- Email: [email protected]
Degussa expands carbon black capacity in China
November 2003
allow. The price increase is needed to help defray significant increases in the cost of raw materials, transport and other costs, the companies say. The increase will also support further capacity investment to meet increased material demand for ATH and speciality aluminas. Albemarle International has also increased the list price of its elemental bromine sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by US$90/tonne, as contracts allow. 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 Kerr-McGee Corp, PO Box 25861, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, USA; tel: +1-405-775-5012; fax: +1-405-775-5027; URL: www.kerr-mcgee.com Martinswerk GmbH, Kölner Straße 110, D-50127 Bergheim, Germany; tel: +49-2271-902-0; fax: +49-2271-902-555; URL: www.martinswerk.com Millennium Chemicals Inc, 20 Wight Avenue, Suite 100, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA; tel: +1-410-229-4400; fax: +1-410-229-5003; URL: www.millenniumchem.com
Investment will increase production capacity at Expancel plant Akzo Nobel is investing an undisclosed amount to increase the production capacity for Expancel® expandable microspheres at its industrial products plant in Stockviksverken, Sweden. The need for more capacity has been brought about by increased global demand for the microspheres, the company says. Expancel microspheres are small, spherical plastic particles consisting of a polymer shell encapsulating a gas. When the gas inside the shell is heated, it increases in pressure and the thermoplastic shell softens, resulting in a dramatic increase in the volume of the microspheres. First developed in the early 1980s, the product has found various uses in numerous applications, acting as a lightweight filler in products ranging from tennis balls and shoe soles to paper and board, and also providing increased friction in applications such as anti-slip coatings. One of the product’s biggest applications is in printing inks. According to Rudy van der Meer, the member of Akzo Nobel’s Board of Management responsible for Coatings, the company is continually finding
Additives for Polymers
new applications for this “incredibly versatile product”, and increasing production capacity will open up even more opportunities for growth. Lars-Erik Thomsgård, general manager of Akzo Nobel Industrial Products, which trades under the Casco Products name, says that the investment represents a further strengthening of Expancel’s market position. The expansion project is scheduled to start this autumn and should take about a year to complete, according to Thomsgård. A number of jobs will be created as a result. Contact: Casco Products AB, PO Box 115 38, Sickla Industriväg 6, Nacka, S-100 61 Stockholm, Sweden; tel: +46-8-743-4000; fax: +46-8-643-2004; URL: www.expancel.com
Degussa expands carbon black capacity in China Degussa AG, a leading carbon black manufacturer, is to expand production capacity at its Qingdao Degussa Chemical Company, Ltd (QDCC) joint venture in Qingdao, China. QDCC, located in the Shandong province, is jointly owned by Degussa and its partners Zhenya Carbon Black Company and DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH). QDCC currently operates a carbon black plant with an annual capacity of 50 000 tonnes. Production capacity will be increased by more than 20 000 tonnes by the end of 2004, according to Robert Wissner, head of Degussa’s Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit. This expansion will consolidate Degussa’s market position as one of the leading suppliers of carbon black in China. The company is also exploring additional growth options at other Chinese locations, according to Wissner. Demand for the kind of high quality rubber blacks QDCC produces is reported to be booming in China, which has become the worldwide largest market for truck tyres and the thirdlargest for all kind of tyres. The driving forces for this are the growing involvement of global automotive manufacturers and big international tyre producers in China, as well as the rapid expansion of the country’s road and highway network. China’s highway network is already the world’s second-largest and is currently being expanded by more than 270 000 km. 5
Additives for Polymers
November 2003
Degussa currently employs more than 1000 people in China, with production facilities in Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanning, Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2002, the group generated sales of about 240 million in China.
which has headquarters in Straelen, Germany. PPM companies have approximately 280 employees globally and produce masterbatches and compounds for different individual applications.
