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US: Excalibar Minerals – baryte
F O C US deep-water port facilities at Dahej, which will support JJ Plastalloy’s aims to expand its export sales in Middle East markets. Original Source: Plastics News, 8 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2014
India: Kantilal Sanghvi – phthalocyanine Kantilal Sanghvi, a trading company headquartered in Mumbai, is planning to build its own crude copper phthalocyanine plant, with the objective of strengthening its assets base and reducing its vulnerability to volatile pricing for crude phthalocyanine. The company plans to build a 600 tonnes/y plant, probably at Tarapur (70 km south of Ahmedabad, Gujarat), though other sites in Gujarat are being considered. Kantilal Sanghvi currently has exclusive sales representation rights for an unidentified producer based in Ahmedabad and capable of producing 480 tonnes/y of phthalocyanine pigments. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 10 Dec 2013, 144 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com), © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2013
India: Prayag Polytech – plastics masterbatch Prayag Polytech Ltd (headquartered in New Delhi) has grown rapidly since its creation in 1996. The company was named by the Plastics Export Promotion Council (Plex) as India’s top exporter of plastic masterbatches for 2011/12 and 2012/13. At its plant in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan (70 km southwest of New Delhi), Prayag Polytech has three separate units, respectively producing white, black and coloured masterbatches, with no risk of cross-contamination. All units are equipped with twinextruders for maximising productivity. Total masterbatch capacity at Bhiwadi is being doubled to 70,000 tonnes/y and this project should be completed by March 2014. Prayag Polytech is also building a new plant on a 12 hectares greenfields site at Dahej (Gujarat) and this plant could be ready for operation by the end of 2014. Mr Nikhil Aggarwal (Vice President, Marketing) said: “We already export MARCH 2014
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80% of our masterbatch production. We have been expanding very fast in the global market over the past five years. The planned expansions will meet the growing demand. Also, we have a strong distribution network and we will be moving into ten more countries soon.” Original Source: Plastics News, 8 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2014
Italy: Clariant – plastics masterbatch research & development The Masterbatches division of Clariant AG spent €2 M to establish its first Project House at Pogliano (about 15 km west of Milan). The centre, with 400 square metres of floor-space, will house interdisciplinary teams of scientists, pursuing breakthrough concepts and solutions in the field of plastic masterbatches. Activities here will be closely coordinated with activities at Clariant’s new Innovation Centre in Frankfurt, built at a cost of €100 M. About 500 people are employed there, with another 50-100 due to join them in mid-2014. The Frankfurt facility opened at the end of October 2013 and the Pogliano facility opened a few weeks later. Clariant plans to establish a second Project House at an as yet unidentified location in Asia. Original Source: Plastics Today News, 4 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.plasticstoday.com), © UBM Canon 2013
Malaysia: Zantat – GCC Zantat Sdn Bhd has established itself as one of the leading ground calcium carbonate (GCC) manufacturers in Malaysia since 1985. The company has a 4 hectares limestone quarry at Simpang Pulai (about 20 km south of Ipoh citycentre), with reserves estimated at about 8 M tonnes, of which 50% are above-ground and 50% are below ground level. The company’s plant, located near the quarry, currently produces about 110,000 tonnes/y of GCC in powder form. Zantat also produces speciality calcium carbonate dispersions at a facility in the Kepong Industrial Zone in the northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.
