- Email: [email protected]
Morocco
F O C US plant for making 40,000-50,000 tonnes/y of ceramic frits on an 8 hectare site at Chrudim. The plant would have provided employment for at least 100 people. However, following protests by local residents fearing excessive noise and pollution, Colorobbia has decided not to pursue this project. Hospodarske Noviny, 4 Feb 2004, 48 (24), 19 (in Czech)
India: Kilburn – TiO2 Kilburn Chemicals operates a 6000 tonnes/y TiO2 pigment plant at Tuticorin. For the nine months to endDecember 2003, the company reported a net profit of Rup 25.8 M on sales of Rup 322.6 M. That compares against Rup 45.8 M on Rup 301.2 M for the equivalent period of 2002. Business Line, 31 Jan 2004, 11 (30), 11
O N
PIGMENTS
Egesil, a producer of precipitated silica, with a 15,000 tonnes/y plant at Adapazari (near Izmit). Egesil was established about two years ago as a 75:25 joint venture between Ege Kimya (a local chemical company) and Degussa. The plant’s initial capacity was 8000 tonnes/y, but it was expanded to 15,000 tonnes/y during 2003. Customers for the precipitated silica from Adapazari include manufacturers of tyres, rubber products and emulsion paints. Announcing the change in ownership structure, Degussa stated: “Our increased participation will achieve a second important step in the enhancement of this company’s market position in precipitated silicas in Southeastern Europe and the Near East.” Press release from: Degussa, Dusseldorf, Germany. Tel: +49 69 218 35 83. Website: http://www.degussa.com (14 Jan 2004)
Morocco: Managem – zinc oxide
US: Kerr-McGee – TiO2
Managem opened its zinc oxide plant at Guemassa in 2002 and began exporting rubber-grade zinc oxide to France, Portugal and Spain in March 2003. Towards the end of last year, it gained new customers in Germany and Scandinavia. During 2004, Managem plans to launch new zinc oxide grades suitable for the cosmetics industry, with particle sizes of the order of 20-60 nanometres.
Kerr-McGee has started-up of a new high-productivity oxidation line at its Savannah, GA, chloride-route plant. This new line will be capable of producing 70,000 tonnes/y of TiO2 pigment. Nameplate capacity at the Savannah plant was 91,000 tonnes/y in April 2000, when Kerr-McGee took over running the plant from Kemira. With the introduction of the new line, capacity at the Savannah chlorideroute facility has been raised to 110,000 tonnes/y. Meanwhile, the company has shut one of the three sulfate-route lines at Savannah, reducing the capacity of that plant from 54,000 tonnes/y to 36,000 tonnes/y. About 39 workers have been laid-off, reducing the workforce here to 420, but Kerr McGee says that it may rehire some of these workers when the market picks up.
European Chemical News, 2 Feb 2004, 80 (2085), 8
Thailand: Matrix – masterbatch Matrix Plastics (of Marlow, UK) has started-up its plastic masterbatch and compound plant at Rayong. Output from this plant will be destined mainly for the food-packaging sector in Malaysia, Cambodia, Japan and China. Matrix claims its plant will be the first in Thailand to deliver the HACCP (food quality standard) quality management system.
TiO2 Worldwide Update, Sep/Dec 2003, 11 (5/6), 17 & Press release from: Kerr McGee Chem LLC, PO Box 25861, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, USA (22 Jan 2004)
scheduled for the second half of 2004. This will double Merck’s global capacity for pearlescent pigments. Chemical Market Reporter, 19 Jan 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
COMPANIES Clariant obliges Colour Chem to cut jobs & relocate production As part of the package of assets acquired from Hoechst, Clariant inherited a majority shareholding in Colour Chem (of Mumbai), an Indian manufacturer of dyes and organic pigments. Clariant subsequently increased its stake in Colour Chem and in Vanavil, an affiliate of Colour Chem, which also makes dyes and pigments. The Clariant group continues to face financial difficulties and it has been critically reviewing its Indian operations. As a result, Colour Chem now plans to relocate substantial elements of its production from the Thane site to the Roha site. This will mean a loss of 500 jobs at Thane, partly offset by the creation of 60 new jobs at Roha. Colour Chem currently employs about 1300 people altogether. Neue Zuercher Zeitung, 30 Jan 2004, 225 (24), 17 (in German)
Integrated Chemicals sells masterbatch for Italmatch & Abbey in the Benelux region Integrated Chemicals Trading (of Lisse, Netherlands) has been appointed as the Benelux regional sales agent for Italmatch Chemicals SpA (which supplies halogen-free masterbatches based on red phosphorus) and Abbey Masterbatch Ltd (which supplies masterbatches, mainly black, for numerous applications such as plastic cable sheathing, plastic films and special compounds.) Kunststof en Rubber, Dec 2003, 56 (12), 6 (in Dutch)
Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 23 Jan 2004, 11
US: Merck – pearlescents Turkey: Degussa & Ege Kimya – precipitated silica Effective 1 January 2004, Degussa acquired a 51% majority stake in
4
EM Chemicals (part of the Merck group, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany) is building a new plant for making Iriodin pearlescent pigments at Savannah, GA, with start-up
