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ShengdaTech boosts calcium carbonate capacity
FINANCIALS
new applications and end-uses where our technologies are adding value,’ he says. Earlier this year, Velsicol ceased production of benzoic acid and benzoate esters at its Chattanooga, TN, operation, moving most of this production to its other plants in the USA, Asia and Europe. In other news, the company has announced that its Chinese joint venture, formed last year [ADPO, October 2006] to manufacture benzoate ester and polymeric plasticizers in China, will begin commercial production in September. Contact: Velsicol Chemical Corp, Rosemont, IL, USA. Tel: +1 847 298 9000, Web: www.velsicol.com
reports that it is also developing a number of new NPCC applications in various plastics. The factory at Shengda Industrial Park was opened in the fall of 2006 and by December was operating at its full capacity of 60 000 tonnes/year. With the latest NPCC expansion now complete, ShengdaTech is already planning a further capacity expansion, which could take place as early as December this year, according to CEO Xiangzhi Chen. Contact: ShengdaTech, Inc, Taian City, China. Tel: +86 53 8856 0618, Web: www.shengdatech.com
FINANCIALS ShengdaTech boosts calcium carbonate capacity
S
hengdaTech Inc, a Chinese manufacturer of nano-precipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) and coal-based chemicals, has completed the addition of 40,000 tonnes/year of NPCC capacity at its factory in Shengda Industrial Park, Xianyang City, Shanxi Province.
The company invested approximately US$10 million to add two new lines, each with 20 000 tonnes/ year capacity, expanding annual capacity at the site to 100 000 tonnes and taking its total annual capacity to 130 000 tonnes. The new lines are expected to operate at full capacity by November this year. Assuming full utilization and current prices for NPCC products, the extra capacity is equivalent to approximately $15 million in potential additional revenues to ShengdaTech. The new lines utilize the company’s advanced costefficient membrane diffusion technology, which lowers production costs of NPCC particles from raw material limestone by 5–7% compared to the traditional ultragravity method. The membrane diffusion method also provides better quality NPCC particles, providing a broader range of market applications, the company says. NPCC products are currently used in the manufacture of tyres, PVC building materials, paints and other applications to provide increased strength, heat resistance and dimensional stability. ShengdaTech
8
Additives for Polymers
New focus pays off for Akzo Nobel in second quarter
N
etherlands-based Akzo Nobel has reported revenues of 2.69 billion for the second quarter of 2007, up 2% from 2.62 million for 2Q 2006. The refocused company posted a 24% improvement in EBITDA for the quarter to 367 million as it continues to realize the benefits of its global growth strategy.
Net income (of Coatings and Chemicals) before incidentals amounted to 166 million, up 34%. Including incidentals, total net income was down 25% to 270 million from 361 million in 2Q 2006, mainly attributable to the final impact of the Chemicals divestment programme and a 125 million tax gain in the 2006 quarter. At Akzo Nobel Chemicals, EBITDA before incidentals jumped 22% to 157 million in 2Q 2007, while the EBITDA margin increased substantially from 14.4% to 17.4%. The company says the Chemicals business is clearly benefiting from its strategy to focus on five growth platforms with leading global positions, and the ongoing efforts for margin improvement and cost control. Revenues were up slightly to 904 million, with organic growth of 4% being offset by negative currency impact (1%) and divestments (2%). Polymer Chemicals’ performance in the second quarter of 2007 was well ahead of the corresponding period
October 2007
new applications and end-uses where our technologies are adding value,’ he says. Earlier this year, Velsicol ceased production of benzoic acid and benzoate esters at its Chattanooga, TN, operation, moving most of this production to its other plants in the USA, Asia and Europe. In other news, the company has announced that its Chinese joint venture, formed last year [ADPO, October 2006] to manufacture benzoate ester and polymeric plasticizers in China, will begin commercial production in September. Contact: Velsicol Chemical Corp, Rosemont, IL, USA. Tel: +1 847 298 9000, Web: www.velsicol.com
reports that it is also developing a number of new NPCC applications in various plastics. The factory at Shengda Industrial Park was opened in the fall of 2006 and by December was operating at its full capacity of 60 000 tonnes/year. With the latest NPCC expansion now complete, ShengdaTech is already planning a further capacity expansion, which could take place as early as December this year, according to CEO Xiangzhi Chen. Contact: ShengdaTech, Inc, Taian City, China. Tel: +86 53 8856 0618, Web: www.shengdatech.com
FINANCIALS ShengdaTech boosts calcium carbonate capacity
S
hengdaTech Inc, a Chinese manufacturer of nano-precipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) and coal-based chemicals, has completed the addition of 40,000 tonnes/year of NPCC capacity at its factory in Shengda Industrial Park, Xianyang City, Shanxi Province.
The company invested approximately US$10 million to add two new lines, each with 20 000 tonnes/ year capacity, expanding annual capacity at the site to 100 000 tonnes and taking its total annual capacity to 130 000 tonnes. The new lines are expected to operate at full capacity by November this year. Assuming full utilization and current prices for NPCC products, the extra capacity is equivalent to approximately $15 million in potential additional revenues to ShengdaTech. The new lines utilize the company’s advanced costefficient membrane diffusion technology, which lowers production costs of NPCC particles from raw material limestone by 5–7% compared to the traditional ultragravity method. The membrane diffusion method also provides better quality NPCC particles, providing a broader range of market applications, the company says. NPCC products are currently used in the manufacture of tyres, PVC building materials, paints and other applications to provide increased strength, heat resistance and dimensional stability. ShengdaTech
8
Additives for Polymers
New focus pays off for Akzo Nobel in second quarter
N
etherlands-based Akzo Nobel has reported revenues of 2.69 billion for the second quarter of 2007, up 2% from 2.62 million for 2Q 2006. The refocused company posted a 24% improvement in EBITDA for the quarter to 367 million as it continues to realize the benefits of its global growth strategy.
Net income (of Coatings and Chemicals) before incidentals amounted to 166 million, up 34%. Including incidentals, total net income was down 25% to 270 million from 361 million in 2Q 2006, mainly attributable to the final impact of the Chemicals divestment programme and a 125 million tax gain in the 2006 quarter. At Akzo Nobel Chemicals, EBITDA before incidentals jumped 22% to 157 million in 2Q 2007, while the EBITDA margin increased substantially from 14.4% to 17.4%. The company says the Chemicals business is clearly benefiting from its strategy to focus on five growth platforms with leading global positions, and the ongoing efforts for margin improvement and cost control. Revenues were up slightly to 904 million, with organic growth of 4% being offset by negative currency impact (1%) and divestments (2%). Polymer Chemicals’ performance in the second quarter of 2007 was well ahead of the corresponding period
October 2007