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NEWS
Albemarle to Increase Prices of ETHACURE(R) 100 + 300 Curatives
Albemarle Corporation announced that it will increase prices of ETHACURE(R) 100 curatives by 10% on Europe and Americas shipments, as well as ETHACURE(R) 300 curatives by 5% globally, beginning October 1st, 2010, or as contracts allow.
AkzoNobel Decorative Paints wins award for Dulux transformation
The successful transformation of Dulux into a major international brand has earned AkzoNobel's Decorative Paints business a top UK marketing award.
At the recent 2010 Marketing Society Awards for Excellence, Dulux won the honor for best International Brand Marketing in recognition of its move away from a multi-local set-up and the success of the global Let's Color consumer campaign which is focused on the regenerative power of color.
The jury praised both the inspirational nature of the change process and the focus on realizing financial benefits through innovation.
During 2009, Dulux enjoyed particularly strong growth in the UK and France, as well as the emerging markets of China and Brazil. The ongoing Let's Color initiative has so far helped to transform communities in Brazil, France, India, and the UK.
BASF achieves leap in earnings
Following the upturn in business performance in the first three months of 2010, BASF continued to gain momentum in the second quarter. Sales rose 30% compared with the previous year to € 16.2 billion. Second-quarter income from operations (EBIT) before special items rose 94% to € 2.2 billion.
Sales in the first six months increased 28% to € 31.7 billion and EBIT before special items rose 96% to € 4.2 billion. Both sales and EBIT before special items were also above the good level of the first quarter of 2010. These developments were especially due to very high demand in the chemicals businesses, that is, in the Chemicals, Plastics, Functional Solutions and Performance Products segments. This was augmented by inventory restocking along the value chain.
Bayer MaterialScience joins Holst Centre flexible electronics research
Bayer MaterialScience AG, one of the world's largest producers of polymers and high-performance plastics, and Holst Centre, an open-innovation initiative by research organizations IMEC (Belgium) and TNO (The Netherlands), have now announced their partnership in the field of flexible electronics. By joining the Holst Centre eco-system, Bayer exchanges its own expertise with the existing network of academic and industrial partners. Together with leading players in the domain of flexible electronics, Holst Centre subscribes the vision of a smart foils industry. The vision describes a value chain that starts with materials and equipment suppliers delivering to manufacturers of smart foils such as organic light emitting diode (OLED) lighting, battery or organic photovoltaics (OPV). At the end of the chain are producers of smart devices who develop products by integrating foils with various functionalities.
Dow Announces Price Increase for its Polyols, Isocyanates, and Polyurethane Systems in Europe
Dow Europe GmbH, Dow Polyurethanes, and Dow Formulated Systems announce they will raise prices for all Polyols, MDI, and Polyurethane Systems up to 200 Euro per metric ton in Europe and Middle East Africa. The increase is effective immediately, or as contracts allow.
EU inspection in polyurethane foam sector
The European Union's executive confirmed unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the polyurethane foam sector in several Member States. The Commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated European antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices.
Following standard practice, the commission refused to name the companies raided. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. In case of violating European antitrust rules, companies may be punished by a fine of 10 % turn over. Belgian firm Recticel said in a statement that its premises in Britain and Belgium had been raided, as had the premises of Eurofoam, a joint venture between Recticel and Austrian producer Greiner.
German chemicals giants BASF, Bayer, and Lanxess are not involved. Swiss chemicals group Clariant said it was acting only as a supplier for the polyurethane foam industry.
Evonik acquires the polyurethane additives business of BYK-Chemie GmbH
Evonik Industries is strengthening its position in the market for additives required in polyurethane (PU) foam production. In July 2010, the Group has acquired the SILBYK® polyurethane foam additives business from BYK-Chemie GmbH, Wesel, Germany. The transaction includes the existing business contacts and expertise in the manufacture of SILBYK® products for the polyurethane foam industry. The acquisition complements Evonik's existing, innovative portfolio of polyurethane foam additives. Evonik is a market leader in polyurethane additives, its key products being foam stabilizers. The transaction allows the Polyurethane Additives Business Line of Evonik to enhance its existing business in some market segments and to strengthen its overall market position in the long term.
