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PolyOne to close UK colour additives plant
Additives for Polymers
Phelps Dodge to sell Columbian Chemicals Carbon black producer Columbian Chemicals Co is to be sold by its parent company Phelps Dodge Corp to a company owned jointly by One Equity Partners, a private equity affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co, and South Korean-based DC Chemical Co Ltd. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, Phelps Dodge expects to receive cash proceeds of approximately US$600 million, including approximately $115 million of Columbian’s foreign-held cash to be distributed to Phelps Dodge. Based in Marietta, GA, USA, Columbian Chemicals is one of the world’s leading producers of carbon black. It recently completed the ISO 14001 environmental management system registration at its 11 existing carbon black manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Canada, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Spain and the USA – making it the only major global carbon black manufacturer to have this ISO certification at 100% of its operating facilities. The company was due to start construction of an additional facility in Brazil early this year [ADPO, November 2005]. Contact: Columbian Chemicals Co, 1800 West Oak Commons Court, Marietta, GA 30062-2253, USA; tel: +1-770-792-9400; URL: www.columbianchemicals.com
PolyOne to close UK colour additives plant PolyOne Corp is phasing out production at its Manchester, UK, colour additives masterbatch facility. The closure, targeted for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2006, is part of the company’s objective to reduce costs and align capacity with market demand. The Manchester facility, with approximately 40 employees, primarily serves the UK packaging market with colour additives. Until the plant closes, a limited workforce will continue operations while business with key customers is moved to other PolyOne plants or customers find other
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January 2006
sources. The decision will have no effect on customers for wire and cable products, engineering compounds and some concentrate ranges that were already supplied from other PolyOne facilities throughout Europe, the company says. In addition, the decision does not affect PolyOne’s Polymer Coatings Systems business unit, which manufactures vinyl plastisols, inks and additive dispersions in Widnes, UK. According to Bernard Baert, VP and general manager, International Colors and Engineered Materials, the region’s tough economic environment and a trend towards declining industrial and manufacturing activity in the UK have made a turnaround unlikely. The company therefore needs to redeploy the assets invested in the Manchester business to capitalize on more promising opportunities in other geographic markets, he explains. PolyOne says it has invested in its other European plants and warehouses, particularly its facilities in Eastern Europe, to meet customers’ growing needs. Contact: PolyOne Corp, 33587 Walker Rd, PolyOne Center, Avon Lake, OH 44012, USA; tel: +1-440-930-1000; fax: +1-440-930-3064; URL: www.polyone.com
Latest price increases affecting polymer additives Albemarle Corp has raised prices for its Antiblaze® phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants in both Europe and North America. From 1 December 2005, list prices for the whole Antiblaze line were increased by 200 per tonne in the European market. From the same date, list prices in North America were increased by US$0.07/lb for Antiblaze TMCP, by $0.10/lb for Antiblaze 195 (TDCP) and blends, and by $0.15/lb for all other phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants. Contractual prices will be adjusted as conditions allow, the company says. These Antiblaze flame retardants help prevent fire in rigid foams used in insulation and flexible foams used in furnishings. The company is also raising list prices for its Saytex RB-79 line of flame retardants by 10%, effective globally for shipments on or after 1 January 2006, or as contracts allow.
Phelps Dodge to sell Columbian Chemicals Carbon black producer Columbian Chemicals Co is to be sold by its parent company Phelps Dodge Corp to a company owned jointly by One Equity Partners, a private equity affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co, and South Korean-based DC Chemical Co Ltd. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, Phelps Dodge expects to receive cash proceeds of approximately US$600 million, including approximately $115 million of Columbian’s foreign-held cash to be distributed to Phelps Dodge. Based in Marietta, GA, USA, Columbian Chemicals is one of the world’s leading producers of carbon black. It recently completed the ISO 14001 environmental management system registration at its 11 existing carbon black manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Canada, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Spain and the USA – making it the only major global carbon black manufacturer to have this ISO certification at 100% of its operating facilities. The company was due to start construction of an additional facility in Brazil early this year [ADPO, November 2005]. Contact: Columbian Chemicals Co, 1800 West Oak Commons Court, Marietta, GA 30062-2253, USA; tel: +1-770-792-9400; URL: www.columbianchemicals.com
PolyOne to close UK colour additives plant PolyOne Corp is phasing out production at its Manchester, UK, colour additives masterbatch facility. The closure, targeted for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2006, is part of the company’s objective to reduce costs and align capacity with market demand. The Manchester facility, with approximately 40 employees, primarily serves the UK packaging market with colour additives. Until the plant closes, a limited workforce will continue operations while business with key customers is moved to other PolyOne plants or customers find other
6
January 2006
sources. The decision will have no effect on customers for wire and cable products, engineering compounds and some concentrate ranges that were already supplied from other PolyOne facilities throughout Europe, the company says. In addition, the decision does not affect PolyOne’s Polymer Coatings Systems business unit, which manufactures vinyl plastisols, inks and additive dispersions in Widnes, UK. According to Bernard Baert, VP and general manager, International Colors and Engineered Materials, the region’s tough economic environment and a trend towards declining industrial and manufacturing activity in the UK have made a turnaround unlikely. The company therefore needs to redeploy the assets invested in the Manchester business to capitalize on more promising opportunities in other geographic markets, he explains. PolyOne says it has invested in its other European plants and warehouses, particularly its facilities in Eastern Europe, to meet customers’ growing needs. Contact: PolyOne Corp, 33587 Walker Rd, PolyOne Center, Avon Lake, OH 44012, USA; tel: +1-440-930-1000; fax: +1-440-930-3064; URL: www.polyone.com
Latest price increases affecting polymer additives Albemarle Corp has raised prices for its Antiblaze® phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants in both Europe and North America. From 1 December 2005, list prices for the whole Antiblaze line were increased by 200 per tonne in the European market. From the same date, list prices in North America were increased by US$0.07/lb for Antiblaze TMCP, by $0.10/lb for Antiblaze 195 (TDCP) and blends, and by $0.15/lb for all other phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants. Contractual prices will be adjusted as conditions allow, the company says. These Antiblaze flame retardants help prevent fire in rigid foams used in insulation and flexible foams used in furnishings. The company is also raising list prices for its Saytex RB-79 line of flame retardants by 10%, effective globally for shipments on or after 1 January 2006, or as contracts allow.