- Email: [email protected]
Transformed PolyOne posted large gains in sales and profits in 2010
FINANCIALS
at its Breaside facility near Melbourne will cease; regional demand will continue to be served by its Brisbane plant and facilities in Malaysia, Indonesia and China, as well as its soon-to-be-constructed Indian plant. A. Schulman employs about 2900 people and has 33 manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. It reported net sales of US$1.6 billion for its fiscal year ended 31 August 2010. Contact: A. Schulman, Inc, Akron, OH, USA. Tel: +1 330 666 3751, Web: www.aschulman.com
FINANCIALS Albemarle continues to break sales and earnings records
F
or the first quarter of 2011, Albemarle Corp reported earnings of US$106.6 million compared to 1Q 2010 earnings of $63.3 million, an increase of 68%. The company reported a record quarterly net sales performance of $696.5 million in 1Q 2011, up 20% from net sales of $580.3 million in the same period of 2010. All three operating segments also achieved all-time quarterly record income performance, the company reports. The company also generated record EBITDA of $171 million for the quarter and achieved an EBITDA margin of 25%. ‘We continue to benefit from improving trends in the markets served by our businesses and our keen focus on cost control and cash generation. We expect the strength of our core technologies and key market insights to continue to drive solid earnings growth in 2011’, says chairman and CEO Mark C. Rohr, commenting on the results. The Polymer Solutions segment delivered net sales of $258.2 million in the first quarter of 2011, a 19% increase over net sales of $216.6 million in 1Q 2010, due primarily to favourable pricing. Segment income was $69.5 million for the first three months of 2011, a 66% increase from $41.8 million in the same period of 2010. This increase was due primarily to favourable pricing, partly offset by higher variable input costs and higher charges attributable to noncontrolling interests, Albemarle says.
June 2011
Looking ahead, the company expects that positive market trends, coupled with continued success in new product development and rigorous cost controls, will provide the basis for strong top- and bottom-line growth in 2011. Its balanced portfolio, geographic reach and commitment to operational excellence position Albemarle for long-term growth, the company believes. Contact: Albemarle Corp, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Tel: +1 225 388 7402, Web: www.albemarle.com
Transformed PolyOne posted large gains in sales and profits in 2010
P
olyOne Corp, ranked as North America’s largest manufacturer of compounds and concentrates, enjoyed a strong comeback throughout 2010, reporting a tripling of annual profits to almost US$163 million compared to 2009. Full-year 2011 sales of just over US$2.6 billion represented a gain of 27% compared to the previous year. The company attributes its successful performance to its ‘unwavering focus’ on transforming PolyOne into a speciality company, according to chairman, president and CEO Stephen Newlin. ‘Over the last four years, we have made significant process in overhauling our commercial philosophy, strengthening our leadership team and monetizing non-core investments’, he explains. PolyOne’s earnings profile has been ‘radically shifted’, which is reflected in the numerous ‘record-breaking performances’ delivered during 2010, Newlin continues. The results of PolyOne’s Specialty Platform, which includes global speciality engineered materials, colour, additives and inks, clearly showed the effects of the company’s ongoing transformation. It posted sales of just over $1 billion, up 21% from 2009, while operating income soared more than 90% to $87.4 million, making it the largest of the firm’s three major units in 2010 in terms of both sales and income. For the fourth quarter of 2010, PolyOne reported revenues of $617.8 million, a 12% increase compared to 4Q 2009. Consolidated revenue growth was driven by a 6% increase in volume and higher selling prices principally associated with raw material cost increases. All
Additives for Polymers
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LITERATURE
three strategic platforms recorded double digit revenue growth year on year. In other news, PolyOne recently opened an innovation centre at Gaggenau in Germany for an investment of E1 million. The new facility features a laboratory that includes a spectrum of processing and colour matching equipment as well as computer simulation software, supported by experienced staff. It will support application development for the company’s global Specialty Platform by providing customers with state-of-the-art capabilities for development, testing, process optimization and colour matching, PolyOne says. The company operates a network of nine innovation centres around the world to support customer application development from concept to commercialization. In Europe, the new Gaggenau facility joins two other locations in Assesse, Belgium and Cergy, France. The company has also added both Japanese and German languages to its global website, alongside English and Chinese. This addition will extend access to up-to-date product and technical information as well as news and events to native Japanese- and Germanspeaking customers, it says. ‘This new capability is further evidence of our commitment to globalization and is an important step in providing our customers the highest levels of service and convenience’, comments Julie McAlindon, PolyOne’s VP for marketing. Contact: PolyOne Corp, Avon Lake, OH, USA. Tel: +1 440 930 1000, Web: www.polyone.com
