- Email: [email protected]
Kerr-McGee Chemical makes personnel changes
November 200 I
Additives jbr Pol_vmers
during the past year. The price in dollars in the third quarter of 2001 was 4% lower than in the previous quarter, and 9% lower than the third quarter of 2000. According to J. Landis Martin, NL’s president and CEO, the sustained slowdown in the worldwide economy is causing a continued reduction in demand for TiO,. “Based on the current market conditions, we expect TiO, prices to continue to trend downward through the end of the year and perhaps into the first quarter of 2002”. he says. The drop in production volume compared to last year was primarily due to lost production at Kronos’ sulphate-process plant in Leverkusen, Germany, as a result of the tire there in March 2001. The facility became approximately 50% operational in September and was expected to be fully operational by the end of October. Kronos is the fourth largest producer of titanium dioxide pigments worldwide, with six manufacturing sites in Europe and North America. Contact: NL Industries, Inc, 1682.5 Northchase Drive, Suite 1200’ Houston, TX 77060, USA; e-mail: [email protected]. URL: uwM:nl-ind.com
Owens Corning reports income gains for third quarter Owens Coming reported net sales of US$l.29 1 billion for the third quarter ended 30 September 200 1, flat compared to $1.28 1 billion in the same period of 2000. There were some margin improvements attributable to productivity and material deflation. Income from operations before other charges and Chapter 11 reorganization items was $116 million in the quarter, up about 9% from $106 million for the same period the previous year. The company had net income of $27 million for the quarter, almost doubling the figure of $14 million for the third quarter of 2000. Results for the third quarter include $35 million of pre-tax charges for restructuring and other activities, $23 million of pre-tax Chapter 11-related reorganization items and $5 million in income from asbestos-related insurance recoveries. Owens Corning and 17 of its US subsidiaries filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in October 2000. These companies are currently operating as debtors in possession. The
6
action was taken to address the growing demands on Owens Corning’s cash flow resulting from its multi-billion dollar asbestos liability. Contact: Owens Corning, PO Box IO, Stqfftird Road, St Helens, WA10 3NS, UK: ,fix: +44I744-612007: URL: ~?~‘~~~ou)enscorning.conz
lnterglas Technologies effects of downturn
feels
German manufacturer of glass and carbon fibre Interglas Technologies AG is feeling the effects of the slump, particularly from the construction industry. Turnover for the 2000/2001 business year (ended 30 June 200 1) dropped by 2% to El40 million euros. Chief executive Bernd Meffert said that the increase in turnover achieved earlier in the business year was wiped out in the final quarter. Profits for the year were El .7 million, a fall of almost 35% from e2.6m in the previous financial year. Meffert commented that the turnover figures were not fully comparable with those of the previous year because of a major order taken in 199912000, as well as because turnover from a joint venture was not posted in the accounts until 2000/200 1. Cost-cutting measures are being implemented, including job cuts and the postponement of salary increases. Contact: CS-Interglas AG, Benzstrasse 14, D-89155 Erbach. Germany; tel: +49-730.5-955444; ,f;lx: +4Y-7305-955-512; e-mail: [email protected]; URL: M’M’~I1.c.~-illtergllX.CO~l
NEWS AND VIEWS Kerr-McGee Chemical makes personnel changes Kerr-McGee Chemical LLC, the third-largest producer and marketer of titanium dioxide pigment worldwide, is making several management changes at its pigment operations. David M. Callow has been named managing director of Kerr-McGee Chemical’s pigment operations in Europe. Previously director of the European operations, Callow has more than
0200 1 Elsevier Science
Additives,for
November 2001
30 years’ experience in the titanium dioxide industry. Replacing him as director is Peter J. Davies. Davies was previously the plant manager of the company’s pigment plant in Antwerp, Belgium. In the USA, Peter C. Ryan becomes plant manager of the company’s titanium dioxide pigment plant in Savannah, GA. Ryan previously served as Technical Engineering Services Manager of Kerr-McGee’s 50%-owned pigment operation in Kwinana, Western Australia. Contact: Kerr-McGee Pigments GmbH 8 Co. KG, Gebiiude R 54, Rheinuferstrasse 7-9, D47829 Krefeld, Germany; tel: +49-2151888269;,fax: +49-21.51-888280
PolymerAdditives.com first anniversary with enhanced website
marks
October 2000, PolymerLaunched in Additives.com is celebrating its first anniversary with a new website, featuring a fresh design and enhanced functionality. The new site aims to be an easier to use, more functional site that better serves buyers and researchers, according to Keith Rea, IT-Director of Polymer-Additivescorn. Web-based survey tools were used to obtain input from all customers to ensure the new design answered customer needs. The site has been hrther enhanced by adding functionality to the Additives Wizard, which helps users find the right additive based on their needs. The online eSeminar experience will also be improved. This offers technical and market training and education to registered users for no extra cost. PolymerAdditives.com is a joint venture between Albemarle Corp, Cytec Industries Inc and GE Specialty Chemicals, Inc, formed to provide a fast, efficient way to buy complementary brand-name additives from these suppliers from one source. Orders can be placed via EDI, XML, phone or fax. Customers can access inventory, order and shipping status, and obtain technical information, 24 hours a day. The company says that the site can help registered users lower their inventories and improve ‘just-intime’ manufacturing practices.
