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Eckart appoints Blagden to sell its pigments in the UK & Eire
FOCUS permit further expansion, so OptiColor decided to move to a new site – double the size of the original site – about 15 km away, at Huntington Beach, CA (60 km southeast of Los Angeles). The four existing extruders were moved and OptiColor installed two new extruders. The project was completed last year. Also, five new employees were recruited, boosting the total workforce to 35. Original Source: Compounding World, May 2016, 86 (Website: http://www.amiplastics. com/mags) © Applied Market Information Ltd 2016
COMPANIES Americhem buys Vi-Chem On 18 March 2016, Americhem Corp (headquartered at Cuyahoga Falls, OH) completed the acquisition of Vi-Chem Corp (based at Grand Rapids, MI). Mr Rick Juve (CEO of Americhem) said: "The Vi-Chem team has built a leadership position in specialty thermoplastic elastomers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for the automotive industry. We look forward to providing further resources to expand the business geographically and also into Americhem's other current vertical markets. This is about bringing continual innovation and broadened solutions to our customers across the globe.'' Vi-Chem employs 85 people at its Grand Rapids office and factory. Americhem is a leading producer of colour concentrates and plastic masterbatch, which had already strengthened its prominence in plastic compounds with the acquisition of LTL Colour Compounds (of Philadelphia) towards the end of 2014. (See also 'Focus on Pigments', Jan 2015, 5). Original Source: Americhem Inc, 23 Mar 2016 (2000 Americhem Way, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221, USA, Website: http://www.americhem. com) © Americhem 2016
DyStar buys Hilton Davis Cincinnati plant & other Emerald assets Emerald Performance Materials (headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, OH) has agreed to sell its Specialties and its Polymer Additives and Nitriles businesses to the DyStar group (headquartered in Singapore) for an undisclosed sum. The transaction will July 2016
ON
PIGMENTS
entail the transfer of four wholly-owned manufacturing sites – Charlotte, NC; Cheyenne, WY; Cincinnati; and Henry, IL; plus a shared manufacturing facility at Akron, OH. Once this transfer has been completed, DyStar will sell the Henry and Akron assets to Jiangsu Sinorgchem (a subsidiary of Sinochem, a State-owned enterprise, headquartered in Beijing). Both transactions should be completed before the end of September 2016. Thus Jiangsu Sinorgchem will take over the businesses producing GoodRite antioxidants (phenolics and trimethyl dihydroquinoline) and CureRite accelerators, as well as the leading US producer of speciality nitrile and butadiene-based emulsion polymers. The acquisition will mark a very important step in the company's drive to globalise its rubber chemicals business. DyStar will inherit Emerald's Specialties business segment, including the plants at Charlotte, Cheyenne, Cincinnati. The Charlotte plant manufactures foam control products, glyoxal resins, speciality silicones, repellents and waxes. The Cheyenne site makes foam control additives. The Cincinnati plant – originally established by Hilton Davis in 1914 – produces technical dyes, lakes and pigment dispersions. It is one of the world's largest plants for making colorants for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as making colorants for architectural paints and inkjet printing inks. Emerald Performance Materials was created in 2006 by Sun Chemical Partners, which combined Hilton Davis Inc and five other ex-Lubrizol subsidiaries under the Emerald umbrella. American Securities LLC (a private equity fund, based in New York) acquired Emerald in August 2014 (See 'Focus on Pigments', Sep 2014, 5-6). Subsequently, the scope of Emerald's activities has been considerably expanded by a series of acquisitions. After the sale to DyStar, Emerald will retain four plants operetd by two subsidiaries, namely: CVC Specialty Chemicals (epoxy resins and reactive liquid polymers) and Kalama Chemical (toluene oxidation products). DyStar (a subsidiary within the Zhejiang Longsheng group) is best known as the world's leading producer of textile dyes and the acquisition of Emerald will broaden its speciality chemicals portfolio. Mr Ruan Weixiang (DyStar Chairman) said: "We are enthusiastic about the growth that this
combination will foster. We are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the new revenue growth and synergy opportunities.'' Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 16 May 2016, 45 (21), 3 (Website: http://www. rubbernews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2016
Eckart appoints Blagden to sell its pigments in the UK & Eire Eckart (part of the Altana group, headquartered in Wesel, Germany) has appointed Blagden Specialty Chemicals Ltd (of Westerham, Kent) as a distributor of its metallic and effect pigments for the UK and Ireland. The appointment takes effect as from 1 August 2016. Eckart's pigments are widely used in paint, printing inks, plastics and lightweight concrete products. Blagden has been a distributor for Altana's Byk division for many years and it has a particular focus on the paint and plastic industries. Original Source: Blagden Specialty Chemicals Ltd, 15 Jun 2016 (Osprey House, Black Eagle Square, Westerham, Kent TN16 1PA, United Kingdom, Website: http://www.blagden.com) © Blagden 2016
Sika buys Scofield, leading US supplier of concrete colorants Sika AG (headquartered in Baar, Switzerland) has acquired the entire business and assets of LM Scofield Co (of Los Angeles), a 100 years old family-owned company that has established a leading position in the supply of concrete colour additives and decorative products in North America. Scofield operates two manufacturing facilities – one in Los Angeles on the west coast, the other at Atlanta on the east coast of the United States. Scofield reported sales revenues of just over $17 M for the most recent fiscal year. Sika's acquisition of Scofield continues the drive for acquisitions in North America, where Sika now has 20 plants. Sika has also increased its prominence in Southeast Asia, with the commissioning of two new factories for producing concrete admixtures, one near Phnom Penh (Cambodia), the other near Yangon/Rangoon (Myanmar). Original Source: Sika AG, 9 Feb & 1 Apr 2016 (Zugerstrasse 50, 6341 Baar, Switzerland, Website: http://www.sika.com) © Sika 2016
