding businesses.