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Norway: RG Minerals — natural iron oxide pigments
F O C US work has enabled MSC to reduce fuel requirements by about 10%, compared against earlier estimates. The initial production target is 25,000 tonnes/y of hydrous kaolin, destined for sale to Asian customers in the paint, plastic and rubber industries. Nissho Iwai, White Industries, Chemag and Balpa have been signed-up as distributors. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Nov 2001, 4). In line with sales development, production at Skardon River will eventually be raised to 175,000 tonnes/y. Industrial Minerals, Apr 2002, (415), 114
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capacity – 4000 tonnes/y. This is said to be equivalent to 8% of the French market, indicating that the size of the total French market for plastics masterbatch is 50,000 tonnes/y. Viba is emerging as a substantial panEuropean supplier of masterbatch, with plants in France, Hungary, Italy and Spain. Of its total capacity, 35% is accounted for by coloured masterbatch, 25% by additive masterbatch and 40% by black or white masterbatch. Major end-use applications served by Viba include: packaging, household equipment, agricultural film and building plastics. Double Liaison, Mar 2002, 2 (526), 80 & Chimie Hebdo, 8 Apr 2002, (168), 10-11 (both in French)
China: Aditya Birla – carbon black The Aditya Birla group is close to finalising details for the acquisition of a 25,000 tonnes/y carbon black plant at an unidentified location in China. The group already produces carbon black in India, Egypt and Thailand. The new acquisition will boost Aditya Birla’s global capacity to 400,000 tonnes/y. Aditya Birla is also pursuing opportunities to acquire carbon black capacity in Eastern Europe. Chemical Business (India), Apr 2002, 16 (4), 51
Finland: Huber – research centre for precipitated calcium carbonate In Oct 2002, Huber Engineered Materials plans to open a new research centre at Hamina to support its European paper pigments business. Huber controls over 500,000 tonnes/y of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) capacity in Europe, most of which was inherited as part of the company’s $100 M takeover of Faxe Paper Pigments (headquartered in Denmark) in October 1998. With the opening of the new research centre, research and development work on PCC will now be transferred from Copenhagen to Hamina. Chemical and Engineering News, 3 Jun 2002, 80 (22), 12
France: Viba – masterbatch A few more details have been released on Viba’s recently opened plastics masterbatch plant at Forbach (in the Moselle region). By 2005, the plant should be operating at full
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India: ACL Chemicals – beta-carotene ACL Chemicals Ltd has commissioned a small plant at Thirukazhukundram (near Chennai/Madras) for the manufacture of natural beta-carotene, an important food colorant, which is also recognised as having anti-oxidant properties. The plant was built at a cost of Rup 11-12 M and it produces 2300 kilos/y, using technology patented by ACL Chemicals for extracting beta-carotene from the marine algae Dunaliella Salina. ACL Chemicals markets its beta-carotene under the brandname Natrotene. Business Line, 10 Jun 2002, 9 (160), 3
India: TCC – TiO2 feedstock In early 2001, Travancore Cochin Chemicals (TCC) was optimistic about its plans to build a 33,000 tonnes/y synrutile plant, employing technology developed by the Regional Research Laboratory in Trivandrum. The plant, costing Rup 900 M, was to be established in the coastal belt of Alappuzha and Kollam districts. The TiO2 content of the synrutile product is typically 96-98%. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Feb 2001, 4-5). TCC had hoped for financial support from the public sector for building its synrutile plant, but the Government of Kerala has now made it clear that it will not be contributing. Presumably, TCC will now turn to potential financial backers in the private sector. Chemical Weekly, 16 Apr 2002, 47 (34), 94
Malaysia: Cabot – carbon black Cabot Malaysia can produce up to 100,000 tonnes/y of carbon black at its Port Dickson plant. It also produces fumed silica and inkjet colorants here. About 90% of the output from Port Dickson is sold to domestic customers, the other 10% is exported, mainly to China. In addition, Cabot has a major research centre at Port Dickson, established in 1996, equipped with pilot-plant facilities for producing up to 3500 tonnes/y of carbon black products for specific customer testing. The manufacturing plant has a staff of 73, while a further 30 staff are employed at the research centre. Cabot Malaysia’s turnover was Rggt 100 M (equivalent to $26.3 M) in 2001. The company intends to increase this by 20-25% over the next six years. The Star, 7 May & 20 May 2002 (Website: http://thestar.com.my)
Norway: RG Minerals – natural iron oxide pigments RG Minerals AS currently produces 10,000 tonnes/y of natural iron oxide pigments, which have very good anticorrosion properties. They are mainly sold to manufacturers of industrial paints, concrete and cement products. RG Minerals has distributors in Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and the UK. European customers account for 80% of the company’s sales. RG Minerals now intends to commence a sales drive into the US market and it has appointed Prince Manufacturing Co (of Illinois) as its sales agent. Depending on the success of its marketing efforts, RG Minerals may well extend the scope of its iron oxide mining activity. Double Liaison, Mar 2002, 2 (526), 6 (in French)
