- Email: [email protected]
UK: Sun Chemical – coloured printing inks
FOCUS closure of its ground calcium carbonate (GCC) facility at Quidhampton, near Salisbury. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jan 2009, 4). The Pigments for Paper division within Imerys currently supplies kaolin and/or calcium carbonate to more than 350 paper mills around the world. The division posted sales of €764 M in 2008, down 4.3% from 2007. The drop in sales was mainly attributable to falling demand in Europe and North America. Production of printing and writing papers dropped by 3.3% in Europe and by 6.8% in North America, comparing 2008 against 2007. These decreases more than offset the 2.6% growth recorded for Asia.
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PIGMENTS
US: Color Master – plastics masterbatch Color Master Inc was founded in 1991, specialising in plastic masterbatch and colour concentrates, including micropellets. The company aims to “keep its customers tickled pink and its competitors green with envy.” Last year, it reported annual sales at $11 M, with a workforce that currently numbers 47 people. The company recently added a sixth production line at its Butler, IN plant and it is now considering the overall size of the factory beyond the current 40,000 sq ft (3700 sq m). Plastics News, 7 Apr 2009, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Industrial Minerals, May 2009, (500), 21
US: Erdene Materials – kaolin UK: Pyreco – carbon black from scrap tyres Further details have come to light on Pyreco’s plans to generate 20,000 tonnes/y of carbon black from processing scrap tyres. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Mar 2009, 5). As well as recovering carbon black and steel, the plant will generate 8 MWh/y of electricity. Investment in the project is now reported as £80 M (instead of £100 M) and the precise location is identified as South Tees EcoPark near Middlesbrough. The plant should be up and running by the end of 2010. It will be designed to facilitate a doubling of capacity by the end of 2010. Petroleum Review, Mar 2009, 63 (746), 46 (The Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7AR, UK, Website: http://www.energyinst.org.uk)
UK: Sun Chemical – coloured printing inks Sun Chemical (part of the DIC group) recently opened its new printing inks factory at Slough. The new factory is described as a “colours manufacturing” facility and as the “hub” of Sun’s production of coldset web offset and flexographic newpaper printing inks for supplying the UK, Irish and certain other European markets. The company’s factory at Silvertown in East London will now be shut down. Press Release from: Sun Chemical, Parsippany, NJ, USA, Website: http://www.sunchemical.com (11 May 2009)
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Erdene’s new kaolin mine and processing facilities at Dearing in McDuffie County, Georgia, should be in production by the end of June 2009. Earlier this year, the company (formerly known as Sparta Kaolin) benefited from a $2.5 M capital injection as a result of its reverse takeover of Beta Minerals Inc. This helped Erdene to realise completion of its project as scheduled. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2008, 7). Kaolin reserves in McDuffie County are assessed at 27.3 M tonnes, of which at least 10 M tonnes is highgrade material. Asian Ceramics, Apr 2009, 48
US: Schulman – masterbatch Schulman has started production at its new plant in Akron, OH, making Polybatch additive masterbatches. The Polybatch product line consists of masterbatches for BOPP film, polyethylene film, extrusion, injection moulding and thermoforming applications, primarily geared to the packaging market. The new plant was built on the site of a warehouse, but prior to the warehouse this same site had been the location of Schulman’s first manufacturing plant, dating back to 1929. Total investment in the latest project was $10.5 M and 20 new jobs have been created. There are now two new production lines at Akron, each with a capacity of 4500-6800 tonnes/y. In addition, there are pilot lines for three-layer blown and cast
films for product evaluation and development programmes with customers. These facilities include a number of technical innovations developed at Schulman’s European and Mexican plants. As a separate development, Schulman has formed an alliance with Add-the-Flavor LLC (of New York) to commercialise the Polyflav range of masterbatches for introducing taste and scent enhancements to plastic materials. Initially, the range includes: mint, raspberry, grape, lemon, chocolate and orange. Schulman recently reported its financial results for the six months to end-February 2009: the company’s sales revenues worldwide were $661.1 M (of which $479.5 M from European operations), versus $976.4 M for the corresponding period last year. Sales tonnage dropped by 28.6% and dollar revenues were depressed by a further 5.9% as a result of currency fluctuations. The company declared a net loss of $2.3 M, compared against a net profit of $6.2 M for the first half of 2007/08. Press Releases from: A Schulman Inc, 3550 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44333, USA, Website: http://www.aschulman.com (17 Mar & 2 Apr & 8 Apr 2009) & Plastics News, 13 Apr 2009 (Website: http://www.plasticnews.com)
COMPANIES BASF will save €400 M/y by integrating Ciba’s activities BASF completed its €3.8 bn acquisition of Ciba Specialty Chemicals on 9 April 2009 and it immediately embarked on a comprehensive review to determine how best to integrate its newly acquired assets. The results of this review were published on 6 July: 23 of the 55 former Ciba production sites around the world will be restructured, closed or sold. In all cases, specific decisions will be made before the end of March 2010. The other 32 former Ciba production sites will be integrated into BASF’s production network. With the acquisition, BASF also inherited 70 research centres and sales/administrative offices. BASF plans to consolidate 36 of these 70 into its property portfolio. Presumably, the other 44 will be closed down. As anticipated in ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jun 2009, 6, Ciba’s
