- Email: [email protected]
Colgate unloads North American laundry detergent brands
FOCUS designed to be the initial step in the manufacture of a complete line of anionic surfactants required for the detergent sector. It will be situated in Nizhnekamsk, in the Volga River basin and east of the Ural mountains. NKNH is poised to become a major Russian producer of detergent intermediates such as alpha-olefin sulfonates, LABS and ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, the majority of which are still unavailable in Russia. In related news, Nizhnekamskneftekhim is also reported to have signed a contract with Tecnimont of Italy for the construction of the first stage of the detergent raw materials plant, and the delivery of additional equipment for polypropylene production. Total investment in the projects is expected to be €60 M. The company is also currently considering future cooperation with Sasol Olefins & Surfactants concerning products for the detergents and personal care sectors [Focus on Surfactants, Aug 2005]. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Jul 2005, 42 (7), 24 & Vestnik khimicheskoi promyshlennosty, 27 May 2005, 2005 (2), 48 (in Russian)
Colgate unloads North American laundry detergent brands Colgate-Palmolive Co has agreed to sell its North American heavy duty laundry detergent brands to Phoenix Brands LLC. The transaction includes the sale of the detergent brands Fab, Dynamo, Arctic Power, ABS, Cold Power and Fresh Start, and the licence for the Ajax brand for laundry detergents in the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico. The deal, valued at $60 M, is expected to close in 3Q 2005, subject to approval by US regulatory authorities. The divestments are in line with Colgate’s business strategy, which is focusing on its high-margin, fast-growing oral, personal and pet care businesses. Press release from: Colgate-Palmolive Co, 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA. Tel: +1 212 310 2000. Website: http://www.colgate.com (12 Jul 2005)
New SDA publication tackles questions about high-efficiency detergents, washing machines US detergent and appliance manufacturers have launched a major educational initiative to encourage 4
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energy and water savings through the proper usage of high-efficiency (HE) detergents and washing machines. The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), which represents the nation’s cleaning products industry, has published a free, online guide for consumers, High Efficiency Washers and Detergents: Working in Harmony to Save Energy and Water. The publication describes how HE detergents and washers work, advises how to use various laundry products in HE machines, and contains tips on proper maintenance of HE washers. Detergents formulated for HE washers work with energy saving technology to provide the best possible cleaning by using only 20-66% of the amount of water used in traditional washers. Because of the low-water wash and rinse cycles in HE washers, HE detergents must work differently from traditional laundry detergents in order to be effective. HE detergents are formulated to be low-sudsing and quick-dispersing to get the best cleaning performance with HE washers. Excess suds can cause problems in HE washers by interfering with the tumbling action. Therefore consumers should not use regular detergents in their HE machines, the SDA advises. HE detergents are also formulated to hold soils and dyes in suspension in low water volumes, so they don’t redeposit onto cleaned laundry. SDA and its members will be raising awareness of the new online publication through outreach to consumer educators, government agencies and energy efficiency groups across the US. Press release from: Soap and Detergent Association, 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Tel: +1 202 662 2517. Website: http://www.cleaning101.com/laundry (26 July 2005)
Health/other Discovery Labs submits response to FDA for Surfaxin Discovery Laboratories Inc has submitted its response to the Approvable Letter received from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Surfaxin (lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in premature
infants. The company believes that the response provides the FDA with the information necessary to complete its review of the Surfaxin New Drug Application (NDA) by Jan 2006. In Feb 2005, the FDA issued an Approvable Letter indicating that it is prepared to approve the NDA when issues noted in the letter are adequately addressed [Focus on Surfactants, Apr 2005]. Most importantly, the FDA is not requiring additional pre-clinical or clinical studies. The Approvable Letter addressed certain labelling, chemistry, and manufacturing issues. Surfaxin is a precision-engineered, peptide-containing, synthetic surfactant that is designed to closely mimic the function of natural human lung surfactant and represents a potential alternative for the animalderived and non-protein containing synthetic surfactants. Press release from: Discovery Laboratories Inc, 2600 Kelly Road, Suite 100, Warrington, PA 18976-3646 350, USA. Tel: +1 215 488 9300. Fax: +1 215 488 9301. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.discoverylabs.com (29 Jul 2005)
