- Email: [email protected]
Rohm and Haas breaks ground for Turkish additives plant
STRATEGIES
In related news, Momentive has announced the commercial availability of its NXT Z family of silanes [ADPO, October 2006] in the USA. These coupling agents for silica tyres are essentially ethanol free and offer the potential to enhance the wear, traction and rolling resistance properties of silica tyres while dramatically reducing emissions. NXT Z silanes have been formally registered on the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) list and registration is underway globally, including in Europe, Canada, China, Australia and Japan, the company says. Momentive Performance Materials Inc was created by the sale of GE Advanced Materials to Apollo Management, LP in December 2006. Contact: Momentive Performance Materials, Wilton, CT, USA. Tel: +1 607 786 8131, Web: www.momentive.com
Masterbatch technology in new long fibre compounds from RTP
M
innesota-based RTP Company has extended its portfolio to include engineered long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) compounds with the introduction of long-cut additives. The long-cut masterbatches are available as cube blends with RTP’s line of LFT products.
According to RTP, separation during handling is minimized because of similar pellet geometry, allowing customers to receive superior, economic LFTs. The company says that it has the ability to formulate and produce long-cut colour and additive packages for its LFT business, and that, by applying its compounding competencies to long-cut additives for LFTs, it is able to create robust LFT solutions and minimize lead times for customers. Traditional LFT suppliers are restricted in how they deliver LFT products containing additives, according to RTP. However, the company says that with its masterbatch technology, customers are offered more choices: additives in long-cut masterbatch pellets for dry blending or additives in pre-compounded LFT pellets. RTP has also recently introduced standard lines of UniColor™ universal masterbatch and precoloured resin products for use in medical and pharmaceutical applications. The 18 standard colours, as well as custom
December 2007
colour solutions, all meet with ISO 10993-1 tests for bio-compatibility standards and were carefully developed for cost effectiveness and availability from its global manufacturing facilities, the company says. Contact: RTP Company, Winona, MN, USA. Tel: +1 507 454 6900, Web: www.rtpcompany.com
COMPANY STRATEGIES Rohm and Haas breaks ground for Turkish additives plant
P
hiladelphia-based Rohm and Haas has broken ground for an acrylic impact modifier and processing aids manufacturing facility at a chemical industrial estate in Gebze, Turkey, the company’s first new plastics additives plant to be built in 25 years. The facility will serve the Turkish market, but will also be used as an export platform to both Central and Eastern European countries and the Middle East.
The new plant will have a potential capacity of 40 000 tonnes/year, and is expected to start production in the second quarter of 2008. The production process will follow Rohm and Haas’s high-quality manufacturing standards, the company says. The location at Gebze was chosen because of its transportation connections, which will allow excellent logistics for both the arrival of raw materials and the shipment of products. Rohm and Haas will also benefit from the availability of both existing facilities at the site and a local labour force that is already familiar with the chemical industry. The investment – part of c. US$50 million being invested by Rohm and Haas in the entire Central Eastern Europe and Turkey region – is in response to the growing demand for acrylic impact modifiers and processing aids from the plastics industry in both local and neighbouring markets, says Jonathan Hastings, VP and European business director, packaging and building materials. It also supports the company’s strategy to become the leader for these products in the Turkish and Eastern European markets. ‘With this new facility we can focus on providing new innovative products that
Additives for Polymers
5
STRATEGIES
have the efficiency, cost and performance that will fulfil the growing market needs in Turkey’, says Hastings. Rohm and Haas has been operating in Turkey for more than 30 years, serving the country’s paint, construction, automotive and textile industries. Contact: Rohm and Haas Co, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Tel: +1 215 592 3000, Web: www.rohmhaas.com
Süd-Chemie sells nanoclay business to Rockwood
M
unich-based Süd-Chemie AG has sold its Nanofil® nanoclay polymer additives business to Rockwood Clay Additives GmbH, the German subsidiary of US-based Rockwood Specialties Group, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which had already been cleared by the German Federal Anti-Trust Commission, includes all the technologies and brand rights associated with the Nanofil product line, as well as key employees located in Germany.
