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BASF finalizes restructuring plans for Ciba
STRATEGIES
range for wood–plastic composites (WPCs). Produced largely (90%) from renewable raw materials, primarily palm oil derivatives, the new additives offer a range of processing and property enhancements. According to the company, the Ultraplast WF range offers the following benefits to the WPC manufacturer: improved wood/fibre dispersion; increased production output; balanced dimensional stability; prevention of edge tearing; reduction of processing temperatures through reduced torque/friction; shorter fusion time; and better impact resistance. The range currently comprises seven products. Ultraplast WF101 acts as lubricant and dispersant and can also be used as a coupling agent as it has functional groups. Ultraplast WF102 is another lubricant and dispersant, suitable for use in PE-, PP- and PVC-based WPCs. Metal-free fatty acid derivative Ultraplast WF103 is designed for use in PS and ABS systems. Ultraplast WF104 contains a special amide that works as a coupling agent. Ultraplast WF105 is a general-purpose lubricant for highly filled polyolefin compounds, while Ultraplast WF106 is suitable as lubricant for PVC systems. WF104, 105 and 106 should not be used in combination with other coupling agents, Performance Additives warns. Finally, fatty acid ester mixture Ultraplast WF107 is a multifunctional additive for WPCs based on the entire range of relevant resins and can be used in combination with coupling agents. Performance Additives recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its founding in 1999. Employing more than 50 staff, the company operates a 12 000 tonne/y manufacturing facility and exports 95% of its production to more than 40 countries worldwide. Its products primarily serve the rubber and plastics industries. Contact: Performance Additives Sdn Bhd, 5 Jalan TP2, Taman Perindustrian Sime UEP, 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 80263481, Fax: +60 3 80263444, Web: www.performance-additives.com
COMPANY STRATEGIES BASF finalizes restructuring plans for Ciba
B
ASF has finalized its plans for the integration of Ciba Holding AG, which it acquired in
6
Additives for Polymers
April this year [ADPO, June 2009]. Former Ciba businesses are to be integrated into the operating divisions in BASF’s Performance Products segment where their potential can best be realized and developed. Ciba’s plastic additives business will be integrated into the Performance Chemicals division. This will extend BASF’s portfolio to cover product segments such as UV stabilizers and antioxidants, and make the company the world leader in plastic additives, it says. The integration will involve extensive restructuring measures. 3700 jobs (33% of Ciba’s workforce before the acquisition) will be lost between 2009 and 2013, most of which will go before 2010, the company says. BASF has also announced that 23 of Ciba’s 55 production sites will be restructured, sold or closed by 2010. The remaining 32 sites will be upgraded. Finally, BASF is aiming to consolidate 36 of the former Ciba’s 70 sales and administrative offices and research sites with existing BASF activities by the end of 2010. In total these measures will result in costs of E550 million but should generate synergies of at least E400 million per year from 2012. By the end of 2010, savings of approximately E300 million are to be achieved. As previously reported, the expanded company will retain a strong presence in the Basel region, with Ciba’s headquarters there being strengthened as a result of the integration [ibid, August 2009]. BASF says that it aims to implement restructuring measures in a ‘socially responsible’ manner and has begun talks with local employee representatives. Acknowledging that this is ‘not good news’ for some of employees, BASF chairman Dr Jürgen Hambrecht promises that the company will keep the period of uncertainty ‘as short as possible’ and will make decisions ‘in a fair and transparent way’. The combined businesses can only be successful in the long term ‘if we optimize them and exploit the full potential for synergies’, he explains. Contact: BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 621 600, Web: www.basf.com
Songwon start ups isobutylene facility, returns to profitability
K
orea-based plastics additives producer Songwon Industrial Co Ltd reports that its new US$20 million isobutylene (IBL) production facility, located at its Maeam site, has been successfully
September 2009
range for wood–plastic composites (WPCs). Produced largely (90%) from renewable raw materials, primarily palm oil derivatives, the new additives offer a range of processing and property enhancements. According to the company, the Ultraplast WF range offers the following benefits to the WPC manufacturer: improved wood/fibre dispersion; increased production output; balanced dimensional stability; prevention of edge tearing; reduction of processing temperatures through reduced torque/friction; shorter fusion time; and better impact resistance. The range currently comprises seven products. Ultraplast WF101 acts as lubricant and dispersant and can also be used as a coupling agent as it has functional groups. Ultraplast WF102 is another lubricant and dispersant, suitable for use in PE-, PP- and PVC-based WPCs. Metal-free fatty acid derivative Ultraplast WF103 is designed for use in PS and ABS systems. Ultraplast WF104 contains a special amide that works as a coupling agent. Ultraplast WF105 is a general-purpose lubricant for highly filled polyolefin compounds, while Ultraplast WF106 is suitable as lubricant for PVC systems. WF104, 105 and 106 should not be used in combination with other coupling agents, Performance Additives warns. Finally, fatty acid ester mixture Ultraplast WF107 is a multifunctional additive for WPCs based on the entire range of relevant resins and can be used in combination with coupling agents. Performance Additives recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its founding in 1999. Employing more than 50 staff, the company operates a 12 000 tonne/y manufacturing facility and exports 95% of its production to more than 40 countries worldwide. Its products primarily serve the rubber and plastics industries. Contact: Performance Additives Sdn Bhd, 5 Jalan TP2, Taman Perindustrian Sime UEP, 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 80263481, Fax: +60 3 80263444, Web: www.performance-additives.com
COMPANY STRATEGIES BASF finalizes restructuring plans for Ciba
B
ASF has finalized its plans for the integration of Ciba Holding AG, which it acquired in
6
Additives for Polymers
April this year [ADPO, June 2009]. Former Ciba businesses are to be integrated into the operating divisions in BASF’s Performance Products segment where their potential can best be realized and developed. Ciba’s plastic additives business will be integrated into the Performance Chemicals division. This will extend BASF’s portfolio to cover product segments such as UV stabilizers and antioxidants, and make the company the world leader in plastic additives, it says. The integration will involve extensive restructuring measures. 3700 jobs (33% of Ciba’s workforce before the acquisition) will be lost between 2009 and 2013, most of which will go before 2010, the company says. BASF has also announced that 23 of Ciba’s 55 production sites will be restructured, sold or closed by 2010. The remaining 32 sites will be upgraded. Finally, BASF is aiming to consolidate 36 of the former Ciba’s 70 sales and administrative offices and research sites with existing BASF activities by the end of 2010. In total these measures will result in costs of E550 million but should generate synergies of at least E400 million per year from 2012. By the end of 2010, savings of approximately E300 million are to be achieved. As previously reported, the expanded company will retain a strong presence in the Basel region, with Ciba’s headquarters there being strengthened as a result of the integration [ibid, August 2009]. BASF says that it aims to implement restructuring measures in a ‘socially responsible’ manner and has begun talks with local employee representatives. Acknowledging that this is ‘not good news’ for some of employees, BASF chairman Dr Jürgen Hambrecht promises that the company will keep the period of uncertainty ‘as short as possible’ and will make decisions ‘in a fair and transparent way’. The combined businesses can only be successful in the long term ‘if we optimize them and exploit the full potential for synergies’, he explains. Contact: BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 621 600, Web: www.basf.com
Songwon start ups isobutylene facility, returns to profitability
K
orea-based plastics additives producer Songwon Industrial Co Ltd reports that its new US$20 million isobutylene (IBL) production facility, located at its Maeam site, has been successfully
September 2009