- Email: [email protected]
Arkema pursues divestment of tin stabilizer business; reports 15% sales rise
STRATEGIES
an additive in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and the company says it also intends to continue expanding its business in that sector. As a result of this strategic decision, the reasons for which have not been disclosed, SDK will cease marketing its VGCFTM-X grade, which was developed specifically for resin composite applications [ADPO, March 2009]. With a fibre diameter of about 15 nm, the finer grade has ‘been evaluated by potential customers’, according to SDK, but presumably the uptake did not meet its expectations. The company reports that it has already closed the dedicated 400 tonnes/year production facility for VGCFTM-X at its Oita Complex [ibid, June 2010] due to the decision to focus on the VGCFTM-H grade. SDK recorded a loss for the impairment of fixed assets in the second quarter of 2012 in relation to the VGCFTM-X facility shutdown. The company manufactures the VGCFTM-H CNT grade at its Kawasaki plant, where it currently has installed production capacity of 200 tonnes/year.
will provide industry with high-quality nano commodities that can significantly reduce product manufacturing costs and the environmental footprint of such products, while also increasing product durability and improving manufacturing efficiencies at the same time’, explains Klean’s CEO Jesse Klinkhamer. Klean Carbon’s products are reported to be suitable for use in many different industrial applications including: advanced resins, flexible film packaging applications, solar power films, nanoplastics, advanced rubber compounds, touch screen devices, and industrial and performance coatings. The materials are said to provide improved thermal, mechanical, tensile or protective properties compared to traditional industrial materials. Klean Industries is a vertically integrated industrial energy solutions company focused on turning waste streams into domestic energy and sustainable green commodities. It describes new subsidiary Klean Carbon as being engaged in ‘the manufacture, distribution, import and export of sustainable high-grade commodities and chemical raw materials’.
Contact: Showa Denko, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 5470 3235, Web: www.sdk.co.jp
Contact: Klean Industries Inc, #3038 - 349 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5, Canada. Tel/Fax: +1 604 637 9609, Web: www.kleanindustries.com or www.kleancarbon.com
Klean commences production of nano carbon products from waste and scrap
V
ancouver, Canada-based Klean Industries Inc has commenced full-scale production of highgrade carbon nanotubes and fullerenes using feedstock derived from the pyrolysis of waste and scrap tyres. The company has also formed fully owned subsidiary Klean Carbon, to produce and market the advanced nano carbon products. The firm claims to be the first to commercially massproduce nano carbons from scrap tyres. Klean uses a patented advanced thermal treatment technology developed in Japan, and reports that it has been developing facilities that can process in excess of 250 tonnes per day of high carbon content feedstock into nanomaterials using this technology. ‘We take the carbonized materials and pass it through a multistage process unique to Klean that removes any impurities by using patented technologies. The materials we produce
4
Additives for Polymers
COMPANY STRATEGIES Arkema pursues divestment of tin stabilizer business; reports 15% sales rise
A
fter several months of speculation and rumour, French chemicals major Arkema has confirmed that it plans to sell its tin stabilizer business. The company intends to divest the operation to PMC Group, a producer of performance chemicals and plastics headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, USA. The move is part of a refocusing of Arkema’s activities on fast-growing core speciality businesses. The proposed divestment of organometallic products includes Arkema’s Thermolite® tin stabilizers, Fascat® catalysts and fine chemicals. Based on tin chemistry, Thermolite heat stabilizers are used to prevent heat-
September 2012
STRATEGIES
induced decomposition during the processing of rigid and plasticized PVC into finished products, many of which are used in the construction sector, while Fascat catalysts are used in automotive specialities and other applications. As part of Arkema’s Functional Additives business unit, this organometallics activity reports annual sales of approximately E180 million across North America, Europe and Asia. According to the company, the divestment project involves 234 people and four industrial sites around the world. The Carrollton, KY, plant, certain assets at the Mobile, AL, plant – both in the USA – and the Beijing plant in China will be transferred. Additionally, the part of its Dutch site in Vlissingen dedicated to tin stabilizer operations will be run by Arkema on behalf of PMC. It is anticipated that all involved employees in the sold business will be offered employment with the new entity. Subject to the works council information and consultation process in The Netherlands and to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities, the sale is due to be completed in the second half of this year. Following the transaction, Arkema’s Functional Additives business unit (10% of group sales in 2011) will be recentred on organic peroxides used as reaction initiators for commodity polymers, in which Arkema claims to hold the number two position in the world; acrylic impact modifiers; and glass coating chemicals for the manufacture of flat glass and bottles. As part of the same strategic portfolio optimization programme, Arkema has recently finalized the divestment of its Vinyl Products activities to the Klesch group. The activities concerned by the project have been grouped within a new company called KEM ONE. Headquartered in Lyon, France, this company has ‘an excellent balance sheet’ structure, and reports sales of around E1 billion, making it one of the largest vinyls businesses in Europe. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Geneva, the family-owned Klesch Group is a leading European operator of industrial and commodity-related businesses. With combined revenue in excess of E4.5 billion, the group employs more than 3000 people across four principal business units, with locations in Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland and the UK. For the second quarter of 2012, Arkema posted sales of E1.7 billion, up 15.4% compared to 2Q 2011, though volumes fell 4%. Adjusted net income for continuing operations was E151 million, down 25.6% in a ‘challenging macro-economic environment’, the company says.
