- Email: [email protected]
X-Rite completes GretagMacbeth acquisition
PAC074p6_8.qxd
07/26/2006
13:08
Page 7
INDUSTRY
Albemarle plans to build Chinese facility Flame retardant manufacturer Albemarle Corporation is to build a new phosphorus-based flame retardant manufacturing facility at its technology and business centre in Nanjing, China. Products from the new plant, which is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2007, will help meet growing global demand for fireresistant polymer systems and resins for construction and electronics materials. From its new plant, Albemarle will supply phosphorus flame retardants for rigid and flexible polyurethane foams used in insulation and for resin blends such as PC/ABS and PPE/HIPS, used in electronic enclosures. The products, which will be marketed worldwide, are expected to help meet strong demand particularly in Asia, where construction and electronics markets are thriving. "We are expanding our operations for an expanding market," says Luc van Muylem, Albemarle Division vicepresident of flame retardants. "We are already helping the Asian plastics market meet its growth potential through advanced local
customer technical service from our Nanjing site, primarily for construction and furniture markets, and will soon do the same for electronics plastics makers." Albemarle began construction of its wholly owned Nanjing technology and business development centre in December 2005. Some business and technical service work is already conducted from the site, and the centre is expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2006. The centre will provide technical support for Albemarle's polymer additives and polymer catalysts customers in the Asia/ Pacific region, as well as research to expand additive applications. "This manufacturing investment further strengthens Albemarle's flame retardant leadership position, especially in the rapidly growing Asia/Pacific market," says John Dabkowski, Albemarle vice-president of Polymer Additives. Contact: Albemarle Corporation E-mail: rene_milligan@ albemarle.com Website: www.albemarle.com
News
Agreement promotes new technology for viscosity reduction Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer has concluded a cooperation agreement with Stratek regarding the development and marketing of a completely new technology for the treatment of polymer melts, TekFlow. It is produced and distributed worldwide by Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer on an exclusive basis. The company says that by the periodic application of shear and extensional flows this technology allows polymer chains to be largely disentangled. The result is a reversible and dramatic reduction in the viscosity of melts without there being any changes, for example in molecular weight. The advantages are not only to make the processing of otherwise highly viscose melts much easier but also the option of working at greatly reduced melt temperatures. This technology is of benefit for virtually all manufacturing processes by shortening cycle
times and increasing throughput or by greatly reducing the pressure requirement when producing polymer blends and incorporating critical filler materials. Coperion adds that results available to date for the treatment of polymer melts (polyolefins, polyesters, polycarbonates, polystyrenes and polyamides) have been mostly obtained on a laboratory scale. The plan is to set up and commission a unit this year in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, which will produce quantities of up to 60 kg/h. This will allow Coperion to start actively marketing the new technology. Deliveries of large-scale machinery are due to take place in 2007, designed for a throughput ranging between 500 and 1,000 kg/h depending on the application. Contact: Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer Website: www.coperion.com
X-Rite completes GretagMacbeth acquisition X-Rite Incorporated, supplier of colour measurement technology solutions, has completed its acquisition of Amazys Holding AG for around $280 million. Amazys develops, markets and supports hardware, software and services to measure and communicate colour under the GretagMacbeth brand. The combined company will be
called X-Rite Incorporated. The company says that the major benefits of the acquisition are expected to include creating a global market leader in the colour industry. The company also believes that technology innovation can be accelerated through the acquisition and there is significant synergy potential. The management team includes
7
X-Rite and GretagMacbeth executives. Michael C. Ferrara is the chief executive officer, Thomas J. Vacchiano, Jr. is the president and chief operating officer, Mary E. Chowning is the chief finance officer, and Dr. Francis Lamy is the chief technology officer. The X-Rite board of directors is now comprised of nine members, including six current directors of
X-Rite and three former directors of Amazys Holding AG. The global headquarters for the combined entity is in Grandville, Michigan, with European headquarters in Regensdorf, Switzerland, and Asia Pacific Headquarters in Hong Kong. Contact: X-Rite, Incorporated E-mail: [email protected]
