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Albemarle enjoys record sales in third quarter 2006
January 2007
Additives for Polymers
production base. “With an overall growth in plastics of 8–10% in India, customer demand in some regions is such that in the next 12 months we may need to continue to invest in India”, says Ludovic Tonnerre, business development director Asia. Key markets for PolyOne in India include the electrical, automotive, packaging and wire and cable application sectors.
reported stable selling prices for the year to date, with positive momentum in the third quarter. Looking at the regional picture during the first nine months of the year, organic sales growth in the Asia Pacific region was 6%, including 21% in Greater China and 12% in India. In the Americas, sales grew 4%, including 5% in the USA, while in Europe sales increased 6%.
For 3Q 2006, PolyOne posted sales of US$666.2 million, up 9% compared with 3Q 2005. Net income for the quarter was $19.6 million compared with a loss of $19.5 million in the same period of 2005. Net income for the first nine months of 2006 was $108.8 million compared with $25.2 million in the first nine months of 2005. PolyOne says the 3Q and nine-month sales and earnings were its best ever and set new records for the company. International Color and Engineered Materials, which is now a separate reporting segment, posted a 19% increase in sales to $139.3 million compared with 3Q 2005, driven by strong shipment improvements in both Europe (9%) and Asia (35%). The increase in Asian sales primarily reflects further growth and penetration into key markets, the company says. Quarterly operating income of $5.7 million was up 19% for the segment.
Increased demand drove top-line growth across most businesses. Organic growth across the Pigment & Additives Division was 5% in the first nine months compared to the same period of 2005. Margins in the business grew strongly, supported in particular by high-performance applications and specialities, as well as by increased demand for innovative halogen-free flame retardant and wax products. Masterbatches continued to build on a strong first half with 8% organic growth fuelled by good performances in packaging and consumer goods. The business was also supported by higher prices, more than offsetting higher raw material costs.
Contact: PolyOne Corp, 33587 Walker Rd, PolyOne Center, Avon Lake, OH 44012, USA; tel: +1-440-930-1000; fax: +1-440-930-3064; URL: www.polyone.com
FINANCIALS Clariant posts loss in 3Q 2006 For the three months to 30 September 2006, Clariant posted a net loss of CHF14 million (8.7 million), compared to a profit of CHF110 million in the same quarter of 2005, despite a 6% rise in sales in local currencies to CHF2009 million for the period. For the first nine months of 2006, Clariant posted 3% sales growth to CHF6090 million in local currency terms, or 8% in Swiss francs, which included 5% organic growth. Net income was CHF108 million for the period, down from CHF246 million for the same period in 2005 as a result of restructuring costs and negative currency impacts. The company
Contact: Clariant International Ltd, Rothausstrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland; tel: +41-61-469-6969; fax: +4161-469-6999; URL: www.clariant.com
Albemarle enjoys record sales in third quarter 2006 Albemarle Corp has reported record quarterly net sales totalling US$607.8 million in 3Q 2006, up 20% from $506 million in 3Q 2005. Excluding a special charge relating to the divestiture of a facility in Thann, France, quarterly net income was also a record at $60.7 million, up 131% from $26.3 million in 3Q 2005 due to strong performance in each of the company’s three business segments. Both Polymer Additives and Catalysts achieved segment income margins above the company’s 15% goal. However, including the Thann charge, 3Q net income was $2.3 million. The Polymer Additives segment recorded net sales for 3Q 2006 of $240.7 million, up 23% versus $195.4 million in 3Q 2005. The mineral and brominated flame retardant portfolios saw both volume and pricing improvements, Albemarle reports. Net sales improved in the stabilizers and curatives business on flat volumes. Quarterly
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Additives for Polymers
income for the segment amounted to $38.6 million, up 77% compared to 3Q 2005, due mainly to higher pricing, partially offset by increased raw material and manufacturing costs. For the first nine months of 2006, net sales were $1.784 billion, a 17% increase, while net income, including the Thann charge and other special items, was $80.0 million, down from $82.7 million for the same period in 2005. For Polymer Additives, income for the nine-month period was up 50% to $109.1 million. Contact: Albemarle Corp, 451 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801-1765, USA; tel: +1225-388-7402; fax: +1-225-388-7848; URL: www.albemarle.com