September 2012
Despite this decrease, both the Performance Products and Industrial Chemicals segments reported ‘excellent profitability’. Sales by the Performance Products segment rose 13.5% to E572 million in 2Q 2012, while EBITDA rose to a record E109 million. Contact: Arkema, Colombes Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 4900 8080, Web: www.arkema.com Or contact: PMC Group, PMC Group Building, 4th Floor, 1288 Route 73 South, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, USA. Tel: +1 856 533 1866, Fax: +1 856 533 1867, Web: www.pmc-group.com
BASF reinforces cooperation with Astra and Sinopec; reports solid 2Q performance
A
new long-term contract has been signed between BASF Plastic Additives Middle East and Astra Polymers that will see the two companies continue to work together to produce customer specific blends (CSB) of polymer additives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The partners say that this cooperative agreement combines their expertise, bringing two complementary form-giving technologies for additive blends to customers in the Middle East region. Astra Polymers has for several years operated BASFowned production lines for CSB at its Dammam premises. The Saudi company’s breadth of experience in the field of masterbatch and compounding adds ‘considerable value’, enhancing BASF’s production capacities in the Middle East. BASF Plastic Additives Middle East markets and sells the CSB products. BASF says that the new deal will assist it to strengthen its position in the Middle Eastern polymer additives market. According to spokesman John Frijns, BASF’s combined global production capacity for antioxidants and CSB, paired with Astra Polymers’ CSB plant in KSA and BASF’s own new antioxidants production facility in Bahrain – which is on schedule for start-up in 4Q 2012 [ADPO, September 2011] – shows its on-going commitment to this growing market. Founded in 1993, Astra Polymers is the largest company that develops and produces plastic compounds and masterbatches in the Middle East. It owns five factories (in KSA,
Additives for Polymers
5
an additive in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and the company says it also intends to continue expanding its business in that sector. As a result of this strategic decision, the reasons for which have not been disclosed, SDK will cease marketing its VGCFTM-X grade, which was developed specifically for resin composite applications [ADPO, March 2009]. With a fibre diameter of about 15 nm, the finer grade has ‘been evaluated by potential customers’, according to SDK, but presumably the uptake did not meet its expectations. The company reports that it has already closed the dedicated 400 tonnes/year production facility for VGCFTM-X at its Oita Complex [ibid, June 2010] due to the decision to focus on the VGCFTM-H grade. SDK recorded a loss for the impairment of fixed assets in the second quarter of 2012 in relation to the VGCFTM-X facility shutdown. The company manufactures the VGCFTM-H CNT grade at its Kawasaki plant, where it currently has installed production capacity of 200 tonnes/year.
will provide industry with high-quality nano commodities that can significantly reduce product manufacturing costs and the environmental footprint of such products, while also increasing product durability and improving manufacturing efficiencies at the same time’, explains Klean’s CEO Jesse Klinkhamer. Klean Carbon’s products are reported to be suitable for use in many different industrial applications including: advanced resins, flexible film packaging applications, solar power films, nanoplastics, advanced rubber compounds, touch screen devices, and industrial and performance coatings. The materials are said to provide improved thermal, mechanical, tensile or protective properties compared to traditional industrial materials. Klean Industries is a vertically integrated industrial energy solutions company focused on turning waste streams into domestic energy and sustainable green commodities. It describes new subsidiary Klean Carbon as being engaged in ‘the manufacture, distribution, import and export of sustainable high-grade commodities and chemical raw materials’.