BYK-Chemie to introduce six new paint, ink additives Six new additives for paint and inks developed by BYK-Chemie, Germany, are to be imported into Japan and distributed by BYKChemie Japan. The new water-based additives do not contain VOCs and include BYK-063 and BYK-1790 defoamers, BYK-425 rheology additive and Disperbyk-145 for heavy anticorrosive and construction paints, and Disperbyk-194 and Disperbyk2020 wetting and dispersing additives. Sales in Japan are expected to increase at double-digit rates. Japan Chemical Week, 7 Jul 2005, 46 (2325), 3
PATENTS Personal health patent for Kimberly Clark European patent application EP1372382, from US company Kimberly Clark, describes antimicrobial wetwipes containing an acid (organic or inorganic) and an alkyl phosphate surfactant. There is SEPTEMBER 2005
Colgate unloads North American laundry detergent brands Colgate-Palmolive Co has agreed to sell its North American heavy duty laundry detergent brands to Phoenix Brands LLC. The transaction includes the sale of the detergent brands Fab, Dynamo, Arctic Power, ABS, Cold Power and Fresh Start, and the licence for the Ajax brand for laundry detergents in the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico. The deal, valued at $60 M, is expected to close in 3Q 2005, subject to approval by US regulatory authorities. The divestments are in line with Colgate’s business strategy, which is focusing on its high-margin, fast-growing oral, personal and pet care businesses. Press release from: Colgate-Palmolive Co, 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA. Tel: +1 212 310 2000. Website: http://www.colgate.com (12 Jul 2005)
New SDA publication tackles questions about high-efficiency detergents, washing machines US detergent and appliance manufacturers have launched a major educational initiative to encourage 4
ON
S U R FAC TA N T S
energy and water savings through the proper usage of high-efficiency (HE) detergents and washing machines. The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), which represents the nation’s cleaning products industry, has published a free, online guide for consumers, High Efficiency Washers and Detergents: Working in Harmony to Save Energy and Water. The publication describes how HE detergents and washers work, advises how to use various laundry products in HE machines, and contains tips on proper maintenance of HE washers. Detergents formulated for HE washers work with energy saving technology to provide the best possible cleaning by using only 20-66% of the amount of water used in traditional washers. Because of the low-water wash and rinse cycles in HE washers, HE detergents must work differently from traditional laundry detergents in order to be effective. HE detergents are formulated to be low-sudsing and quick-dispersing to get the best cleaning performance with HE washers. Excess suds can cause problems in HE washers by interfering with the tumbling action. Therefore consumers should not use regular detergents in their HE machines, the SDA advises. HE detergents are also formulated to hold soils and dyes in suspension in low water volumes, so they don’t redeposit onto cleaned laundry. SDA and its members will be raising awareness of the new online publication through outreach to consumer educators, government agencies and energy efficiency groups across the US. Press release from: Soap and Detergent Association, 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Tel: +1 202 662 2517. Website: http://www.cleaning101.com/laundry (26 July 2005)
Health/other Discovery Labs submits response to FDA for Surfaxin Discovery Laboratories Inc has submitted its response to the Approvable Letter received from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Surfaxin (lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in premature
infants. The company believes that the response provides the FDA with the information necessary to complete its review of the Surfaxin New Drug Application (NDA) by Jan 2006. In Feb 2005, the FDA issued an Approvable Letter indicating that it is prepared to approve the NDA when issues noted in the letter are adequately addressed [Focus on Surfactants, Apr 2005]. Most importantly, the FDA is not requiring additional pre-clinical or clinical studies. The Approvable Letter addressed certain labelling, chemistry, and manufacturing issues. Surfaxin is a precision-engineered, peptide-containing, synthetic surfactant that is designed to closely mimic the function of natural human lung surfactant and represents a potential alternative for the animalderived and non-protein containing synthetic surfactants. Press release from: Discovery Laboratories Inc, 2600 Kelly Road, Suite 100, Warrington, PA 18976-3646 350, USA. Tel: +1 215 488 9300. Fax: +1 215 488 9301. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.discoverylabs.com (29 Jul 2005)
BYK-Chemie to introduce six new paint, ink additives Six new additives for paint and inks developed by BYK-Chemie, Germany, are to be imported into Japan and distributed by BYKChemie Japan. The new water-based additives do not contain VOCs and include BYK-063 and BYK-1790 defoamers, BYK-425 rheology additive and Disperbyk-145 for heavy anticorrosive and construction paints, and Disperbyk-194 and Disperbyk2020 wetting and dispersing additives. Sales in Japan are expected to increase at double-digit rates. Japan Chemical Week, 7 Jul 2005, 46 (2325), 3
PATENTS Personal health patent for Kimberly Clark European patent application EP1372382, from US company Kimberly Clark, describes antimicrobial wetwipes containing an acid (organic or inorganic) and an alkyl phosphate surfactant. There is SEPTEMBER 2005