NEWS AND VIEWS Multibase micrometric talcs offer alternatives for high-performance structural parts Multibase, a Dow Corning company, has introduced a new range of rigid and masterbatch compounds based on a new mineral reinforcing agent, micrometric structural talcs (PP-µTalc). This new product line offers exciting new technical but also economical alternatives for the design and manufacturing of structural plastic parts with highly demanding characteristics – for sectors such as automotive, electrical, household appliance and packaging – that until now could only be met by expensive solutions such as elastomer-reinforced polypropylene, glass filled PP or reinforced polyamide, the company says. According to Multibase, its new product line offers significant improvement in terms of thermal-mechanical properties, providing an excellent compromise between impact resistance, rigidity and temperature while maintaining an excellent surface aspect. The reinforcing effect of µTalc, combined with Multibase’s compounding expertise, is claimed to achieve the following characteristics: equivalent mechanical properties with 3–7% mineral reinforcing agent compared to a standard 20% talc-filled PP, which therefore provides a significant weight reduction in the
January 2007
finished product; similar mechanical properties to glass-filled PP as well as polyamide materials with a 30% µTalc-filled PP, but with an important cost advantage. In addition, these materials provide excellent dimensional stability after moulding (isotropic shrinkage), which provides more freedom in mould designs, Multibase says. The company believes that opportunities for its innovative PPµ-Talc compounds and masterbatches are numerous in all industries. Multibase has been serving the automotive, packaging, household and electrical industries for more than 20 years globally. It specializes in thermoplastic compounding and performance enhancement masterbatches, with locations in Europe, the USA and Asia. Contact: Multibase SA, Z.I. Chartreuse-Guiers, 38380 Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, France; tel: +334-7667-1212; fax: +33-4-7667-1282; URL: www.multibase.com
Clariant uses high-density fillers to produce metal-like thermoplastics A family of ‘heavyweight’ compounds from Clariant Masterbatches Specialty Compounding offers product designers and manufacturers a new alternative to metal in applications where the weight and other characteristics of metal are desirable. High-density fillers like tungsten, barium sulfate and bismuth are used to impart metallic qualities to a wide range of thermoplastic resins, including nylon 6 and nylon 66, polypropylene, ABS, PBT, PPS, PEEK and TPU. These fillers allow Clariant to vary the density of these materials from as low as 1.5 (roughly that of 40% glass-filled polycarbonate) to 11 (approximately that of lead). Depending on the filler used and its loading, many of these formulations also can be custom coloured. The new materials can be processed using standard plastics processing methods, simplifying manufacturing and reducing total part pricing, Clariant says. “From the designer’s viewpoint, metals have certain attributes that plastics normally don’t have,” explains Robert Wick, product manager, Specialty Compounding. “Metal has gravity or
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Additives for Polymers
production base. “With an overall growth in plastics of 8–10% in India, customer demand in some regions is such that in the next 12 months we may need to continue to invest in India”, says Ludovic Tonnerre, business development director Asia. Key markets for PolyOne in India include the electrical, automotive, packaging and wire and cable application sectors.
reported stable selling prices for the year to date, with positive momentum in the third quarter. Looking at the regional picture during the first nine months of the year, organic sales growth in the Asia Pacific region was 6%, including 21% in Greater China and 12% in India. In the Americas, sales grew 4%, including 5% in the USA, while in Europe sales increased 6%.
For 3Q 2006, PolyOne posted sales of US$666.2 million, up 9% compared with 3Q 2005. Net income for the quarter was $19.6 million compared with a loss of $19.5 million in the same period of 2005. Net income for the first nine months of 2006 was $108.8 million compared with $25.2 million in the first nine months of 2005. PolyOne says the 3Q and nine-month sales and earnings were its best ever and set new records for the company. International Color and Engineered Materials, which is now a separate reporting segment, posted a 19% increase in sales to $139.3 million compared with 3Q 2005, driven by strong shipment improvements in both Europe (9%) and Asia (35%). The increase in Asian sales primarily reflects further growth and penetration into key markets, the company says. Quarterly operating income of $5.7 million was up 19% for the segment.
Increased demand drove top-line growth across most businesses. Organic growth across the Pigment & Additives Division was 5% in the first nine months compared to the same period of 2005. Margins in the business grew strongly, supported in particular by high-performance applications and specialities, as well as by increased demand for innovative halogen-free flame retardant and wax products. Masterbatches continued to build on a strong first half with 8% organic growth fuelled by good performances in packaging and consumer goods. The business was also supported by higher prices, more than offsetting higher raw material costs.