Henkel and BASF Coatings set up Research Joint Venture
 BASF Coatings GmbH and Henkel AG & Co. KGaA have signed a joint venture agreement to develop innovative corrosion protection solutions for the automotive industry. The 50/50 venture, pending approval of the German anti-trust authorities, will be headquartered in Düsseldorf. The joint venture is anticipated to launch in early 2011.The primary focus of the joint venture will be research and development. It is intended to bring together the unique competences of both companies in the areas of metal pretreatment and dip coating to develop products and processes that offer greater benefits in terms of cost, performance, and environmental compatibility than the standard corrosion protection processes currently used within the automotive industry. Following a successful development of these products and processes Henkel and BASF Coatings intend to jointly market them in the automotive industry. "A reduced number of process stages for metal pretreatment and corrosion protection would offer customers extensive benefits for the first phase of automotive painting," explained Paul Kirsch, Corporate Senior Vice President Transport and Metal at Henkel. "BASF and Henkel have outstanding and complementary competences as regards automotive corrosion protection," noted Raimar Jahn, President of the BASF Group's Coatings Division. "Pooling this experience and expertise offers a solid basis for research into a new and efficient technology," said Jahn. Both partners will continue to market their current product portfolio separately.
Expansion of Mesamoll production in Uerdingen
Lanxess is expanding the capacity for its premium products in the Mesamoll range, amid growing demand for these phthalate-free plasticizers. A mid-single-digit amount in million Euros is being invested in expanding production facilities in Krefeld-Uerdingen by 40 percent. As part of this debottlenecking process, the technical equipment in the existing facilities is currently being boosted by new state of the art heat exchangers and reactors. The additional plasticizer capacity is due to be available at the end of 2010. In chemical terms, the products from the Mesamoll range are alkanesulfonic acid esters that are particularly notable for their good resistance to saponification, outstanding solvating, and migration properties and compatibility with a wide range of polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, and polyurethane. The approvals granted for food contact applications are another advantage. Mesamoll II has been classified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as posing no risk to humans when used in food contact applications such as dry and water-based foodstuffs. This positive rating from the EFSA is the final step before European approval of the plasticizer for these areas of application, which Lanxess now expects to receive in fall 2010. Once approval is granted, Mesamoll II will be one of the few plasticizers to have received food contact approval in both the United States and the EU - a key factor for the toy, food, and other sensitive industries throughout the world.
F rom ecological design to standard plugs for electrical cars
At the annual congress "Innovative suppliers 2010" in Ingolstadt which took place on 23rd June 2010, the Rampf Group companies, Rampf Giessharze and Rampf Tooling, Grafenberg put their focus on sustainable concepts for the automotive industry. As part of the accompanying exhibition at the Audi Forum, the plastic materials experts presented an ecological board material for design studies and the European standard connector for charging electric cars. It is manufactured for the company Mennekes and produced with Rampf polyurethane casting resin.
Stepan Europe Purchases Alfa Systems Sp. z o.o. in Poland
Stepan Company announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Stepan Europe S.A.S., has acquired all of the shares of Alfa Systems Sp. z o.o. from its shareholders, Chemitex Holding Limited and Chemovil Holdings Limited. The purchase includes Alfa Systems' new plant located in Brzeg Dolny, just outside of Wroclaw, Poland with 25,000 metric tons of polyester polyol capacity and 15,000 metric tons of polyurethane systems capacity. The plant started up in mid-2009 and specializes in the manufacture of aromatic polyester polyols from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a raw material. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Polyester polyols are the critical component of our Polymer business. The acquisition of Alfa Systems gives us manufacturing capability in Eastern Europe and the ability to economically and effectively serve customers in Central and Eastern Europe," stated F. Quinn Stepan Jr., President and CEO of Stepan Company. "In addition, the technology to manufacture aromatic polyester polyols from recycled raw materials is new for Stepan."
Wacker Appoints New Distributor for Polymer and Silicone Products in Chile
Wacker reorganizes its distribution network for silicone and polymer products in Chile to improve efficiency and to create crossregional synergies. As part of an ongoing optimization of Wacker's distribution sales channels, Quimica Anders is to be entrusted with the distribution of Wacker's polymer and silicone products in Chile. Effective July 1st, 2010, Quimica Anders, who is already a Wacker partner in Peru and Bolivia, replaces the previous distribution partner Ingenieria Y Comercial Inge-Wag Ltda. Quimica Anders, a distribution partner with 45 years of experience in the regional distribution market and an established presence in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Guatemala, already distributes selected Wacker products from the Group's silicones and polymers portfolio in Peru and Bolivia. In Chile, the focus will be on dispersible polymer powders and dispersions as well as on silicone emulsions, silicone resins, and antifoam agents, mainly aiming at applications in the construction, cosmetics, textiles, and pulp & paper-processing sectors, and in the process industry.
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