02001 Elsevier Science
Polymers
PolymerAdditives currently offers almost 200 additives, including antioxidants, antistatic agents, catalysts, curing agents, flame retardants, light (UV) stabilizers, lubricants, modifiers and process aids. The range of flame retardants on offer was recently extended through an agreement between Albemarle Corp and Laurel Industries, which allows Albemarle to distribute Laurel’s antimony-based flame retardants PolymerAdditives.com. Laurel’s through antimony Fireshield’%@ and Thermoguarda oxides are used as synergists with brominated or chlorinated flame retardants, and are available through PolymerAdditives.com as SAYTEX’ FS and TG flame retardants, respectively. Contact: Po[vmerAdditives.com; tel: + I - 704655-204; ,fax: +I-704-992-4931; e-mail. john.mcchesney@Pol>werAdditives.com: URL. M~~~~:p~~l~v~~eradditives. corn
Global study to identify future opportunities for additives According to BRG Townsend, Inc, a consultancy firm based in Mount Olive, NJ, USA, suppliers in the USSl6 billion plastic additives industry are shifting their focus away from structural change towards product innovation. With the slowing pace of major industry consolidations, manufacturers are concentrating on new products to exploit the dramatic shifts in the resin value chain and increased competition between polymers. BRG is embarking on its fifth multi-client study of the global plastic additives business, which aims to identify new opportunities for 2002-2006 and evaluate their effect on the additives marketplace. “Technology development and new growth markets are presenting opportunities that will impact the additives industry”, says Louis N. Materials. Kattas, Director - Performance “Significant new plastics technologies are resulting in new applications that will provide profitable growth opportunities for selected plastic additives.” Kattas says that the plastics additives industry is also facing a shift in the form of its competition. Plastics are competing less against conventional materials and more against each other. For example, PVC is facing competition from polyolefins in pipe and automotive skin applications; acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and low-end engineering thermoplastics are being
7
Additives jbr Pol_vmers
during the past year. The price in dollars in the third quarter of 2001 was 4% lower than in the previous quarter, and 9% lower than the third quarter of 2000. According to J. Landis Martin, NL’s president and CEO, the sustained slowdown in the worldwide economy is causing a continued reduction in demand for TiO,. “Based on the current market conditions, we expect TiO, prices to continue to trend downward through the end of the year and perhaps into the first quarter of 2002”. he says. The drop in production volume compared to last year was primarily due to lost production at Kronos’ sulphate-process plant in Leverkusen, Germany, as a result of the tire there in March 2001. The facility became approximately 50% operational in September and was expected to be fully operational by the end of October. Kronos is the fourth largest producer of titanium dioxide pigments worldwide, with six manufacturing sites in Europe and North America. Contact: NL Industries, Inc, 1682.5 Northchase Drive, Suite 1200’ Houston, TX 77060, USA; e-mail: [email protected]. URL: uwM:nl-ind.com
Owens Corning reports income gains for third quarter Owens Coming reported net sales of US$l.29 1 billion for the third quarter ended 30 September 200 1, flat compared to $1.28 1 billion in the same period of 2000. There were some margin improvements attributable to productivity and material deflation. Income from operations before other charges and Chapter 11 reorganization items was $116 million in the quarter, up about 9% from $106 million for the same period the previous year. The company had net income of $27 million for the quarter, almost doubling the figure of $14 million for the third quarter of 2000. Results for the third quarter include $35 million of pre-tax charges for restructuring and other activities, $23 million of pre-tax Chapter 11-related reorganization items and $5 million in income from asbestos-related insurance recoveries. Owens Corning and 17 of its US subsidiaries filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in October 2000. These companies are currently operating as debtors in possession. The
6
action was taken to address the growing demands on Owens Corning’s cash flow resulting from its multi-billion dollar asbestos liability. Contact: Owens Corning, PO Box IO, Stqfftird Road, St Helens, WA10 3NS, UK: ,fix: +44I744-612007: URL: ~?~‘~~~ou)enscorning.conz
lnterglas Technologies effects of downturn
feels
