Ascent Industries Co. expands specialty coatings business through Midwest and Sigma acquisition

Ascent Industries Co. announced the successful acquisition of substantially all assets of Midwest Graphic Sales and Sigma Coatings, which specialize in coatings for high-value and regulated packaging applications across food, pharmaceutical, personal care, foodservice disposable, and consumer product markets.

The acquisition supports Ascent’s transformation into a pure-play specialty chemicals company and follows strong organic growth momentum, including nearly double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year. The deal strengthens Ascent’s position in formulation-driven and customer-focused packaging applications by adding customized solutions, strong-margin products, and long-standing customer relationships. The company expects the acquisition to support margin expansion and accelerate growth across its platform.

The acquisition also aligns with Ascent’s Chemicals-as-a-Service (CaaS) strategy and is expected to:

• Strengthen formulation and application expertise across coatings, inks, and packaging markets

• Expand the company’s presence in CASE applications, particularly high-value packaging

• Create cross-selling opportunities across Ascent’s existing customer base

• Improve margins through a higher-value product portfolio

• Support future integration into Ascent’s manufacturing network

  
  

The transaction is supported by Midwest’s established customer base, with additional growth opportunities expected through strategic sourcing, vertical integration, and commercial expansion. As part of the agreement, Midwest President Brad Eshoo and VP of Sales Brian Eshoo will remain with the business. Their continued leadership is expected to maintain customer relationships, support business continuity, and drive future innovation and organic growth within Ascent’s platform.

“Midwest is exactly what we are building at Ascent, a high-value, customer-embedded business driven by formulation, service, and execution,” said J. Bryan Kitchen, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This transaction adds durable, customized demand that we can scale across our platform, strengthening our margin profile while accelerating growth.”

Brad Eshoo, President of Midwest Graphic Sales, added, “We’ve spent decades building a business centered on solving customer problems through formulation, service, and trust,” said Brad Eshoo. “Ascent shares that mindset, and their platform provides the scale and capabilities to accelerate our next phase of growth.”

Source: Ascent Industries Co.