Johnson Matthey wants to sell off most of its Colours & Coatings assets It came as something of a surprise to the pigments industry when Johnson
MARCH 2004
India: Kilburn – TiO2 Kilburn Chemicals operates a 6000 tonnes/y TiO2 pigment plant at Tuticorin. For the nine months to endDecember 2003, the company reported a net profit of Rup 25.8 M on sales of Rup 322.6 M. That compares against Rup 45.8 M on Rup 301.2 M for the equivalent period of 2002. Business Line, 31 Jan 2004, 11 (30), 11
O N
PIGMENTS
Egesil, a producer of precipitated silica, with a 15,000 tonnes/y plant at Adapazari (near Izmit). Egesil was established about two years ago as a 75:25 joint venture between Ege Kimya (a local chemical company) and Degussa. The plant’s initial capacity was 8000 tonnes/y, but it was expanded to 15,000 tonnes/y during 2003. Customers for the precipitated silica from Adapazari include manufacturers of tyres, rubber products and emulsion paints. Announcing the change in ownership structure, Degussa stated: “Our increased participation will achieve a second important step in the enhancement of this company’s market position in precipitated silicas in Southeastern Europe and the Near East.” Press release from: Degussa, Dusseldorf, Germany. Tel: +49 69 218 35 83. Website: http://www.degussa.com (14 Jan 2004)
Morocco: Managem – zinc oxide
US: Kerr-McGee – TiO2
Managem opened its zinc oxide plant at Guemassa in 2002 and began exporting rubber-grade zinc oxide to France, Portugal and Spain in March 2003. Towards the end of last year, it gained new customers in Germany and Scandinavia. During 2004, Managem plans to launch new zinc oxide grades suitable for the cosmetics industry, with particle sizes of the order of 20-60 nanometres.
Kerr-McGee has started-up of a new high-productivity oxidation line at its Savannah, GA, chloride-route plant. This new line will be capable of producing 70,000 tonnes/y of TiO2 pigment. Nameplate capacity at the Savannah plant was 91,000 tonnes/y in April 2000, when Kerr-McGee took over running the plant from Kemira. With the introduction of the new line, capacity at the Savannah chlorideroute facility has been raised to 110,000 tonnes/y. Meanwhile, the company has shut one of the three sulfate-route lines at Savannah, reducing the capacity of that plant from 54,000 tonnes/y to 36,000 tonnes/y. About 39 workers have been laid-off, reducing the workforce here to 420, but Kerr McGee says that it may rehire some of these workers when the market picks up.
European Chemical News, 2 Feb 2004, 80 (2085), 8
Thailand: Matrix – masterbatch Matrix Plastics (of Marlow, UK) has started-up its plastic masterbatch and compound plant at Rayong. Output from this plant will be destined mainly for the food-packaging sector in Malaysia, Cambodia, Japan and China. Matrix claims its plant will be the first in Thailand to deliver the HACCP (food quality standard) quality management system.
TiO2 Worldwide Update, Sep/Dec 2003, 11 (5/6), 17 & Press release from: Kerr McGee Chem LLC, PO Box 25861, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, USA (22 Jan 2004)
scheduled for the second half of 2004. This will double Merck’s global capacity for pearlescent pigments. Chemical Market Reporter, 19 Jan 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
COMPANIES Clariant obliges Colour Chem to cut jobs & relocate production As part of the package of assets acquired from Hoechst, Clariant inherited a majority shareholding in Colour Chem (of Mumbai), an Indian manufacturer of dyes and organic pigments. Clariant subsequently increased its stake in Colour Chem and in Vanavil, an affiliate of Colour Chem, which also makes dyes and pigments. The Clariant group continues to face financial difficulties and it has been critically reviewing its Indian operations. As a result, Colour Chem now plans to relocate substantial elements of its production from the Thane site to the Roha site. This will mean a loss of 500 jobs at Thane, partly offset by the creation of 60 new jobs at Roha. Colour Chem currently employs about 1300 people altogether. Neue Zuercher Zeitung, 30 Jan 2004, 225 (24), 17 (in German)
Integrated Chemicals sells masterbatch for Italmatch & Abbey in the Benelux region Integrated Chemicals Trading (of Lisse, Netherlands) has been appointed as the Benelux regional sales agent for Italmatch Chemicals SpA (which supplies halogen-free masterbatches based on red phosphorus) and Abbey Masterbatch Ltd (which supplies masterbatches, mainly black, for numerous applications such as plastic cable sheathing, plastic films and special compounds.) Kunststof en Rubber, Dec 2003, 56 (12), 6 (in Dutch)
Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 23 Jan 2004, 11
US: Merck – pearlescents Turkey: Degussa & Ege Kimya – precipitated silica Effective 1 January 2004, Degussa acquired a 51% majority stake in
4
EM Chemicals (part of the Merck group, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany) is building a new plant for making Iriodin pearlescent pigments at Savannah, GA, with start-up
Johnson Matthey wants to sell off most of its Colours & Coatings assets It came as something of a surprise to the pigments industry when Johnson
MARCH 2004