The Nanofil product range comprises organically modified bentonite products used as flame retardants in cable plastics, for optimizing the mechanical properties of polyolefins and in the films industry for improving barrier properties against gases and solvents. According to Süd-Chemie deputy chairman Dr Hans Jürgen Wernicke, the disposal recognizes that the nanoclay operation was not a good strategic fit within its chemicals operation, which focuses on adsorbents and catalysts. In contrast, the Nanofil product line will complement Rockwood’s existing cloisite nanoclay products and will position the company as the leader in the developing nanoclay market. Rockwood says the Nanofil operations will be incorporated into its Rockwood Clay Additives business unit, which also includes Southern Clay Products in the USA, Rockwood Additives in the UK and Rockwood Clay Additives in Germany. Süd-Chemie, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2007, is currently enjoying dynamic growth, reporting a 10.9% rise in sales to 787.5 million for the first nine months of 2007, and a 19.3% rise in profit from operations (EBIT) to 66.0 million, compared to the same period in 2006.
6
Additives for Polymers
Contact: Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0, Web: www.sud-chemie.com or contact: Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 609 514 0300, Web: www.rockwoodspecialties.com
Polynt acquires Chinese plasticizer business
I
taly’s Polynt Group, through its subsidiary Polynt Hong Kong Co Ltd, has acquired the speciality plasticizers business of Chinese company Hinbo International Industrial Co Ltd. The company says the acquisition is in line with its strategy of growth in Asia.
According to Polynt, annual proceeds for the acquired business are about 25 million. The operation will be integrated with the Chinese trimellitic anhydride production business acquired by the company in July [ADPO, September 2007]. Plasticizer production will be at the Polynt Chemical (Changzhou) Co Ltd facility, where a new 25 000 tonnes/year plant will be built within the next 12 months to serve the growing Chinese and Asian market, the company reports. The total cost of the project, including c. 1 million for the latest acquisition, represents an investment of around 10 million. Contact: Polynt SpA, Scanzorosciate (BG), Italy. Tel: +39 035 65 21 11, Web: www.polynt.it
Further spate of price rises for polymer additives and pigments
F
lame retardants, fillers, antioxidants and pigments are among the additive products subject to further recent price increases from a wide range of companies.
Affecting flame retardants, Albemarle Corp (www. albemarle.com) is increasing global prices for Saytex
December 2007
In related news, Momentive has announced the commercial availability of its NXT Z family of silanes [ADPO, October 2006] in the USA. These coupling agents for silica tyres are essentially ethanol free and offer the potential to enhance the wear, traction and rolling resistance properties of silica tyres while dramatically reducing emissions. NXT Z silanes have been formally registered on the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) list and registration is underway globally, including in Europe, Canada, China, Australia and Japan, the company says. Momentive Performance Materials Inc was created by the sale of GE Advanced Materials to Apollo Management, LP in December 2006. Contact: Momentive Performance Materials, Wilton, CT, USA. Tel: +1 607 786 8131, Web: www.momentive.com
Masterbatch technology in new long fibre compounds from RTP
M
innesota-based RTP Company has extended its portfolio to include engineered long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) compounds with the introduction of long-cut additives. The long-cut masterbatches are available as cube blends with RTP’s line of LFT products.
According to RTP, separation during handling is minimized because of similar pellet geometry, allowing customers to receive superior, economic LFTs. The company says that it has the ability to formulate and produce long-cut colour and additive packages for its LFT business, and that, by applying its compounding competencies to long-cut additives for LFTs, it is able to create robust LFT solutions and minimize lead times for customers. Traditional LFT suppliers are restricted in how they deliver LFT products containing additives, according to RTP. However, the company says that with its masterbatch technology, customers are offered more choices: additives in long-cut masterbatch pellets for dry blending or additives in pre-compounded LFT pellets. RTP has also recently introduced standard lines of UniColor™ universal masterbatch and precoloured resin products for use in medical and pharmaceutical applications. The 18 standard colours, as well as custom
December 2007
colour solutions, all meet with ISO 10993-1 tests for bio-compatibility standards and were carefully developed for cost effectiveness and availability from its global manufacturing facilities, the company says. Contact: RTP Company, Winona, MN, USA. Tel: +1 507 454 6900, Web: www.rtpcompany.com
COMPANY STRATEGIES Rohm and Haas breaks ground for Turkish additives plant
P
hiladelphia-based Rohm and Haas has broken ground for an acrylic impact modifier and processing aids manufacturing facility at a chemical industrial estate in Gebze, Turkey, the company’s first new plastics additives plant to be built in 25 years. The facility will serve the Turkish market, but will also be used as an export platform to both Central and Eastern European countries and the Middle East.