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COMPANIES Americhem buys Vi-Chem On 18 March 2016, Americhem Corp (headquartered at Cuyahoga Falls, OH) completed the acquisition of Vi-Chem Corp (based at Grand Rapids, MI). Mr Rick Juve (CEO of Americhem) said: "The Vi-Chem team has built a leadership position in specialty thermoplastic elastomers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for the automotive industry. We look forward to providing further resources to expand the business geographically and also into Americhem's other current vertical markets. This is about bringing continual innovation and broadened solutions to our customers across the globe.'' Vi-Chem employs 85 people at its Grand Rapids office and factory. Americhem is a leading producer of colour concentrates and plastic masterbatch, which had already strengthened its prominence in plastic compounds with the acquisition of LTL Colour Compounds (of Philadelphia) towards the end of 2014. (See also 'Focus on Pigments', Jan 2015, 5). Original Source: Americhem Inc, 23 Mar 2016 (2000 Americhem Way, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221, USA, Website: http://www.americhem. com) © Americhem 2016
DyStar buys Hilton Davis Cincinnati plant & other Emerald assets Emerald Performance Materials (headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, OH) has agreed to sell its Specialties and its Polymer Additives and Nitriles businesses to the DyStar group (headquartered in Singapore) for an undisclosed sum. The transaction will July 2016
ON
PIGMENTS
entail the transfer of four wholly-owned manufacturing sites – Charlotte, NC; Cheyenne, WY; Cincinnati; and Henry, IL; plus a shared manufacturing facility at Akron, OH. Once this transfer has been completed, DyStar will sell the Henry and Akron assets to Jiangsu Sinorgchem (a subsidiary of Sinochem, a State-owned enterprise, headquartered in Beijing). Both transactions should be completed before the end of September 2016. Thus Jiangsu Sinorgchem will take over the businesses producing GoodRite antioxidants (phenolics and trimethyl dihydroquinoline) and CureRite accelerators, as well as the leading US producer of speciality nitrile and butadiene-based emulsion polymers. The acquisition will mark a very important step in the company's drive to globalise its rubber chemicals business. DyStar will inherit Emerald's Specialties business segment, including the plants at Charlotte, Cheyenne, Cincinnati. The Charlotte plant manufactures foam control products, glyoxal resins, speciality silicones, repellents and waxes. The Cheyenne site makes foam control additives. The Cincinnati plant – originally established by Hilton Davis in 1914 – produces technical dyes, lakes and pigment dispersions. It is one of the world's largest plants for making colorants for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as making colorants for architectural paints and inkjet printing inks. Emerald Performance Materials was created in 2006 by Sun Chemical Partners, which combined Hilton Davis Inc and five other ex-Lubrizol subsidiaries under the Emerald umbrella. American Securities LLC (a private equity fund, based in New York) acquired Emerald in August 2014 (See 'Focus on Pigments', Sep 2014, 5-6). Subsequently, the scope of Emerald's activities has been considerably expanded by a series of acquisitions. After the sale to DyStar, Emerald will retain four plants operetd by two subsidiaries, namely: CVC Specialty Chemicals (epoxy resins and reactive liquid polymers) and Kalama Chemical (toluene oxidation products). DyStar (a subsidiary within the Zhejiang Longsheng group) is best known as the world's leading producer of textile dyes and the acquisition of Emerald will broaden its speciality chemicals portfolio. Mr Ruan Weixiang (DyStar Chairman) said: "We are enthusiastic about the growth that this
combination will foster. We are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the new revenue growth and synergy opportunities.'' Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 16 May 2016, 45 (21), 3 (Website: http://www. rubbernews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2016
Eckart appoints Blagden to sell its pigments in the UK & Eire Eckart (part of the Altana group, headquartered in Wesel, Germany) has appointed Blagden Specialty Chemicals Ltd (of Westerham, Kent) as a distributor of its metallic and effect pigments for the UK and Ireland. The appointment takes effect as from 1 August 2016. Eckart's pigments are widely used in paint, printing inks, plastics and lightweight concrete products. Blagden has been a distributor for Altana's Byk division for many years and it has a particular focus on the paint and plastic industries. Original Source: Blagden Specialty Chemicals Ltd, 15 Jun 2016 (Osprey House, Black Eagle Square, Westerham, Kent TN16 1PA, United Kingdom, Website: http://www.blagden.com) © Blagden 2016
Sika buys Scofield, leading US supplier of concrete colorants Sika AG (headquartered in Baar, Switzerland) has acquired the entire business and assets of LM Scofield Co (of Los Angeles), a 100 years old family-owned company that has established a leading position in the supply of concrete colour additives and decorative products in North America. Scofield operates two manufacturing facilities – one in Los Angeles on the west coast, the other at Atlanta on the east coast of the United States. Scofield reported sales revenues of just over $17 M for the most recent fiscal year. Sika's acquisition of Scofield continues the drive for acquisitions in North America, where Sika now has 20 plants. Sika has also increased its prominence in Southeast Asia, with the commissioning of two new factories for producing concrete admixtures, one near Phnom Penh (Cambodia), the other near Yangon/Rangoon (Myanmar). Original Source: Sika AG, 9 Feb & 1 Apr 2016 (Zugerstrasse 50, 6341 Baar, Switzerland, Website: http://www.sika.com) © Sika 2016
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