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Rockwood buys Smart Landscape & settles litigation
F O C US Nubiola appoints agents for ultramarine in Japan & anti-corrosion pigments in North America Nubiola (of Spain) has appointed Ozeki Co as its sales agent for ultramarine pigments in the Japanese market. Ozeki and Nubiola intend to gain a 20-30% market share in the short-term, with the long-term objective of gaining a 50% market share by 2008. Ultramarine consumption in Japan is currently estimated at 1500 tonnes/y and the market leader is the domestic manufacturer, Daiichi Kasei Kogyo. Nubiola has also appointed Huber Engineered Materials as its North American sales agent for its Hispafos and Actirox ranges of anti-corrosion pigments, based on zinc phosphate. Japan Chemical Week, 2 Oct 2003, 44 (2239), 3 & Paint and Coatings Industry (PCI), Jan 2004, 20 (1), 20
Omya to sell more Albemarle flame retardants in France Albemarle has appointed Omya as a distributor for its Saytex flame retardant plastic additives and Ethanox antioxidant additives in France. Omya already holds distribution rights for Albemarle’s Martinal and Magnifin flame retardants. Omya has been steadily building up its chemical distribution business throughout Europe, at the same time as maintaining a leading role in the production of talc and ground calcium carbonate. Chimie Hebdo, 24 Nov 2003, (235), 9 (in French)
Perl to sell Mexican zinc oxide in US Perl Pigments (of Teaneck, NJ) has been appointed by Zinc Nacional (of Monterrey, Mexico) as its US distributor of zinc oxide pigments. Chemical Week, 5 Nov 2003, 165 (40) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Plasticolors buys Spartan Color assets Plasticolors Inc has bought the product lines, trademarks, formulations and customer lists of Spartan Color Corp. The products include Spartacryl universal colour concentrates, based on acrylic resins used by paintmakers. The manufacture of these products will be
FEBRUARY 2004
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PIGMENTS
moved from Houston, TX, to Plasticolors’ site at Ashtabula, OH, where the company already makes pigment dispersions. Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI), Dec 2003, 19 (12), 20
Rockwood buys Smart Landscape & settles litigation Rockwood Specialities (of Princeton, NJ) has acquired the entire business and assets of Smart Landscapes Colours (of Canada). The transaction is part of an out-of-court settlement between the two companies, following three years of litigation over alleged patent infringement. Chemical Week, 1 Oct 2003, 165 (35), 5
Techmer & Eastern Rainbow to collaborate on plastics masterbatch Techmer PM (of the US) and Eastern Rainbow (of China), both producers of plastics masterbatches, have signed a collaboration agreement. Eastern Rainbow will distribute Techmer’s products in China and other Asian markets, particularly targetting the injection-moulding, plastic films, fibres and non-woven sectors. Eastern Rainbow will also assist Techmer in sourcing raw materials from Chinese suppliers. Techmer will provide technical knowhow for the improvement of Eastern Rainbow’s masterbatch manufacturing operations. Techmer operates five plants in North America, producing colour and additive masterbatches. Eastern Rainbow has a single plant in the southern province of Guangzhou. It currently supplies masterbatches to over 500 customers in the plastics and fibres industry. Asian Plastics News, Dec 2003, 5 & China Chemical Reporter, 26 Nov 2003, 14 (33), 7 & Chemical Fibers International, 23 Dec 2003, 53 (6), 398
Twenty Microns appoints Chance & Hunt as UK agent for white minerals Twenty Microns Ltd (based in Vadodara, aka Baroda, India) has a well-established reputation in the supply of various types of micronised mineral fillers and pigments to Indian paintmakers. Indeed, the company claims to be the country’s largest
supplier of processed white minerals, producing about 180,000 tonnes/y of barytes, calcium carbonate, dolomite, kaolin, mica, quartz, silica and talc. The company is keen to increase its prominence in European markets and, with a view to expanding services to the UK paint industry, it has appointed Chance & Hunt as its UK agent for ground barytes, kaolin, mica and talc. European Chemical News, 26 Jan 2004, 80 (2084), 17
Worlée sells for Flex Products in European markets Worlée Chemie GmbH (of Hamburg) has been appointed as Flex Products Inc’s key distributor for Germany and many other European markets. The products involved include special effect pigments made by Flex and sold under the brandnames ChromaFlair and SpectraFlair. Farbe und Lack, Oct 2003, 109 (10), 86 (in German)
HEALTH & SAFETY Ciba’s quinacridone approved for foodcontact applications The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a petition from Ciba Specialty Chemicals that its Cromophtal Pink PT quinadone pigment is safe to use for colouring polymers used in food-contact applications. European Chemical News, 8/15 Dec 2003, 79 (2080), 28