Mainly in response to booming demand from its major export markets (Australia, Indonesia and Singapore), Zantat is now spending $3 M to expand its GCC capacity in a project that should be completed by 3Q 2014. Original Source: Plastics News, 30 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2013
Mexico: Cabot – carbon black Cabot has completed the acquisition of Grupo Kuo’s 60% stake in Nhumo SA de CV and it now owns Nhumo’s entire share capital. The value of the transaction was reported as $105 M. For the year to end-March 2013, Nhumo reported earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $24 M on sales revenues of $188 M. The company’s carbon black plant at Altamira in northern Mexico will probably be expanded to cater for anticipated demand, stemming from the forecast of passenger tyres demand growing at rates in excess of 5% per annum. Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 2 Dec 2013, 43 (9), 2 (Website: http://www.rubbernews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2013
US: DIC – Natural blue pigments from Spirulina cyanobacterium DIC (formerly Dainippon Ink & Chemicals) of Tokyo plans to spend $10 M to build a natural blue pigments plant at Irvine, CA (65 km southwest of Los Angeles). The pigment will be extracted from the cyanobacterium Anthrospira Platensis (aka Spirulina), which is cultivated from algae. Mars Ltd and other food industry groups have been interested in using Spirulina-derived products for colouring confectionery. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Dec 2012, 7). Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 2 Dec 2013, 91 (48), 15 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org), © American Chemical Society 2013
US: Excalibar Minerals – baryte Excalibar Minerals LLC (a whollyowned subsidiary of Newpark Resources Inc) is about to install a new fully automated 66-inch Raymond Roller mill at its Corpus Christi, TX plant, stepping up its
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F O C US capacity for processing crude baryte into marketable baryte products suitable for the hydrocarbon drilling fluid, paint, plastic and ceramic sectors. Excalibar also operates plants producing calcium carbonate and baryte products at New Iberia, LA; Houston, TX; and Dyersburg, TN. Original Source: Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI), Nov 2013, 29 (11), 8 (Website: http://www.pcimag.com), © BNP Media 2013
US: Vitro Minerals – powdered glass as a plastics filler/extender Vitro Minerals Inc recently opened a new plant at Jackson, TN, making 18,400 tonnes/y of recycled glass powder fillers, which can be used as a low-cost alternative to conventional mineral fillers and extenders. The Jackson plant uses post-consumer and post-industrial sources of glass cullet. Vitro’s unique processing technology makes it possible to generate glass powder fillers in a range of sizes, from 0.5 microns to 500 microns. Original Source: Plastics News, 18 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2013
COMPANIES Clariant buys Plastichemix to become top Indian masterbatch supplier Clariant has agreed to pay Rup 1.35 bn (equivalent to $21.5 M) to buy the entire assets and business of Plastichemix Industries (headquartered in Vadodara/Baroda). The transaction should be completed before the end of March 2014. Plastichemix is one of the oldest masterbatch producers in India. It was founded in 1977 by two brothers, Mr Samir Sheth and Mr Mayur Sheth, who respectively owned 55% and 45% of the shares. In April 1998, Ciba Speciality Chemicals acquired a 51% stake in Plastichemix for Rup 56.9 M. In December 1998, the founding shareholders reduced their holdings still further, to 19% and 17% respectively. Other members of the Sheth family became shareholders. Ciba relinquished its stake in the early 2000s and Plastichemix reverted to being a Sheth family controlled company.
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Initially, Plastichemix had less than 10 employees operating a 300 tonnes/y plant at Vadodara. Subsequently, the company built three more masterbatch plants, all located near Vadodara in the mid-eastern region of Gujarat – at Rania, Kalol and Nandesari. The company now employs more than 250 people and has a total capacity of 24,000 tonnes/y. Clariant already has 15,000 tonnes/y of plastics masterbatch capacity in India, notably at the Thane-Kolshet complex (25 km northeast of Mumbai). The acquisition of Plastichemix will raise the group’s total Indian capacity to nearly 40,000 tonnes/y, making Clariant the largest masterbatch producer in India. Mr Deepak Parikh (Managing Director of Clariant India) said: “This acquisition reinforces our long-term growth strategy in India and it will further elevate our market position. We see a bright future for our masterbatch business in India and we are forecasting double-digit sales growth in the near future.” Clariant will establish a modern technical service laboratory, probably in Gujarat, in order to support its intensified marketing efforts. Worldwide, Clariant operates more than 50 masterbatch facilities. In a separate development, Clariant has agreed to sell its leather chemicals and services business to Stahl Holdings BV (part of the Wendel group) for just under $25 M. Original Source: Business Line, 17 Dec 2013, 2 (Website: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com), © The Hindu Business Line 2013
Kaufmann to sell Cabot’s carbon black & fumed silica in New England Cabot Corp has appointed EW Kaufmann Co (headquartered in Bristol, PA) as a distributor for carbon black pigments and fumed silica marketed for applications in the paint, adhesives, sealants, elastomer and printing ink sectors in the six New England states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Kaufmann became part of the Koda Distribution Group last year. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2013, 5). Original Source: Adhesives and Sealants Industry, Nov 2013, 20 (11), 4 (Website: http://www.adhesivesmag.com/), © BNP Media 2013
