PUR-NEWS-NAFTA

COIM to invest in U.S. to increase its polyester polyols capacity
COIM USA Inc. announced an investment in infrastructures and production capacity in its site located in West Deptford, New Jersey. The first phase of the investment, expected to be completed by December 2010, includes a rail terminal as well as 15 new storage tanks in view of a 50% polyester polyols capacity expansion during 2011.
Financial details are not being disclosed.

Correction

REPI LLC - New Sales Manager in the US

REPI LLC, American subsidiary of the Italian producer of pigment dispersions REPI S.p.A., is strengthening its sales activities in North America. On February 1st, 2010, Mr. John Turnour, who has been working for more than 25 years in different positions in the polyurethane industry, joined the team in the US and, as Sales Manager, he will contribute to the further expansion of REPI LLC in North America. REPI LLC, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, offers pigment pastes and special liquid additives to the PU industry.

Bayer MaterialScience inaugurates EcoCommercial Building Conference Center in Pittsburgh
There's a new addition to Bayer MaterialScience LLC's headquarters campus in suburban Pittsburgh: End of May 2010, the company officially unveiled its EcoCommercial Building Conference Center. This solar-powered, net-zero-energy, net-zero-emissions facility will serve as a showcase and education center for sustainable building solutions, as well as a working center for evaluating new sustainable construction materials and technologies.
The 800-square-foot EcoCommercial Building Conference Center was originally designed and constructed by Penn State University students as a residential housing concept for the U.S. Department of Energy 2009 Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C., under the name "Natural Fusion". The Solar Decathlon is a biannual international competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to inspire university students and faculty to design, build and operate an entirely solar-powered house. The Bayer USA Foundation donated $10,000 while Bayer MaterialScience LLC made in-kind donations of raw materials to support the Penn State project, and its experts provided guidance throughout the project including initial design, prototyping, testing, and construction.
Bayer MaterialScience's North American EcoCommercial Building Program (ECB) was launched April 26th, 2010, and advocates a holistic, collaborative approach to sustainable building design and construction. Network member organizations provide products and/or services aligned with seven building solution areas (Insulation; Daylighting; Illumination; Indoor Environmental Quality; Sustainable Energy; Intelligent Building; and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) that help to increase sustainability and reduce energy costs.
To date, Bayer MaterialScience currently has four EcoCommercial Building showcase projects. In addition to the Conference Center in Pittsburgh, the other facilities are an operational children's day care center for employees of Bayer CropScience in Germany, an operational Bayer administration building in Belgium, and an office building under construction in India.