Russia: Khoilinsky – barytes Khoilinsky GOK began mining the Khoilinsky barytes deposit in the Komi region about two years ago. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2000, 5). In Apr 2002, the company commissioned its barytes concentrator facilities, consisting of two 60,000 tonnes/y lines. Most of the barytes produced
JUNE 2002
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capacity – 4000 tonnes/y. This is said to be equivalent to 8% of the French market, indicating that the size of the total French market for plastics masterbatch is 50,000 tonnes/y. Viba is emerging as a substantial panEuropean supplier of masterbatch, with plants in France, Hungary, Italy and Spain. Of its total capacity, 35% is accounted for by coloured masterbatch, 25% by additive masterbatch and 40% by black or white masterbatch. Major end-use applications served by Viba include: packaging, household equipment, agricultural film and building plastics. Double Liaison, Mar 2002, 2 (526), 80 & Chimie Hebdo, 8 Apr 2002, (168), 10-11 (both in French)
China: Aditya Birla – carbon black The Aditya Birla group is close to finalising details for the acquisition of a 25,000 tonnes/y carbon black plant at an unidentified location in China. The group already produces carbon black in India, Egypt and Thailand. The new acquisition will boost Aditya Birla’s global capacity to 400,000 tonnes/y. Aditya Birla is also pursuing opportunities to acquire carbon black capacity in Eastern Europe. Chemical Business (India), Apr 2002, 16 (4), 51
Finland: Huber – research centre for precipitated calcium carbonate In Oct 2002, Huber Engineered Materials plans to open a new research centre at Hamina to support its European paper pigments business. Huber controls over 500,000 tonnes/y of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) capacity in Europe, most of which was inherited as part of the company’s $100 M takeover of Faxe Paper Pigments (headquartered in Denmark) in October 1998. With the opening of the new research centre, research and development work on PCC will now be transferred from Copenhagen to Hamina. Chemical and Engineering News, 3 Jun 2002, 80 (22), 12
France: Viba – masterbatch A few more details have been released on Viba’s recently opened plastics masterbatch plant at Forbach (in the Moselle region). By 2005, the plant should be operating at full
6
India: ACL Chemicals – beta-carotene ACL Chemicals Ltd has commissioned a small plant at Thirukazhukundram (near Chennai/Madras) for the manufacture of natural beta-carotene, an important food colorant, which is also recognised as having anti-oxidant properties. The plant was built at a cost of Rup 11-12 M and it produces 2300 kilos/y, using technology patented by ACL Chemicals for extracting beta-carotene from the marine algae Dunaliella Salina. ACL Chemicals markets its beta-carotene under the brandname Natrotene. Business Line, 10 Jun 2002, 9 (160), 3
India: TCC – TiO2 feedstock In early 2001, Travancore Cochin Chemicals (TCC) was optimistic about its plans to build a 33,000 tonnes/y synrutile plant, employing technology developed by the Regional Research Laboratory in Trivandrum. The plant, costing Rup 900 M, was to be established in the coastal belt of Alappuzha and Kollam districts. The TiO2 content of the synrutile product is typically 96-98%. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Feb 2001, 4-5). TCC had hoped for financial support from the public sector for building its synrutile plant, but the Government of Kerala has now made it clear that it will not be contributing. Presumably, TCC will now turn to potential financial backers in the private sector. Chemical Weekly, 16 Apr 2002, 47 (34), 94
Malaysia: Cabot – carbon black Cabot Malaysia can produce up to 100,000 tonnes/y of carbon black at its Port Dickson plant. It also produces fumed silica and inkjet colorants here. About 90% of the output from Port Dickson is sold to domestic customers, the other 10% is exported, mainly to China. In addition, Cabot has a major research centre at Port Dickson, established in 1996, equipped with pilot-plant facilities for producing up to 3500 tonnes/y of carbon black products for specific customer testing. The manufacturing plant has a staff of 73, while a further 30 staff are employed at the research centre. Cabot Malaysia’s turnover was Rggt 100 M (equivalent to $26.3 M) in 2001. The company intends to increase this by 20-25% over the next six years. The Star, 7 May & 20 May 2002 (Website: http://thestar.com.my)
Norway: RG Minerals – natural iron oxide pigments RG Minerals AS currently produces 10,000 tonnes/y of natural iron oxide pigments, which have very good anticorrosion properties. They are mainly sold to manufacturers of industrial paints, concrete and cement products. RG Minerals has distributors in Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and the UK. European customers account for 80% of the company’s sales. RG Minerals now intends to commence a sales drive into the US market and it has appointed Prince Manufacturing Co (of Illinois) as its sales agent. Depending on the success of its marketing efforts, RG Minerals may well extend the scope of its iron oxide mining activity. Double Liaison, Mar 2002, 2 (526), 6 (in French)
Russia: Khoilinsky – barytes Khoilinsky GOK began mining the Khoilinsky barytes deposit in the Komi region about two years ago. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2000, 5). In Apr 2002, the company commissioned its barytes concentrator facilities, consisting of two 60,000 tonnes/y lines. Most of the barytes produced
JUNE 2002