Contact: Degussa AG, Karl-Arnold-Platz 1a, D40474 Düsseldorf, Germany; tel: +49-21165041-0; fax: +49-211-65041-555; URL: www.degussa-fp.com
Contact: Alex Rom-Roginski, Colortech, Inc, 5712 Commerce Blvd, Morristown, TN 37814, USA; tel: +1-423-318-8526; e-mail: [email protected]; URL: www.colortech.com Eastman Chemical Company, 100 North Eastman Road, PO Box 511, Kingsport, TN 37662-5075, USA; tel: +1-423-229-2000; URL: www.eastman.com
Colortech buys Eastman’s polyethylene colour masterbatch business Colortech, Inc has purchased Eastman Chemical Co’s polyethylene colour masterbatch (concentrates) business. Terms of the sale, which was effective 1 October 2003, were not disclosed. Major end-use markets for polyethylene colour concentrates are flexible packaging and consumer goods such as plastic bags and containers. Eastman has manufactured polyethylene colour masterbatches at its Kingsport plant for many years but the business, a niche market as far as the company is concerned, no longer met its profit margin expectations. Colortech’s business, however, focuses on this particular market, producing polyolefin-based masterbatches at compounding plants in Morristown, TN, USA, and Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Commenting on the purchase, Alex Rom-Roginski, president of Colortech, says, “We have enjoyed a long relationship with Eastman, and we look forward to the opportunity of serving their customers with the same level of quality and service that we provide to our current customers”. Colortech offers a broad range of polymer masterbatches to meet high-performance polyolefin applications, including blown film, geomembrane, extrusion coating, injection moulding, blow moulding, sheet and profile extrusion, and synthetic fibres. It provides more than 1000 standard colours backed up by extensive colour matching and formulation services to its customers. Colortech also offers a full line of standard and custom formulations containing antioxidants, UV stabilizers, process stabilizers, process aids, photodegradants, antistats, slips and antiblocks. Since 1996, it has been a subsidiary of Polyplast Müller GmbH (PPM),
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FINANCIALS Ciba Specialty Chemicals resists challenging first half Ciba Specialty Chemicals increased sales, operating income and EBITDA during the first half of 2003 in local currencies, each by 2%, compared to the same period last year. Four of its five business segments equalled or increased sales in local currencies compared to the first half of 2002. On average, volumes were up 5%, offset by a 3% fall in prices. These results were achieved despite the expected continued adverse environment in global markets. Both the Swiss franc and the Euro strengthened considerably against most major trading currencies during the first half, particularly against the weakening US dollar. This led to lower first half results in Swiss francs for sales (CHF3.379 billion, c. 2.18 billion, down 8% from CHF3.68 billion), operating income (CHF327 million, 23%) and EBITDA (CHF507 million, -19%). Net income reached CHF193 million compared to CHF224 million for the first six months last year. The results for the first half of 2002 were particularly high. Geographically, first half sales in Asia-Pacific rose by 6% in local currencies (-5% in Swiss francs) with particular strength seen in China and Japan; in Europe, sales were 1% higher (+1% in Swiss francs); and in the Americas, sales were 1% lower (-20% in Swiss francs). Compared to the second quarter of 2002, sales
allow. The price increase is needed to help defray significant increases in the cost of raw materials, transport and other costs, the companies say. The increase will also support further capacity investment to meet increased material demand for ATH and speciality aluminas. Albemarle International has also increased the list price of its elemental bromine sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by US$90/tonne, as contracts allow. 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 Kerr-McGee Corp, PO Box 25861, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, USA; tel: +1-405-775-5012; fax: +1-405-775-5027; URL: www.kerr-mcgee.com Martinswerk GmbH, Kölner Straße 110, D-50127 Bergheim, Germany; tel: +49-2271-902-0; fax: +49-2271-902-555; URL: www.martinswerk.com Millennium Chemicals Inc, 20 Wight Avenue, Suite 100, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA; tel: +1-410-229-4400; fax: +1-410-229-5003; URL: www.millenniumchem.com
Investment will increase production capacity at Expancel plant Akzo Nobel is investing an undisclosed amount to increase the production capacity for Expancel® expandable microspheres at its industrial products plant in Stockviksverken, Sweden. The need for more capacity has been brought about by increased global demand for the microspheres, the company says. Expancel microspheres are small, spherical plastic particles consisting of a polymer shell encapsulating a gas. When the gas inside the shell is heated, it increases in pressure and the thermoplastic shell softens, resulting in a dramatic increase in the volume of the microspheres. First developed in the early 1980s, the product has found various uses in numerous applications, acting as a lightweight filler in products ranging from tennis balls and shoe soles to paper and board, and also providing increased friction in applications such as anti-slip coatings. One of the product’s biggest applications is in printing inks. According to Rudy van der Meer, the member of Akzo Nobel’s Board of Management responsible for Coatings, the company is continually finding
Additives for Polymers
new applications for this “incredibly versatile product”, and increasing production capacity will open up even more opportunities for growth. Lars-Erik Thomsgård, general manager of Akzo Nobel Industrial Products, which trades under the Casco Products name, says that the investment represents a further strengthening of Expancel’s market position. The expansion project is scheduled to start this autumn and should take about a year to complete, according to Thomsgård. A number of jobs will be created as a result. Contact: Casco Products AB, PO Box 115 38, Sickla Industriväg 6, Nacka, S-100 61 Stockholm, Sweden; tel: +46-8-743-4000; fax: +46-8-643-2004; URL: www.expancel.com
Degussa expands carbon black capacity in China Degussa AG, a leading carbon black manufacturer, is to expand production capacity at its Qingdao Degussa Chemical Company, Ltd (QDCC) joint venture in Qingdao, China. QDCC, located in the Shandong province, is jointly owned by Degussa and its partners Zhenya Carbon Black Company and DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH). QDCC currently operates a carbon black plant with an annual capacity of 50 000 tonnes. Production capacity will be increased by more than 20 000 tonnes by the end of 2004, according to Robert Wissner, head of Degussa’s Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit. This expansion will consolidate Degussa’s market position as one of the leading suppliers of carbon black in China. The company is also exploring additional growth options at other Chinese locations, according to Wissner. Demand for the kind of high quality rubber blacks QDCC produces is reported to be booming in China, which has become the worldwide largest market for truck tyres and the thirdlargest for all kind of tyres. The driving forces for this are the growing involvement of global automotive manufacturers and big international tyre producers in China, as well as the rapid expansion of the country’s road and highway network. China’s highway network is already the world’s second-largest and is currently being expanded by more than 270 000 km. 5
Additives for Polymers
November 2003
Degussa currently employs more than 1000 people in China, with production facilities in Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanning, Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2002, the group generated sales of about 240 million in China.