Palentaler appoints Keyser & Mackay to sell its talc & other minerals Palentaler Minerals (based at Lassing, 120 km south of Linz, Austria) has appointed Keyser & Mackay (of Amsterdam) as its sales agent for its range of mineral pigments and functional fillers based on talc, dolomite and zeolites, marketed for use in anticorrosion paints, plastics and other materials. Original Source: Farbe und Lack (Online Version), 20 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.farbeundlack.de/) (in German), © Vincentz Network 2014
Tokai Carbon buys Cancarb from TransCanada Pipelines for $190 M Tokai Carbon (of Tokyo) has agreed to pay $190 M to acquire the entire business and assets of Cancarb Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada Pipelines Ltd (of Calgary, AB, Canada). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of March 2014. Cancarb is the world’s leading manufacturer of thermal carbon black, accounting for more than 50% of global output. Compared against conventional carbon blacks manufactured by the furnace process, thermal blacks typically have a larger particle size, a lower degree of particle aggregation and less trace impurities. They are used for various speciality polymer and rubber applications and for refractories and ceramics. The thermal process, as employed by Cancarb, involves the decomposition of natural gas in the absence of oxygen. Cancarb’s plant is located at Medicine Hat (300 km southeast of Calgary) and it currently has a capacity of 45,000 tonnes/y. In addition, Cancarb’s Medicine Hat complex includes a 41 MW power plant and the company sells its surplus electricity output to the Canadian national grid. Cancarb was established in 1973. For the year to end-December 2012, it reported net post-tax profit at C$ 16.3 M on sales revenues of C$ 59.7 M. For Tokai Carbon, the acquisition of Cancarb marks an important step in its T-2015 plan to accelerate global expansion in the carbon black field. TransCanada Pipelines intends to use the proceeds of the sale to make further investments in its pipeline MARCH 2014
India: Kantilal Sanghvi – phthalocyanine Kantilal Sanghvi, a trading company headquartered in Mumbai, is planning to build its own crude copper phthalocyanine plant, with the objective of strengthening its assets base and reducing its vulnerability to volatile pricing for crude phthalocyanine. The company plans to build a 600 tonnes/y plant, probably at Tarapur (70 km south of Ahmedabad, Gujarat), though other sites in Gujarat are being considered. Kantilal Sanghvi currently has exclusive sales representation rights for an unidentified producer based in Ahmedabad and capable of producing 480 tonnes/y of phthalocyanine pigments. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 10 Dec 2013, 144 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com), © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2013
India: Prayag Polytech – plastics masterbatch Prayag Polytech Ltd (headquartered in New Delhi) has grown rapidly since its creation in 1996. The company was named by the Plastics Export Promotion Council (Plex) as India’s top exporter of plastic masterbatches for 2011/12 and 2012/13. At its plant in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan (70 km southwest of New Delhi), Prayag Polytech has three separate units, respectively producing white, black and coloured masterbatches, with no risk of cross-contamination. All units are equipped with twinextruders for maximising productivity. Total masterbatch capacity at Bhiwadi is being doubled to 70,000 tonnes/y and this project should be completed by March 2014. Prayag Polytech is also building a new plant on a 12 hectares greenfields site at Dahej (Gujarat) and this plant could be ready for operation by the end of 2014. Mr Nikhil Aggarwal (Vice President, Marketing) said: “We already export MARCH 2014
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80% of our masterbatch production. We have been expanding very fast in the global market over the past five years. The planned expansions will meet the growing demand. Also, we have a strong distribution network and we will be moving into ten more countries soon.” Original Source: Plastics News, 8 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2014
Italy: Clariant – plastics masterbatch research & development The Masterbatches division of Clariant AG spent €2 M to establish its first Project House at Pogliano (about 15 km west of Milan). The centre, with 400 square metres of floor-space, will house interdisciplinary teams of scientists, pursuing breakthrough concepts and solutions in the field of plastic masterbatches. Activities here will be closely coordinated with activities at Clariant’s new Innovation Centre in Frankfurt, built at a cost of €100 M. About 500 people are employed there, with another 50-100 due to join them in mid-2014. The Frankfurt facility opened at the end of October 2013 and the Pogliano facility opened a few weeks later. Clariant plans to establish a second Project House at an as yet unidentified location in Asia. Original Source: Plastics Today News, 4 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.plasticstoday.com), © UBM Canon 2013
Malaysia: Zantat – GCC Zantat Sdn Bhd has established itself as one of the leading ground calcium carbonate (GCC) manufacturers in Malaysia since 1985. The company has a 4 hectares limestone quarry at Simpang Pulai (about 20 km south of Ipoh citycentre), with reserves estimated at about 8 M tonnes, of which 50% are above-ground and 50% are below ground level. The company’s plant, located near the quarry, currently produces about 110,000 tonnes/y of GCC in powder form. Zantat also produces speciality calcium carbonate dispersions at a facility in the Kepong Industrial Zone in the northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.