LITERATURE ChemTec publishes updated handbook of antiblocking, release and slip additives
The 340-page book, written by George Wypych, contains 18 chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of the properties and applications of antiblocking, release and slip agents. The combination of the data and the comprehensive analysis of performance of these materials form a very important source of information for industry, research, academia and legislature, according to ChemTec. The Handbook of Antiblocking, Release, and Slip Additives should be considered by any industrial, university, governmental or public library because of the widespread applications of these additives in industry and everyday life, the publisher says. Eighteen chemical families form a core of industrial developments, which resulted in a large number of commercial products used by industry as antiblocking, release and slip additives. These additives are used in the production of materials from 44 generic families of polymers. Polymers containing antiblocking, release and slip additives are processed by 17 groups of processing methods used by 29 industries. Information on the use of additives in various polymers is divided into the following sections: Types and concentrations; Effect on polymer and/or other additives; and Typical formulations. Information is also provided on the use of additives in various products, according to the following sections: Types and concentrations; Reasons for use; Advantages and disadvantages of additive use; Effect on product properties; and Examples of formulations. Processing methods are also discussed. A complete analysis of literature and patents available from the first use of these additives until 2010 is included in the book. The book, which is priced at US$275, considers all essential aspects of chemistry, physical properties, influence on final-product properties, formulations, methods of incorporation, analysis, and effects on health and the environment. Contact: ChemTec Publishing, Toronto, Canada. Tel: +1 416 265 2603, Web: www.chemtec.org
T
he first edition of this handbook, published in 2005, was the first book ever written on the subject of antiblocking, release and slip additives, which are of high industrial importance. The recently released second edition includes all the new information that has become available in the six years since then, publisher ChemTec says.
10
Additives for Polymers
Global masterbatch market analysed in new report
A
new report released by Global Industry Analysts (GIA), a market research publisher based in Rockville, MD, USA, forecasts
June 2011
at its Breaside facility near Melbourne will cease; regional demand will continue to be served by its Brisbane plant and facilities in Malaysia, Indonesia and China, as well as its soon-to-be-constructed Indian plant. A. Schulman employs about 2900 people and has 33 manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. It reported net sales of US$1.6 billion for its fiscal year ended 31 August 2010. Contact: A. Schulman, Inc, Akron, OH, USA. Tel: +1 330 666 3751, Web: www.aschulman.com
FINANCIALS Albemarle continues to break sales and earnings records
F
or the first quarter of 2011, Albemarle Corp reported earnings of US$106.6 million compared to 1Q 2010 earnings of $63.3 million, an increase of 68%. The company reported a record quarterly net sales performance of $696.5 million in 1Q 2011, up 20% from net sales of $580.3 million in the same period of 2010. All three operating segments also achieved all-time quarterly record income performance, the company reports. The company also generated record EBITDA of $171 million for the quarter and achieved an EBITDA margin of 25%. ‘We continue to benefit from improving trends in the markets served by our businesses and our keen focus on cost control and cash generation. We expect the strength of our core technologies and key market insights to continue to drive solid earnings growth in 2011’, says chairman and CEO Mark C. Rohr, commenting on the results. The Polymer Solutions segment delivered net sales of $258.2 million in the first quarter of 2011, a 19% increase over net sales of $216.6 million in 1Q 2010, due primarily to favourable pricing. Segment income was $69.5 million for the first three months of 2011, a 66% increase from $41.8 million in the same period of 2010. This increase was due primarily to favourable pricing, partly offset by higher variable input costs and higher charges attributable to noncontrolling interests, Albemarle says.