German manufacturer of glass and carbon fibre Interglas Technologies AG is feeling the effects of the slump, particularly from the construction industry. Turnover for the 2000/2001 business year (ended 30 June 200 1) dropped by 2% to El40 million euros. Chief executive Bernd Meffert said that the increase in turnover achieved earlier in the business year was wiped out in the final quarter. Profits for the year were El .7 million, a fall of almost 35% from e2.6m in the previous financial year. Meffert commented that the turnover figures were not fully comparable with those of the previous year because of a major order taken in 199912000, as well as because turnover from a joint venture was not posted in the accounts until 2000/200 1. Cost-cutting measures are being implemented, including job cuts and the postponement of salary increases. Contact: CS-Interglas AG, Benzstrasse 14, D-89155 Erbach. Germany; tel: +49-730.5-955444; ,f;lx: +4Y-7305-955-512; e-mail: [email protected]; URL: M’M’~I1.c.~-illtergllX.CO~l
NEWS AND VIEWS Kerr-McGee Chemical makes personnel changes Kerr-McGee Chemical LLC, the third-largest producer and marketer of titanium dioxide pigment worldwide, is making several management changes at its pigment operations. David M. Callow has been named managing director of Kerr-McGee Chemical’s pigment operations in Europe. Previously director of the European operations, Callow has more than
0200 1 Elsevier Science
Additives,for
November 2001
30 years’ experience in the titanium dioxide industry. Replacing him as director is Peter J. Davies. Davies was previously the plant manager of the company’s pigment plant in Antwerp, Belgium. In the USA, Peter C. Ryan becomes plant manager of the company’s titanium dioxide pigment plant in Savannah, GA. Ryan previously served as Technical Engineering Services Manager of Kerr-McGee’s 50%-owned pigment operation in Kwinana, Western Australia. Contact: Kerr-McGee Pigments GmbH 8 Co. KG, Gebiiude R 54, Rheinuferstrasse 7-9, D47829 Krefeld, Germany; tel: +49-2151888269;,fax: +49-21.51-888280
PolymerAdditives.com first anniversary with enhanced website
marks
October 2000, PolymerLaunched in Additives.com is celebrating its first anniversary with a new website, featuring a fresh design and enhanced functionality. The new site aims to be an easier to use, more functional site that better serves buyers and researchers, according to Keith Rea, IT-Director of Polymer-Additivescorn. Web-based survey tools were used to obtain input from all customers to ensure the new design answered customer needs. The site has been hrther enhanced by adding functionality to the Additives Wizard, which helps users find the right additive based on their needs. The online eSeminar experience will also be improved. This offers technical and market training and education to registered users for no extra cost. PolymerAdditives.com is a joint venture between Albemarle Corp, Cytec Industries Inc and GE Specialty Chemicals, Inc, formed to provide a fast, efficient way to buy complementary brand-name additives from these suppliers from one source. Orders can be placed via EDI, XML, phone or fax. Customers can access inventory, order and shipping status, and obtain technical information, 24 hours a day. The company says that the site can help registered users lower their inventories and improve ‘just-intime’ manufacturing practices.
02001 Elsevier Science
Polymers
PolymerAdditives currently offers almost 200 additives, including antioxidants, antistatic agents, catalysts, curing agents, flame retardants, light (UV) stabilizers, lubricants, modifiers and process aids. The range of flame retardants on offer was recently extended through an agreement between Albemarle Corp and Laurel Industries, which allows Albemarle to distribute Laurel’s antimony-based flame retardants PolymerAdditives.com. Laurel’s through antimony Fireshield’%@ and Thermoguarda oxides are used as synergists with brominated or chlorinated flame retardants, and are available through PolymerAdditives.com as SAYTEX’ FS and TG flame retardants, respectively. Contact: Po[vmerAdditives.com; tel: + I - 704655-204; ,fax: +I-704-992-4931; e-mail. john.mcchesney@Pol>werAdditives.com: URL. M~~~~:p~~l~v~~eradditives. corn
Global study to identify future opportunities for additives According to BRG Townsend, Inc, a consultancy firm based in Mount Olive, NJ, USA, suppliers in the USSl6 billion plastic additives industry are shifting their focus away from structural change towards product innovation. With the slowing pace of major industry consolidations, manufacturers are concentrating on new products to exploit the dramatic shifts in the resin value chain and increased competition between polymers. BRG is embarking on its fifth multi-client study of the global plastic additives business, which aims to identify new opportunities for 2002-2006 and evaluate their effect on the additives marketplace. “Technology development and new growth markets are presenting opportunities that will impact the additives industry”, says Louis N. Materials. Kattas, Director - Performance “Significant new plastics technologies are resulting in new applications that will provide profitable growth opportunities for selected plastic additives.” Kattas says that the plastics additives industry is also facing a shift in the form of its competition. Plastics are competing less against conventional materials and more against each other. For example, PVC is facing competition from polyolefins in pipe and automotive skin applications; acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and low-end engineering thermoplastics are being
7