The new plant will have a potential capacity of 40 000 tonnes/year, and is expected to start production in the second quarter of 2008. The production process will follow Rohm and Haas’s high-quality manufacturing standards, the company says. The location at Gebze was chosen because of its transportation connections, which will allow excellent logistics for both the arrival of raw materials and the shipment of products. Rohm and Haas will also benefit from the availability of both existing facilities at the site and a local labour force that is already familiar with the chemical industry. The investment – part of c. US$50 million being invested by Rohm and Haas in the entire Central Eastern Europe and Turkey region – is in response to the growing demand for acrylic impact modifiers and processing aids from the plastics industry in both local and neighbouring markets, says Jonathan Hastings, VP and European business director, packaging and building materials. It also supports the company’s strategy to become the leader for these products in the Turkish and Eastern European markets. ‘With this new facility we can focus on providing new innovative products that
Additives for Polymers
5
STRATEGIES
have the efficiency, cost and performance that will fulfil the growing market needs in Turkey’, says Hastings. Rohm and Haas has been operating in Turkey for more than 30 years, serving the country’s paint, construction, automotive and textile industries. Contact: Rohm and Haas Co, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Tel: +1 215 592 3000, Web: www.rohmhaas.com
Süd-Chemie sells nanoclay business to Rockwood
M
unich-based Süd-Chemie AG has sold its Nanofil® nanoclay polymer additives business to Rockwood Clay Additives GmbH, the German subsidiary of US-based Rockwood Specialties Group, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which had already been cleared by the German Federal Anti-Trust Commission, includes all the technologies and brand rights associated with the Nanofil product line, as well as key employees located in Germany.
The Nanofil product range comprises organically modified bentonite products used as flame retardants in cable plastics, for optimizing the mechanical properties of polyolefins and in the films industry for improving barrier properties against gases and solvents. According to Süd-Chemie deputy chairman Dr Hans Jürgen Wernicke, the disposal recognizes that the nanoclay operation was not a good strategic fit within its chemicals operation, which focuses on adsorbents and catalysts. In contrast, the Nanofil product line will complement Rockwood’s existing cloisite nanoclay products and will position the company as the leader in the developing nanoclay market. Rockwood says the Nanofil operations will be incorporated into its Rockwood Clay Additives business unit, which also includes Southern Clay Products in the USA, Rockwood Additives in the UK and Rockwood Clay Additives in Germany. Süd-Chemie, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2007, is currently enjoying dynamic growth, reporting a 10.9% rise in sales to 787.5 million for the first nine months of 2007, and a 19.3% rise in profit from operations (EBIT) to 66.0 million, compared to the same period in 2006.
6
Additives for Polymers
Contact: Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0, Web: www.sud-chemie.com or contact: Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 609 514 0300, Web: www.rockwoodspecialties.com
Polynt acquires Chinese plasticizer business
I
taly’s Polynt Group, through its subsidiary Polynt Hong Kong Co Ltd, has acquired the speciality plasticizers business of Chinese company Hinbo International Industrial Co Ltd. The company says the acquisition is in line with its strategy of growth in Asia.
According to Polynt, annual proceeds for the acquired business are about 25 million. The operation will be integrated with the Chinese trimellitic anhydride production business acquired by the company in July [ADPO, September 2007]. Plasticizer production will be at the Polynt Chemical (Changzhou) Co Ltd facility, where a new 25 000 tonnes/year plant will be built within the next 12 months to serve the growing Chinese and Asian market, the company reports. The total cost of the project, including c. 1 million for the latest acquisition, represents an investment of around 10 million. Contact: Polynt SpA, Scanzorosciate (BG), Italy. Tel: +39 035 65 21 11, Web: www.polynt.it
Further spate of price rises for polymer additives and pigments
F
lame retardants, fillers, antioxidants and pigments are among the additive products subject to further recent price increases from a wide range of companies.
Affecting flame retardants, Albemarle Corp (www. albemarle.com) is increasing global prices for Saytex
December 2007