Contact: Showa Denko, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 5470 3235, Web: www.sdk.co.jp
Contact: Klean Industries Inc, #3038 - 349 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5, Canada. Tel/Fax: +1 604 637 9609, Web: www.kleanindustries.com or www.kleancarbon.com
Klean commences production of nano carbon products from waste and scrap
V
ancouver, Canada-based Klean Industries Inc has commenced full-scale production of highgrade carbon nanotubes and fullerenes using feedstock derived from the pyrolysis of waste and scrap tyres. The company has also formed fully owned subsidiary Klean Carbon, to produce and market the advanced nano carbon products. The firm claims to be the first to commercially massproduce nano carbons from scrap tyres. Klean uses a patented advanced thermal treatment technology developed in Japan, and reports that it has been developing facilities that can process in excess of 250 tonnes per day of high carbon content feedstock into nanomaterials using this technology. ‘We take the carbonized materials and pass it through a multistage process unique to Klean that removes any impurities by using patented technologies. The materials we produce
4
Additives for Polymers
COMPANY STRATEGIES Arkema pursues divestment of tin stabilizer business; reports 15% sales rise
A
fter several months of speculation and rumour, French chemicals major Arkema has confirmed that it plans to sell its tin stabilizer business. The company intends to divest the operation to PMC Group, a producer of performance chemicals and plastics headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, USA. The move is part of a refocusing of Arkema’s activities on fast-growing core speciality businesses. The proposed divestment of organometallic products includes Arkema’s Thermolite® tin stabilizers, Fascat® catalysts and fine chemicals. Based on tin chemistry, Thermolite heat stabilizers are used to prevent heat-
September 2012
STRATEGIES
induced decomposition during the processing of rigid and plasticized PVC into finished products, many of which are used in the construction sector, while Fascat catalysts are used in automotive specialities and other applications. As part of Arkema’s Functional Additives business unit, this organometallics activity reports annual sales of approximately E180 million across North America, Europe and Asia. According to the company, the divestment project involves 234 people and four industrial sites around the world. The Carrollton, KY, plant, certain assets at the Mobile, AL, plant – both in the USA – and the Beijing plant in China will be transferred. Additionally, the part of its Dutch site in Vlissingen dedicated to tin stabilizer operations will be run by Arkema on behalf of PMC. It is anticipated that all involved employees in the sold business will be offered employment with the new entity. Subject to the works council information and consultation process in The Netherlands and to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities, the sale is due to be completed in the second half of this year. Following the transaction, Arkema’s Functional Additives business unit (10% of group sales in 2011) will be recentred on organic peroxides used as reaction initiators for commodity polymers, in which Arkema claims to hold the number two position in the world; acrylic impact modifiers; and glass coating chemicals for the manufacture of flat glass and bottles. As part of the same strategic portfolio optimization programme, Arkema has recently finalized the divestment of its Vinyl Products activities to the Klesch group. The activities concerned by the project have been grouped within a new company called KEM ONE. Headquartered in Lyon, France, this company has ‘an excellent balance sheet’ structure, and reports sales of around E1 billion, making it one of the largest vinyls businesses in Europe. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Geneva, the family-owned Klesch Group is a leading European operator of industrial and commodity-related businesses. With combined revenue in excess of E4.5 billion, the group employs more than 3000 people across four principal business units, with locations in Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland and the UK. For the second quarter of 2012, Arkema posted sales of E1.7 billion, up 15.4% compared to 2Q 2011, though volumes fell 4%. Adjusted net income for continuing operations was E151 million, down 25.6% in a ‘challenging macro-economic environment’, the company says.
September 2012
Despite this decrease, both the Performance Products and Industrial Chemicals segments reported ‘excellent profitability’. Sales by the Performance Products segment rose 13.5% to E572 million in 2Q 2012, while EBITDA rose to a record E109 million. Contact: Arkema, Colombes Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 4900 8080, Web: www.arkema.com Or contact: PMC Group, PMC Group Building, 4th Floor, 1288 Route 73 South, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, USA. Tel: +1 856 533 1866, Fax: +1 856 533 1867, Web: www.pmc-group.com
BASF reinforces cooperation with Astra and Sinopec; reports solid 2Q performance
A
new long-term contract has been signed between BASF Plastic Additives Middle East and Astra Polymers that will see the two companies continue to work together to produce customer specific blends (CSB) of polymer additives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The partners say that this cooperative agreement combines their expertise, bringing two complementary form-giving technologies for additive blends to customers in the Middle East region. Astra Polymers has for several years operated BASFowned production lines for CSB at its Dammam premises. The Saudi company’s breadth of experience in the field of masterbatch and compounding adds ‘considerable value’, enhancing BASF’s production capacities in the Middle East. BASF Plastic Additives Middle East markets and sells the CSB products. BASF says that the new deal will assist it to strengthen its position in the Middle Eastern polymer additives market. According to spokesman John Frijns, BASF’s combined global production capacity for antioxidants and CSB, paired with Astra Polymers’ CSB plant in KSA and BASF’s own new antioxidants production facility in Bahrain – which is on schedule for start-up in 4Q 2012 [ADPO, September 2011] – shows its on-going commitment to this growing market. Founded in 1993, Astra Polymers is the largest company that develops and produces plastic compounds and masterbatches in the Middle East. It owns five factories (in KSA,
Additives for Polymers
5