Mainly in response to booming demand from its major export markets (Australia, Indonesia and Singapore), Zantat is now spending $3 M to expand its GCC capacity in a project that should be completed by 3Q 2014. Original Source: Plastics News, 30 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2013
Mexico: Cabot – carbon black Cabot has completed the acquisition of Grupo Kuo’s 60% stake in Nhumo SA de CV and it now owns Nhumo’s entire share capital. The value of the transaction was reported as $105 M. For the year to end-March 2013, Nhumo reported earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $24 M on sales revenues of $188 M. The company’s carbon black plant at Altamira in northern Mexico will probably be expanded to cater for anticipated demand, stemming from the forecast of passenger tyres demand growing at rates in excess of 5% per annum. Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 2 Dec 2013, 43 (9), 2 (Website: http://www.rubbernews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2013
US: DIC – Natural blue pigments from Spirulina cyanobacterium DIC (formerly Dainippon Ink & Chemicals) of Tokyo plans to spend $10 M to build a natural blue pigments plant at Irvine, CA (65 km southwest of Los Angeles). The pigment will be extracted from the cyanobacterium Anthrospira Platensis (aka Spirulina), which is cultivated from algae. Mars Ltd and other food industry groups have been interested in using Spirulina-derived products for colouring confectionery. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Dec 2012, 7). Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 2 Dec 2013, 91 (48), 15 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org), © American Chemical Society 2013
US: Excalibar Minerals – baryte Excalibar Minerals LLC (a whollyowned subsidiary of Newpark Resources Inc) is about to install a new fully automated 66-inch Raymond Roller mill at its Corpus Christi, TX plant, stepping up its
5
F O C US capacity for processing crude baryte into marketable baryte products suitable for the hydrocarbon drilling fluid, paint, plastic and ceramic sectors. Excalibar also operates plants producing calcium carbonate and baryte products at New Iberia, LA; Houston, TX; and Dyersburg, TN. Original Source: Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI), Nov 2013, 29 (11), 8 (Website: http://www.pcimag.com), © BNP Media 2013
US: Vitro Minerals – powdered glass as a plastics filler/extender Vitro Minerals Inc recently opened a new plant at Jackson, TN, making 18,400 tonnes/y of recycled glass powder fillers, which can be used as a low-cost alternative to conventional mineral fillers and extenders. The Jackson plant uses post-consumer and post-industrial sources of glass cullet. Vitro’s unique processing technology makes it possible to generate glass powder fillers in a range of sizes, from 0.5 microns to 500 microns. Original Source: Plastics News, 18 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com), © Crain Communications Inc 2013
COMPANIES Clariant buys Plastichemix to become top Indian masterbatch supplier Clariant has agreed to pay Rup 1.35 bn (equivalent to $21.5 M) to buy the entire assets and business of Plastichemix Industries (headquartered in Vadodara/Baroda). The transaction should be completed before the end of March 2014. Plastichemix is one of the oldest masterbatch producers in India. It was founded in 1977 by two brothers, Mr Samir Sheth and Mr Mayur Sheth, who respectively owned 55% and 45% of the shares. In April 1998, Ciba Speciality Chemicals acquired a 51% stake in Plastichemix for Rup 56.9 M. In December 1998, the founding shareholders reduced their holdings still further, to 19% and 17% respectively. Other members of the Sheth family became shareholders. Ciba relinquished its stake in the early 2000s and Plastichemix reverted to being a Sheth family controlled company.