JULY 2009
ON
PIGMENTS
US: Color Master – plastics masterbatch Color Master Inc was founded in 1991, specialising in plastic masterbatch and colour concentrates, including micropellets. The company aims to “keep its customers tickled pink and its competitors green with envy.” Last year, it reported annual sales at $11 M, with a workforce that currently numbers 47 people. The company recently added a sixth production line at its Butler, IN plant and it is now considering the overall size of the factory beyond the current 40,000 sq ft (3700 sq m). Plastics News, 7 Apr 2009, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Industrial Minerals, May 2009, (500), 21
US: Erdene Materials – kaolin UK: Pyreco – carbon black from scrap tyres Further details have come to light on Pyreco’s plans to generate 20,000 tonnes/y of carbon black from processing scrap tyres. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Mar 2009, 5). As well as recovering carbon black and steel, the plant will generate 8 MWh/y of electricity. Investment in the project is now reported as £80 M (instead of £100 M) and the precise location is identified as South Tees EcoPark near Middlesbrough. The plant should be up and running by the end of 2010. It will be designed to facilitate a doubling of capacity by the end of 2010. Petroleum Review, Mar 2009, 63 (746), 46 (The Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7AR, UK, Website: http://www.energyinst.org.uk)
UK: Sun Chemical – coloured printing inks Sun Chemical (part of the DIC group) recently opened its new printing inks factory at Slough. The new factory is described as a “colours manufacturing” facility and as the “hub” of Sun’s production of coldset web offset and flexographic newpaper printing inks for supplying the UK, Irish and certain other European markets. The company’s factory at Silvertown in East London will now be shut down. Press Release from: Sun Chemical, Parsippany, NJ, USA, Website: http://www.sunchemical.com (11 May 2009)
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Erdene’s new kaolin mine and processing facilities at Dearing in McDuffie County, Georgia, should be in production by the end of June 2009. Earlier this year, the company (formerly known as Sparta Kaolin) benefited from a $2.5 M capital injection as a result of its reverse takeover of Beta Minerals Inc. This helped Erdene to realise completion of its project as scheduled. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2008, 7). Kaolin reserves in McDuffie County are assessed at 27.3 M tonnes, of which at least 10 M tonnes is highgrade material. Asian Ceramics, Apr 2009, 48
US: Schulman – masterbatch Schulman has started production at its new plant in Akron, OH, making Polybatch additive masterbatches. The Polybatch product line consists of masterbatches for BOPP film, polyethylene film, extrusion, injection moulding and thermoforming applications, primarily geared to the packaging market. The new plant was built on the site of a warehouse, but prior to the warehouse this same site had been the location of Schulman’s first manufacturing plant, dating back to 1929. Total investment in the latest project was $10.5 M and 20 new jobs have been created. There are now two new production lines at Akron, each with a capacity of 4500-6800 tonnes/y. In addition, there are pilot lines for three-layer blown and cast
films for product evaluation and development programmes with customers. These facilities include a number of technical innovations developed at Schulman’s European and Mexican plants. As a separate development, Schulman has formed an alliance with Add-the-Flavor LLC (of New York) to commercialise the Polyflav range of masterbatches for introducing taste and scent enhancements to plastic materials. Initially, the range includes: mint, raspberry, grape, lemon, chocolate and orange. Schulman recently reported its financial results for the six months to end-February 2009: the company’s sales revenues worldwide were $661.1 M (of which $479.5 M from European operations), versus $976.4 M for the corresponding period last year. Sales tonnage dropped by 28.6% and dollar revenues were depressed by a further 5.9% as a result of currency fluctuations. The company declared a net loss of $2.3 M, compared against a net profit of $6.2 M for the first half of 2007/08. Press Releases from: A Schulman Inc, 3550 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44333, USA, Website: http://www.aschulman.com (17 Mar & 2 Apr & 8 Apr 2009) & Plastics News, 13 Apr 2009 (Website: http://www.plasticnews.com)
COMPANIES BASF will save €400 M/y by integrating Ciba’s activities BASF completed its €3.8 bn acquisition of Ciba Specialty Chemicals on 9 April 2009 and it immediately embarked on a comprehensive review to determine how best to integrate its newly acquired assets. The results of this review were published on 6 July: 23 of the 55 former Ciba production sites around the world will be restructured, closed or sold. In all cases, specific decisions will be made before the end of March 2010. The other 32 former Ciba production sites will be integrated into BASF’s production network. With the acquisition, BASF also inherited 70 research centres and sales/administrative offices. BASF plans to consolidate 36 of these 70 into its property portfolio. Presumably, the other 44 will be closed down. As anticipated in ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jun 2009, 6, Ciba’s
JULY 2009