Hanna and Ube to set up global PA compounding business

Additives for Polymers

Operations), Valere Sampermans (Corporate Lead Buyer Additives) and Svein H Jamtvedt (Additives Croup in Ronningen). The first projects to be tackled will be in logistical systems for additives (such as in situ and one-pack methods). The requirements of Borealis’ Borecene rotomoulding project will also be involved, and returnable and reusable packaging for additives will be studied. During the current year the Borealis Additives Buying Team will start similar cooperation projects with selected suppliers of non-stabilizers, such as stearates, antistatic agents and slip agents. Contact: Borealis A/S, Lyngby Hovedgade 96, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark: tel: +45-45 96 6000; fmc: + 45-45 96 6123

Colloids modernizes black masterbatch plant Marking the final stage of a E2.5 million investment programme, Colloids Ltd has commodernization of its black pleted masterbatch production plant at Widnes, UK. A further El million investment is planned, before the year 2000, reports managing director John Dilley, bringing total investment since 1995 to some E6 million. Raising the capacity for black masterbatch to 20 000 tonnes, the company has installed two FMC compounding units. Laboratory and testing capability has been improved with a thermal analysis system and equipment for high pressure liquid chromatography and microscopic dispersion analysis. The improvements to the black masterbatch line follow a 5000 tonnes/year increase in colour masterbatch capacity at the Runcom, UK, plant and installation of two new production lines, with establishment of a sophisticated technical and analytical laboratory facility. One of the leading masterbatch producers in the UK, serving as a single-source supplier of technical black, white, colour and additive

6

July I998

grades, Colloids sees the investment as the base for increasing its participation in global markets. The company is part of the Princedale Group, which also includes moulder Hallam Plastics. Contact: Colloids Ltd, Dennis Road, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 OSL, UK; tel: +44-151 424 7424; fmc: +44-151495 1715

Hanna and Ube to set up global PA compounding business A global joint venture in nylon compounds has been set up by one of the leading independent compounders, M A Hanna Co, USA, and Ube Industries Ltd, Japan’s largest producer of PA resins and compounds. It will produce compounds of PA 6, 66 and 12, for North America, Europe and China. The main objective is to supply Japanese manufacturers in North America and Europe with PA 6 and 66 compounds, while also selling PA 12 compounds across a broader range of markets, including automotive, industrial and consumer. The strategy in China is to sell compounds across the full range of markets. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, but the first move is to establish a joint venture company in the USA, Ube-Hanna Compounding Co, LLC. Similar ventures will follow in Europe and China. Contact: MA Hanna Co, Suite 36-5000, 200 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114-2304, USA; tel: + l-216 589 4000; fax: +I-216 589 4200

Strong additives line-up in DuPont presentation A range of modifiers has been created by DuPont, for use in polyamides, polyesters and polyolefins as compatibilizers and with fillers as coupling agents. At a recent presentation, Tim McCann, marketing director for engineering plastics in Europe, claimed it was the most complete line of modifiers in the plastics industry. 0 1998 Elsevier Science