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EU bans usage of cadmium pigments in all plastics except recycled PVC
FOCUS fuel faster growth. Another global market driver is the push towards more environmentally responsible products. Within the EU, legislation already bans the use of colorants containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the decorative paint sector. Market pressure in other countries will ensure that this kind of legislation spreads further over the next few years, presaging a need for customers to upgrade and develop their tinting systems. Press Release from: CPS Color Group Oy, Vernissakatu 1, PO Box 42, FI-01301 Vantaa, Finland. Tel: +358 20 7188000. Website: http://www.cpscolor.com (28 Mar 2011)
New owners rename ex-Evonik carbon black business: Orion On 29 July, Evonik Industries completed the sale of its carbon black business to Rhone Capital and Triton Partners (two private investment companies). This followed the ruling by the European Commission 10 days earlier that the anticipated effects of the acquisition would not be incompatible with anti-trust regulations. The business was acquired as an intact entity, which has now been renamed Orion Engineered Carbons. It has 1650 employees, about 500 of whom are based in Germany. Sales revenues were €1.2 bn in the 2010 fiscal year. The value of the transaction, including the assumption of debts and other obligations, was more than €900 M. Press Release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (1 Aug 2011)
Imerys completes $340 M acquisition of Luzenac talc business On 1 August, Imerys and Rio Tinto jointly announced the completion of the sale of the Luzenac worldwide talc business to Imerys for $340 M cash. The talc business will be fully integrated into the Performance & Filtration Minerals business group of Imerys. According to Imerys, the acquisition is expected to “create value by achieving a return on capital employed above the group’s weighted average cost of capital from 2013 onwards.”
SEPTEMBER 2011
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The Luzenac business currently employs about 1000 people in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. It operates 24 mines and processing plants, producing around 1 M tonnes/y, giving it a global market share of around 15%. For Rio Tinto, this divestment marks another chapter in its programme of selling non-core assets, launched towards the end of 2007 in the aftermath of its $38 bn acquisition of Alcan. Over the past 40 months, Rio Tinto has completed more than 20 divestments, generating gross sales proceeds of more than $11 bn. Press Releases from: Imerys, 154/156 Rue de l’Université, F-75007 Paris, France. Tel: +33 1 495563. Website: http://www.imerys.com & Rio Tinto plc, 2 Eastbourne Terrace, London W2 6LG, UK. Tel: +44 20 7781 2000. Website: http://www.riotinto.com (1 Aug 2011)
Plastics Color Corp buys Polysource Plastics Color Corp (PCC, of Calumet City, IL) has acquired Polysource LLC and its Pinnacle Color subsidiary (based in Tempe, AZ). This further consolidates PCC’s position in the US masterbatch and liquid colorants market. Original Source: Plastics News, 3 Aug 2011, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
Royce buys Patrick’s vat dyes business Passaic Color & Chemical (of East Rutherford, NJ), part of the Royce Associates group, has acquired the vat dyes business of CH Patrick & Co (of Greenville, SC) for an undisclosed sum. Prior to this acquisition, Royce had five plants in the US, several warehouses in various parts of the US, Europe and Asia, as well as a technical support centre in China. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), 11 Jul 2011, (13) (Website: http://www.chemind.org) © SCI 2011
LEGISLATION EU bans usage of cadmium pigments in all plastics except recycled PVC The European Commission has announced a total prohibition on the
usage of cadmium in plastic products manufactured or sold in the EU, effective as from 1 December 2011. The usage of cadmium in jewellery and in brazing sticks has also been banned, effective 1 December 2011. The ban will be adopted as an amendment under Europe’s REACH regulations for the regulation, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. Cadmium has been classified as a Class B1 carcinogen (probable human carcinogen). It is also deemed “toxic for the aquatic environment.” In the past, cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenosulfide were both used as pigments for plastics in the red, orange and yellow segment. Cadmium was also used as a stabiliser in some plastic compounds. The consumption of cadmium compounds in several polymer systems was prohibited in the EU in 1992, though cadmium compounds were still allowed in limited dosages in rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products because of the lack of suitable economic alternatives at that time. More recently, the European PVC industry has taken steps to phase out the use of cadmium in rigid PVC as part of its Vinyl 2010 environmental programme. The new legislation prohibits the usage of cadmium in all plastic products, but it will still encourage the recovery and recycling of PVC waste. As PVC is a valuable material that can be recovered a number of times, the new legislation allows the re-use of recovered PVC containing low levels of cadmium in a limited number of construction products, without danger for the public or environment. In order to fully inform buyers, construction products made of this recovered PVC will be marketed with a specific logo. European Commissioner for the Environment Mr Janez Potocnik said: “The ban on cadmium in jewellery will protect consumers, in particular children. It is equally good for the environment, as cadmium-free plastics will help to reduce pollution. The measure encourages the recycling of PVC waste, which represents significant progress in the efforts to save resources.” Press release from: Europa (Gateway to the European Union) Website: http://europa.eu/ (20 May 2011)
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New owners rename ex-Evonik carbon black business: Orion On 29 July, Evonik Industries completed the sale of its carbon black business to Rhone Capital and Triton Partners (two private investment companies). This followed the ruling by the European Commission 10 days earlier that the anticipated effects of the acquisition would not be incompatible with anti-trust regulations. The business was acquired as an intact entity, which has now been renamed Orion Engineered Carbons. It has 1650 employees, about 500 of whom are based in Germany. Sales revenues were €1.2 bn in the 2010 fiscal year. The value of the transaction, including the assumption of debts and other obligations, was more than €900 M. Press Release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (1 Aug 2011)
Imerys completes $340 M acquisition of Luzenac talc business On 1 August, Imerys and Rio Tinto jointly announced the completion of the sale of the Luzenac worldwide talc business to Imerys for $340 M cash. The talc business will be fully integrated into the Performance & Filtration Minerals business group of Imerys. According to Imerys, the acquisition is expected to “create value by achieving a return on capital employed above the group’s weighted average cost of capital from 2013 onwards.”