European Colour faces £16,000 legal bill for laxity on labelling On 22 January 2004, Stockport Magistrates Court determined that European Colour (Pigments) Ltd had been guilty on a charge of “failing to classify a dangerous substance.” The company was fined £5000 and was obliged to pay legal costs amounting to £11,200. European Colour pleaded guilty to the charge. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) had been called to investigate an incident on 17 September 2002,
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Omya to sell more Albemarle flame retardants in France Albemarle has appointed Omya as a distributor for its Saytex flame retardant plastic additives and Ethanox antioxidant additives in France. Omya already holds distribution rights for Albemarle’s Martinal and Magnifin flame retardants. Omya has been steadily building up its chemical distribution business throughout Europe, at the same time as maintaining a leading role in the production of talc and ground calcium carbonate. Chimie Hebdo, 24 Nov 2003, (235), 9 (in French)
Perl to sell Mexican zinc oxide in US Perl Pigments (of Teaneck, NJ) has been appointed by Zinc Nacional (of Monterrey, Mexico) as its US distributor of zinc oxide pigments. Chemical Week, 5 Nov 2003, 165 (40) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Plasticolors buys Spartan Color assets Plasticolors Inc has bought the product lines, trademarks, formulations and customer lists of Spartan Color Corp. The products include Spartacryl universal colour concentrates, based on acrylic resins used by paintmakers. The manufacture of these products will be
FEBRUARY 2004
O N
PIGMENTS
moved from Houston, TX, to Plasticolors’ site at Ashtabula, OH, where the company already makes pigment dispersions. Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI), Dec 2003, 19 (12), 20
Rockwood buys Smart Landscape & settles litigation Rockwood Specialities (of Princeton, NJ) has acquired the entire business and assets of Smart Landscapes Colours (of Canada). The transaction is part of an out-of-court settlement between the two companies, following three years of litigation over alleged patent infringement. Chemical Week, 1 Oct 2003, 165 (35), 5
Techmer & Eastern Rainbow to collaborate on plastics masterbatch Techmer PM (of the US) and Eastern Rainbow (of China), both producers of plastics masterbatches, have signed a collaboration agreement. Eastern Rainbow will distribute Techmer’s products in China and other Asian markets, particularly targetting the injection-moulding, plastic films, fibres and non-woven sectors. Eastern Rainbow will also assist Techmer in sourcing raw materials from Chinese suppliers. Techmer will provide technical knowhow for the improvement of Eastern Rainbow’s masterbatch manufacturing operations. Techmer operates five plants in North America, producing colour and additive masterbatches. Eastern Rainbow has a single plant in the southern province of Guangzhou. It currently supplies masterbatches to over 500 customers in the plastics and fibres industry. Asian Plastics News, Dec 2003, 5 & China Chemical Reporter, 26 Nov 2003, 14 (33), 7 & Chemical Fibers International, 23 Dec 2003, 53 (6), 398
Twenty Microns appoints Chance & Hunt as UK agent for white minerals Twenty Microns Ltd (based in Vadodara, aka Baroda, India) has a well-established reputation in the supply of various types of micronised mineral fillers and pigments to Indian paintmakers. Indeed, the company claims to be the country’s largest
supplier of processed white minerals, producing about 180,000 tonnes/y of barytes, calcium carbonate, dolomite, kaolin, mica, quartz, silica and talc. The company is keen to increase its prominence in European markets and, with a view to expanding services to the UK paint industry, it has appointed Chance & Hunt as its UK agent for ground barytes, kaolin, mica and talc. European Chemical News, 26 Jan 2004, 80 (2084), 17
Worlée sells for Flex Products in European markets Worlée Chemie GmbH (of Hamburg) has been appointed as Flex Products Inc’s key distributor for Germany and many other European markets. The products involved include special effect pigments made by Flex and sold under the brandnames ChromaFlair and SpectraFlair. Farbe und Lack, Oct 2003, 109 (10), 86 (in German)
HEALTH & SAFETY Ciba’s quinacridone approved for foodcontact applications The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a petition from Ciba Specialty Chemicals that its Cromophtal Pink PT quinadone pigment is safe to use for colouring polymers used in food-contact applications. European Chemical News, 8/15 Dec 2003, 79 (2080), 28
European Colour faces £16,000 legal bill for laxity on labelling On 22 January 2004, Stockport Magistrates Court determined that European Colour (Pigments) Ltd had been guilty on a charge of “failing to classify a dangerous substance.” The company was fined £5000 and was obliged to pay legal costs amounting to £11,200. European Colour pleaded guilty to the charge. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) had been called to investigate an incident on 17 September 2002,
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