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Dow names leadership team for Rohm and Haas division
F O C U S paper features a number of comparative test results in this comprehensive presentation. In conclusion it was shown that the addition of amounts of semicrystalline resins resulted in a decrease of curing temperatures and good mechanical properties, and the use of the novel antistatic compounds was a beneficial factor in obtaining good application properties. Paper entitled “Influence of Semi-crystalline Polyesters on the Properties of Uretdione Powder Coatings and their Application on Novel Antistatic Wood Composites” by Professor M Gedan-Smolka and research associates was presented at the Fatipec 2008 Congress held in Ghent, Belgium on 9-11 Jun 2008. Copies of the papers in CD format are available from Fatipec
INDUSTRY NEWS AkzoNobel expresses confidence in transformed portfolio Emerging markets now provide 35% of total sales for AkzoNobel and 40% of Ebit. In decorative paints, for which Dulux accounts for over 25% of revenue, sales in emerging markets are forecast to increase from 25% of the total in 2007 to 35% in 2012. Almost 50% of AkzoNobel’s business for performance coatings is already carried out in emerging markets. The company also plans to increase its specialty chemicals operations in countries such as Brazil and China via investments that total over €300 M. During Jan-Sep 2008, AkzoNobel completed a €3 bn share buyback programme but has decided to put on hold a further €1.6 bn due to net debts of €1.8 bn that are due to mature by Jun 2009. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Oct 2008, 19 (30), 8
DuPont opens second office in United Arab Emirates DuPont has opened a second commercial and technical office in JANUARY 2009
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the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The new Abu Dhabi office will support clients in the petroleum, gas, construction, automotive coating, agricultural and agrofood sectors. DuPont’s sales in the United Arab Emirates have increased 50% over a 12-month period. The group’s world sales in the petroleum and gas sectors have grown by 20% in 5 years. DuPont previously set up an office in Dubai. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 Nov 2008, (443), 7 (in French)
AkzoNobel targeting growth in India On 13 Nov 2008, AkzoNobel announced that it is set to break ground on a new coatings manufacturing plant in India, signalling the company’s ambition to become one of the country’s leading industrial players. The new Industrial Finishes facility, which will produce coil and speciality plastic coatings, is being built in Hoskote near Bangalore and is the latest strategic step in a measured approach to expanding in a region with clear growth potential. The new Industrial Finishes plant is being built on an existing AkzoNobel site, which manufactures marine and protective coatings and powder coatings, as well as coil coatings. The latest addition will expand capacity for coil coatings produced primarily for the high performance steel and aluminium construction markets in India and neighbouring countries. Increasing demand in India for lifestyle goods such as mobile phones and the ability to better serve global customers located in the region has driven the need to expand the business speciality plastics activities. AkzoNobel currently employs around 1,500 people in India and operates six production facilities, two research laboratories and around a dozen sales locations, representing activities from across all coatings
C OAT I N G S and speciality chemicals businesses. Press release from: AkzoNobel, Strawinskylaan 2555, PO Box 75730, 1070 AS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, tel: +31 20 502 7555, fax: +31 20 502 7666, website: http://www.akzonobel.com (13 Nov 2008)
Dow names leadership team for Rohm and Haas division Rohm and Haas Advanced Materials will become a new division of Dow Chemical when it has completed the acquisition of Rohm and Haas in early-2009. The leadership team will be composed of six key personnel, each to head one business group under the new division. The six business groups are: coatings; building and construction; paper and textiles; speciality packaging and films; designed polymers and separation technologies; and electronic materials. Chemical Week, 17 Nov 2008, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Rohm and Haas cuts costs before merger with Dow Chemical USA-based speciality chemicals producer Rohm and Haas is stepping up its restructuring plan to reduce costs as it moves close to concluding its $18.8 bn (€15 bn) a merger with Dow Chemical. Introduced in Jun 2008, the restructuring is intended to cut 925 jobs and idle 25-30% of paints and coatings capacity in North America. The programme is expected to be finished by end2009. Saving cash has become important to the company, with demand in all of its major markets declining significantly in 4Q 2008. This downtrend is forecast to continue in 2009. In the building and construction markets, which are strong markets for Rohm and Hass, demand began to weaken in the USA since 4Q 2006. For the paint and coatings business, a negative gain of 7-10%/y is forecast in 2008 and 2009. Normal demand is not expected to return until 4Q 2009 or 2010 for majority of the company’s 3