June 2011
Looking ahead, the company expects that positive market trends, coupled with continued success in new product development and rigorous cost controls, will provide the basis for strong top- and bottom-line growth in 2011. Its balanced portfolio, geographic reach and commitment to operational excellence position Albemarle for long-term growth, the company believes. Contact: Albemarle Corp, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Tel: +1 225 388 7402, Web: www.albemarle.com
Transformed PolyOne posted large gains in sales and profits in 2010
P
olyOne Corp, ranked as North America’s largest manufacturer of compounds and concentrates, enjoyed a strong comeback throughout 2010, reporting a tripling of annual profits to almost US$163 million compared to 2009. Full-year 2011 sales of just over US$2.6 billion represented a gain of 27% compared to the previous year. The company attributes its successful performance to its ‘unwavering focus’ on transforming PolyOne into a speciality company, according to chairman, president and CEO Stephen Newlin. ‘Over the last four years, we have made significant process in overhauling our commercial philosophy, strengthening our leadership team and monetizing non-core investments’, he explains. PolyOne’s earnings profile has been ‘radically shifted’, which is reflected in the numerous ‘record-breaking performances’ delivered during 2010, Newlin continues. The results of PolyOne’s Specialty Platform, which includes global speciality engineered materials, colour, additives and inks, clearly showed the effects of the company’s ongoing transformation. It posted sales of just over $1 billion, up 21% from 2009, while operating income soared more than 90% to $87.4 million, making it the largest of the firm’s three major units in 2010 in terms of both sales and income. For the fourth quarter of 2010, PolyOne reported revenues of $617.8 million, a 12% increase compared to 4Q 2009. Consolidated revenue growth was driven by a 6% increase in volume and higher selling prices principally associated with raw material cost increases. All
Additives for Polymers
9
LITERATURE
three strategic platforms recorded double digit revenue growth year on year. In other news, PolyOne recently opened an innovation centre at Gaggenau in Germany for an investment of E1 million. The new facility features a laboratory that includes a spectrum of processing and colour matching equipment as well as computer simulation software, supported by experienced staff. It will support application development for the company’s global Specialty Platform by providing customers with state-of-the-art capabilities for development, testing, process optimization and colour matching, PolyOne says. The company operates a network of nine innovation centres around the world to support customer application development from concept to commercialization. In Europe, the new Gaggenau facility joins two other locations in Assesse, Belgium and Cergy, France. The company has also added both Japanese and German languages to its global website, alongside English and Chinese. This addition will extend access to up-to-date product and technical information as well as news and events to native Japanese- and Germanspeaking customers, it says. ‘This new capability is further evidence of our commitment to globalization and is an important step in providing our customers the highest levels of service and convenience’, comments Julie McAlindon, PolyOne’s VP for marketing. Contact: PolyOne Corp, Avon Lake, OH, USA. Tel: +1 440 930 1000, Web: www.polyone.com
LITERATURE ChemTec publishes updated handbook of antiblocking, release and slip additives
The 340-page book, written by George Wypych, contains 18 chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of the properties and applications of antiblocking, release and slip agents. The combination of the data and the comprehensive analysis of performance of these materials form a very important source of information for industry, research, academia and legislature, according to ChemTec. The Handbook of Antiblocking, Release, and Slip Additives should be considered by any industrial, university, governmental or public library because of the widespread applications of these additives in industry and everyday life, the publisher says. Eighteen chemical families form a core of industrial developments, which resulted in a large number of commercial products used by industry as antiblocking, release and slip additives. These additives are used in the production of materials from 44 generic families of polymers. Polymers containing antiblocking, release and slip additives are processed by 17 groups of processing methods used by 29 industries. Information on the use of additives in various polymers is divided into the following sections: Types and concentrations; Effect on polymer and/or other additives; and Typical formulations. Information is also provided on the use of additives in various products, according to the following sections: Types and concentrations; Reasons for use; Advantages and disadvantages of additive use; Effect on product properties; and Examples of formulations. Processing methods are also discussed. A complete analysis of literature and patents available from the first use of these additives until 2010 is included in the book. The book, which is priced at US$275, considers all essential aspects of chemistry, physical properties, influence on final-product properties, formulations, methods of incorporation, analysis, and effects on health and the environment. Contact: ChemTec Publishing, Toronto, Canada. Tel: +1 416 265 2603, Web: www.chemtec.org
T
he first edition of this handbook, published in 2005, was the first book ever written on the subject of antiblocking, release and slip additives, which are of high industrial importance. The recently released second edition includes all the new information that has become available in the six years since then, publisher ChemTec says.
10
Additives for Polymers
Global masterbatch market analysed in new report
A
new report released by Global Industry Analysts (GIA), a market research publisher based in Rockville, MD, USA, forecasts
June 2011