Contact: PolyOne Corp, 33587 Walker Rd, PolyOne Center, Avon Lake, OH 44012, USA; tel: +1-440-930-1000; fax: +1-440-930-3064; URL: www.polyone.com
FINANCIALS Clariant posts loss in 3Q 2006 For the three months to 30 September 2006, Clariant posted a net loss of CHF14 million (8.7 million), compared to a profit of CHF110 million in the same quarter of 2005, despite a 6% rise in sales in local currencies to CHF2009 million for the period. For the first nine months of 2006, Clariant posted 3% sales growth to CHF6090 million in local currency terms, or 8% in Swiss francs, which included 5% organic growth. Net income was CHF108 million for the period, down from CHF246 million for the same period in 2005 as a result of restructuring costs and negative currency impacts. The company
Contact: Clariant International Ltd, Rothausstrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland; tel: +41-61-469-6969; fax: +4161-469-6999; URL: www.clariant.com
Albemarle enjoys record sales in third quarter 2006 Albemarle Corp has reported record quarterly net sales totalling US$607.8 million in 3Q 2006, up 20% from $506 million in 3Q 2005. Excluding a special charge relating to the divestiture of a facility in Thann, France, quarterly net income was also a record at $60.7 million, up 131% from $26.3 million in 3Q 2005 due to strong performance in each of the company’s three business segments. Both Polymer Additives and Catalysts achieved segment income margins above the company’s 15% goal. However, including the Thann charge, 3Q net income was $2.3 million. The Polymer Additives segment recorded net sales for 3Q 2006 of $240.7 million, up 23% versus $195.4 million in 3Q 2005. The mineral and brominated flame retardant portfolios saw both volume and pricing improvements, Albemarle reports. Net sales improved in the stabilizers and curatives business on flat volumes. Quarterly
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Additives for Polymers
income for the segment amounted to $38.6 million, up 77% compared to 3Q 2005, due mainly to higher pricing, partially offset by increased raw material and manufacturing costs. For the first nine months of 2006, net sales were $1.784 billion, a 17% increase, while net income, including the Thann charge and other special items, was $80.0 million, down from $82.7 million for the same period in 2005. For Polymer Additives, income for the nine-month period was up 50% to $109.1 million. Contact: Albemarle Corp, 451 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801-1765, USA; tel: +1225-388-7402; fax: +1-225-388-7848; URL: www.albemarle.com
NEWS AND VIEWS Multibase micrometric talcs offer alternatives for high-performance structural parts Multibase, a Dow Corning company, has introduced a new range of rigid and masterbatch compounds based on a new mineral reinforcing agent, micrometric structural talcs (PP-µTalc). This new product line offers exciting new technical but also economical alternatives for the design and manufacturing of structural plastic parts with highly demanding characteristics – for sectors such as automotive, electrical, household appliance and packaging – that until now could only be met by expensive solutions such as elastomer-reinforced polypropylene, glass filled PP or reinforced polyamide, the company says. According to Multibase, its new product line offers significant improvement in terms of thermal-mechanical properties, providing an excellent compromise between impact resistance, rigidity and temperature while maintaining an excellent surface aspect. The reinforcing effect of µTalc, combined with Multibase’s compounding expertise, is claimed to achieve the following characteristics: equivalent mechanical properties with 3–7% mineral reinforcing agent compared to a standard 20% talc-filled PP, which therefore provides a significant weight reduction in the
January 2007
finished product; similar mechanical properties to glass-filled PP as well as polyamide materials with a 30% µTalc-filled PP, but with an important cost advantage. In addition, these materials provide excellent dimensional stability after moulding (isotropic shrinkage), which provides more freedom in mould designs, Multibase says. The company believes that opportunities for its innovative PPµ-Talc compounds and masterbatches are numerous in all industries. Multibase has been serving the automotive, packaging, household and electrical industries for more than 20 years globally. It specializes in thermoplastic compounding and performance enhancement masterbatches, with locations in Europe, the USA and Asia. Contact: Multibase SA, Z.I. Chartreuse-Guiers, 38380 Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, France; tel: +334-7667-1212; fax: +33-4-7667-1282; URL: www.multibase.com
Clariant uses high-density fillers to produce metal-like thermoplastics A family of ‘heavyweight’ compounds from Clariant Masterbatches Specialty Compounding offers product designers and manufacturers a new alternative to metal in applications where the weight and other characteristics of metal are desirable. High-density fillers like tungsten, barium sulfate and bismuth are used to impart metallic qualities to a wide range of thermoplastic resins, including nylon 6 and nylon 66, polypropylene, ABS, PBT, PPS, PEEK and TPU. These fillers allow Clariant to vary the density of these materials from as low as 1.5 (roughly that of 40% glass-filled polycarbonate) to 11 (approximately that of lead). Depending on the filler used and its loading, many of these formulations also can be custom coloured. The new materials can be processed using standard plastics processing methods, simplifying manufacturing and reducing total part pricing, Clariant says. “From the designer’s viewpoint, metals have certain attributes that plastics normally don’t have,” explains Robert Wick, product manager, Specialty Compounding. “Metal has gravity or
10
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29/01/2007 11:20:34