INDUSTRY NEWS AkzoNobel expresses confidence in transformed portfolio Emerging markets now provide 35% of total sales for AkzoNobel and 40% of Ebit. In decorative paints, for which Dulux accounts for over 25% of revenue, sales in emerging markets are forecast to increase from 25% of the total in 2007 to 35% in 2012. Almost 50% of AkzoNobel’s business for performance coatings is already carried out in emerging markets. The company also plans to increase its specialty chemicals operations in countries such as Brazil and China via investments that total over €300 M. During Jan-Sep 2008, AkzoNobel completed a €3 bn share buyback programme but has decided to put on hold a further €1.6 bn due to net debts of €1.8 bn that are due to mature by Jun 2009. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Oct 2008, 19 (30), 8
DuPont opens second office in United Arab Emirates DuPont has opened a second commercial and technical office in JANUARY 2009
O N
POWDER
the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The new Abu Dhabi office will support clients in the petroleum, gas, construction, automotive coating, agricultural and agrofood sectors. DuPont’s sales in the United Arab Emirates have increased 50% over a 12-month period. The group’s world sales in the petroleum and gas sectors have grown by 20% in 5 years. DuPont previously set up an office in Dubai. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 Nov 2008, (443), 7 (in French)
AkzoNobel targeting growth in India On 13 Nov 2008, AkzoNobel announced that it is set to break ground on a new coatings manufacturing plant in India, signalling the company’s ambition to become one of the country’s leading industrial players. The new Industrial Finishes facility, which will produce coil and speciality plastic coatings, is being built in Hoskote near Bangalore and is the latest strategic step in a measured approach to expanding in a region with clear growth potential. The new Industrial Finishes plant is being built on an existing AkzoNobel site, which manufactures marine and protective coatings and powder coatings, as well as coil coatings. The latest addition will expand capacity for coil coatings produced primarily for the high performance steel and aluminium construction markets in India and neighbouring countries. Increasing demand in India for lifestyle goods such as mobile phones and the ability to better serve global customers located in the region has driven the need to expand the business speciality plastics activities. AkzoNobel currently employs around 1,500 people in India and operates six production facilities, two research laboratories and around a dozen sales locations, representing activities from across all coatings
C OAT I N G S and speciality chemicals businesses. Press release from: AkzoNobel, Strawinskylaan 2555, PO Box 75730, 1070 AS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, tel: +31 20 502 7555, fax: +31 20 502 7666, website: http://www.akzonobel.com (13 Nov 2008)
Dow names leadership team for Rohm and Haas division Rohm and Haas Advanced Materials will become a new division of Dow Chemical when it has completed the acquisition of Rohm and Haas in early-2009. The leadership team will be composed of six key personnel, each to head one business group under the new division. The six business groups are: coatings; building and construction; paper and textiles; speciality packaging and films; designed polymers and separation technologies; and electronic materials. Chemical Week, 17 Nov 2008, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Rohm and Haas cuts costs before merger with Dow Chemical USA-based speciality chemicals producer Rohm and Haas is stepping up its restructuring plan to reduce costs as it moves close to concluding its $18.8 bn (€15 bn) a merger with Dow Chemical. Introduced in Jun 2008, the restructuring is intended to cut 925 jobs and idle 25-30% of paints and coatings capacity in North America. The programme is expected to be finished by end2009. Saving cash has become important to the company, with demand in all of its major markets declining significantly in 4Q 2008. This downtrend is forecast to continue in 2009. In the building and construction markets, which are strong markets for Rohm and Hass, demand began to weaken in the USA since 4Q 2006. For the paint and coatings business, a negative gain of 7-10%/y is forecast in 2008 and 2009. Normal demand is not expected to return until 4Q 2009 or 2010 for majority of the company’s 3