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Initially, Plastichemix had less than 10 employees operating a 300 tonnes/y plant at Vadodara. Subsequently, the company built three more masterbatch plants, all located near Vadodara in the mid-eastern region of Gujarat – at Rania, Kalol and Nandesari. The company now employs more than 250 people and has a total capacity of 24,000 tonnes/y. Clariant already has 15,000 tonnes/y of plastics masterbatch capacity in India, notably at the Thane-Kolshet complex (25 km northeast of Mumbai). The acquisition of Plastichemix will raise the group’s total Indian capacity to nearly 40,000 tonnes/y, making Clariant the largest masterbatch producer in India. Mr Deepak Parikh (Managing Director of Clariant India) said: “This acquisition reinforces our long-term growth strategy in India and it will further elevate our market position. We see a bright future for our masterbatch business in India and we are forecasting double-digit sales growth in the near future.” Clariant will establish a modern technical service laboratory, probably in Gujarat, in order to support its intensified marketing efforts. Worldwide, Clariant operates more than 50 masterbatch facilities. In a separate development, Clariant has agreed to sell its leather chemicals and services business to Stahl Holdings BV (part of the Wendel group) for just under $25 M. Original Source: Business Line, 17 Dec 2013, 2 (Website: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com), © The Hindu Business Line 2013
Kaufmann to sell Cabot’s carbon black & fumed silica in New England Cabot Corp has appointed EW Kaufmann Co (headquartered in Bristol, PA) as a distributor for carbon black pigments and fumed silica marketed for applications in the paint, adhesives, sealants, elastomer and printing ink sectors in the six New England states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Kaufmann became part of the Koda Distribution Group last year. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2013, 5). Original Source: Adhesives and Sealants Industry, Nov 2013, 20 (11), 4 (Website: http://www.adhesivesmag.com/), © BNP Media 2013
Palentaler appoints Keyser & Mackay to sell its talc & other minerals Palentaler Minerals (based at Lassing, 120 km south of Linz, Austria) has appointed Keyser & Mackay (of Amsterdam) as its sales agent for its range of mineral pigments and functional fillers based on talc, dolomite and zeolites, marketed for use in anticorrosion paints, plastics and other materials. Original Source: Farbe und Lack (Online Version), 20 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.farbeundlack.de/) (in German), © Vincentz Network 2014
Tokai Carbon buys Cancarb from TransCanada Pipelines for $190 M Tokai Carbon (of Tokyo) has agreed to pay $190 M to acquire the entire business and assets of Cancarb Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada Pipelines Ltd (of Calgary, AB, Canada). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of March 2014. Cancarb is the world’s leading manufacturer of thermal carbon black, accounting for more than 50% of global output. Compared against conventional carbon blacks manufactured by the furnace process, thermal blacks typically have a larger particle size, a lower degree of particle aggregation and less trace impurities. They are used for various speciality polymer and rubber applications and for refractories and ceramics. The thermal process, as employed by Cancarb, involves the decomposition of natural gas in the absence of oxygen. Cancarb’s plant is located at Medicine Hat (300 km southeast of Calgary) and it currently has a capacity of 45,000 tonnes/y. In addition, Cancarb’s Medicine Hat complex includes a 41 MW power plant and the company sells its surplus electricity output to the Canadian national grid. Cancarb was established in 1973. For the year to end-December 2012, it reported net post-tax profit at C$ 16.3 M on sales revenues of C$ 59.7 M. For Tokai Carbon, the acquisition of Cancarb marks an important step in its T-2015 plan to accelerate global expansion in the carbon black field. TransCanada Pipelines intends to use the proceeds of the sale to make further investments in its pipeline MARCH 2014