SEPTEMBER 2011
ON
PIGMENTS
The Luzenac business currently employs about 1000 people in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. It operates 24 mines and processing plants, producing around 1 M tonnes/y, giving it a global market share of around 15%. For Rio Tinto, this divestment marks another chapter in its programme of selling non-core assets, launched towards the end of 2007 in the aftermath of its $38 bn acquisition of Alcan. Over the past 40 months, Rio Tinto has completed more than 20 divestments, generating gross sales proceeds of more than $11 bn. Press Releases from: Imerys, 154/156 Rue de l’Université, F-75007 Paris, France. Tel: +33 1 495563. Website: http://www.imerys.com & Rio Tinto plc, 2 Eastbourne Terrace, London W2 6LG, UK. Tel: +44 20 7781 2000. Website: http://www.riotinto.com (1 Aug 2011)
Plastics Color Corp buys Polysource Plastics Color Corp (PCC, of Calumet City, IL) has acquired Polysource LLC and its Pinnacle Color subsidiary (based in Tempe, AZ). This further consolidates PCC’s position in the US masterbatch and liquid colorants market. Original Source: Plastics News, 3 Aug 2011, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
Royce buys Patrick’s vat dyes business Passaic Color & Chemical (of East Rutherford, NJ), part of the Royce Associates group, has acquired the vat dyes business of CH Patrick & Co (of Greenville, SC) for an undisclosed sum. Prior to this acquisition, Royce had five plants in the US, several warehouses in various parts of the US, Europe and Asia, as well as a technical support centre in China. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), 11 Jul 2011, (13) (Website: http://www.chemind.org) © SCI 2011
LEGISLATION EU bans usage of cadmium pigments in all plastics except recycled PVC The European Commission has announced a total prohibition on the
usage of cadmium in plastic products manufactured or sold in the EU, effective as from 1 December 2011. The usage of cadmium in jewellery and in brazing sticks has also been banned, effective 1 December 2011. The ban will be adopted as an amendment under Europe’s REACH regulations for the regulation, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. Cadmium has been classified as a Class B1 carcinogen (probable human carcinogen). It is also deemed “toxic for the aquatic environment.” In the past, cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenosulfide were both used as pigments for plastics in the red, orange and yellow segment. Cadmium was also used as a stabiliser in some plastic compounds. The consumption of cadmium compounds in several polymer systems was prohibited in the EU in 1992, though cadmium compounds were still allowed in limited dosages in rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products because of the lack of suitable economic alternatives at that time. More recently, the European PVC industry has taken steps to phase out the use of cadmium in rigid PVC as part of its Vinyl 2010 environmental programme. The new legislation prohibits the usage of cadmium in all plastic products, but it will still encourage the recovery and recycling of PVC waste. As PVC is a valuable material that can be recovered a number of times, the new legislation allows the re-use of recovered PVC containing low levels of cadmium in a limited number of construction products, without danger for the public or environment. In order to fully inform buyers, construction products made of this recovered PVC will be marketed with a specific logo. European Commissioner for the Environment Mr Janez Potocnik said: “The ban on cadmium in jewellery will protect consumers, in particular children. It is equally good for the environment, as cadmium-free plastics will help to reduce pollution. The measure encourages the recycling of PVC waste, which represents significant progress in the efforts to save resources.” Press release from: Europa (Gateway to the European Union) Website: http://europa.eu/ (20 May 2011)
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