which has headquarters in Straelen, Germany. PPM companies have approximately 280 employees globally and produce masterbatches and compounds for different individual applications.
Contact: Degussa AG, Karl-Arnold-Platz 1a, D40474 Düsseldorf, Germany; tel: +49-21165041-0; fax: +49-211-65041-555; URL: www.degussa-fp.com
Contact: Alex Rom-Roginski, Colortech, Inc, 5712 Commerce Blvd, Morristown, TN 37814, USA; tel: +1-423-318-8526; e-mail: [email protected]; URL: www.colortech.com Eastman Chemical Company, 100 North Eastman Road, PO Box 511, Kingsport, TN 37662-5075, USA; tel: +1-423-229-2000; URL: www.eastman.com
Colortech buys Eastman’s polyethylene colour masterbatch business Colortech, Inc has purchased Eastman Chemical Co’s polyethylene colour masterbatch (concentrates) business. Terms of the sale, which was effective 1 October 2003, were not disclosed. Major end-use markets for polyethylene colour concentrates are flexible packaging and consumer goods such as plastic bags and containers. Eastman has manufactured polyethylene colour masterbatches at its Kingsport plant for many years but the business, a niche market as far as the company is concerned, no longer met its profit margin expectations. Colortech’s business, however, focuses on this particular market, producing polyolefin-based masterbatches at compounding plants in Morristown, TN, USA, and Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Commenting on the purchase, Alex Rom-Roginski, president of Colortech, says, “We have enjoyed a long relationship with Eastman, and we look forward to the opportunity of serving their customers with the same level of quality and service that we provide to our current customers”. Colortech offers a broad range of polymer masterbatches to meet high-performance polyolefin applications, including blown film, geomembrane, extrusion coating, injection moulding, blow moulding, sheet and profile extrusion, and synthetic fibres. It provides more than 1000 standard colours backed up by extensive colour matching and formulation services to its customers. Colortech also offers a full line of standard and custom formulations containing antioxidants, UV stabilizers, process stabilizers, process aids, photodegradants, antistats, slips and antiblocks. Since 1996, it has been a subsidiary of Polyplast Müller GmbH (PPM),
6
FINANCIALS Ciba Specialty Chemicals resists challenging first half Ciba Specialty Chemicals increased sales, operating income and EBITDA during the first half of 2003 in local currencies, each by 2%, compared to the same period last year. Four of its five business segments equalled or increased sales in local currencies compared to the first half of 2002. On average, volumes were up 5%, offset by a 3% fall in prices. These results were achieved despite the expected continued adverse environment in global markets. Both the Swiss franc and the Euro strengthened considerably against most major trading currencies during the first half, particularly against the weakening US dollar. This led to lower first half results in Swiss francs for sales (CHF3.379 billion, c. 2.18 billion, down 8% from CHF3.68 billion), operating income (CHF327 million, 23%) and EBITDA (CHF507 million, -19%). Net income reached CHF193 million compared to CHF224 million for the first six months last year. The results for the first half of 2002 were particularly high. Geographically, first half sales in Asia-Pacific rose by 6% in local currencies (-5% in Swiss francs) with particular strength seen in China and Japan; in Europe, sales were 1% higher (+1% in Swiss francs); and in the Americas, sales were 1% lower (-20% in Swiss francs). Compared to the second quarter of 2002, sales