Plastics Additives & Compounding July/August 2006
07/26/2006
13:08
Page 7
INDUSTRY
Albemarle plans to build Chinese facility Flame retardant manufacturer Albemarle Corporation is to build a new phosphorus-based flame retardant manufacturing facility at its technology and business centre in Nanjing, China. Products from the new plant, which is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2007, will help meet growing global demand for fireresistant polymer systems and resins for construction and electronics materials. From its new plant, Albemarle will supply phosphorus flame retardants for rigid and flexible polyurethane foams used in insulation and for resin blends such as PC/ABS and PPE/HIPS, used in electronic enclosures. The products, which will be marketed worldwide, are expected to help meet strong demand particularly in Asia, where construction and electronics markets are thriving. "We are expanding our operations for an expanding market," says Luc van Muylem, Albemarle Division vicepresident of flame retardants. "We are already helping the Asian plastics market meet its growth potential through advanced local
customer technical service from our Nanjing site, primarily for construction and furniture markets, and will soon do the same for electronics plastics makers." Albemarle began construction of its wholly owned Nanjing technology and business development centre in December 2005. Some business and technical service work is already conducted from the site, and the centre is expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2006. The centre will provide technical support for Albemarle's polymer additives and polymer catalysts customers in the Asia/ Pacific region, as well as research to expand additive applications. "This manufacturing investment further strengthens Albemarle's flame retardant leadership position, especially in the rapidly growing Asia/Pacific market," says John Dabkowski, Albemarle vice-president of Polymer Additives. Contact: Albemarle Corporation E-mail: rene_milligan@ albemarle.com Website: www.albemarle.com
News
Agreement promotes new technology for viscosity reduction Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer has concluded a cooperation agreement with Stratek regarding the development and marketing of a completely new technology for the treatment of polymer melts, TekFlow. It is produced and distributed worldwide by Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer on an exclusive basis. The company says that by the periodic application of shear and extensional flows this technology allows polymer chains to be largely disentangled. The result is a reversible and dramatic reduction in the viscosity of melts without there being any changes, for example in molecular weight. The advantages are not only to make the processing of otherwise highly viscose melts much easier but also the option of working at greatly reduced melt temperatures. This technology is of benefit for virtually all manufacturing processes by shortening cycle
times and increasing throughput or by greatly reducing the pressure requirement when producing polymer blends and incorporating critical filler materials. Coperion adds that results available to date for the treatment of polymer melts (polyolefins, polyesters, polycarbonates, polystyrenes and polyamides) have been mostly obtained on a laboratory scale. The plan is to set up and commission a unit this year in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, which will produce quantities of up to 60 kg/h. This will allow Coperion to start actively marketing the new technology. Deliveries of large-scale machinery are due to take place in 2007, designed for a throughput ranging between 500 and 1,000 kg/h depending on the application. Contact: Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer Website: www.coperion.com
X-Rite completes GretagMacbeth acquisition X-Rite Incorporated, supplier of colour measurement technology solutions, has completed its acquisition of Amazys Holding AG for around $280 million. Amazys develops, markets and supports hardware, software and services to measure and communicate colour under the GretagMacbeth brand. The combined company will be
called X-Rite Incorporated. The company says that the major benefits of the acquisition are expected to include creating a global market leader in the colour industry. The company also believes that technology innovation can be accelerated through the acquisition and there is significant synergy potential. The management team includes
7
X-Rite and GretagMacbeth executives. Michael C. Ferrara is the chief executive officer, Thomas J. Vacchiano, Jr. is the president and chief operating officer, Mary E. Chowning is the chief finance officer, and Dr. Francis Lamy is the chief technology officer. The X-Rite board of directors is now comprised of nine members, including six current directors of
X-Rite and three former directors of Amazys Holding AG. The global headquarters for the combined entity is in Grandville, Michigan, with European headquarters in Regensdorf, Switzerland, and Asia Pacific Headquarters in Hong Kong. Contact: X-Rite, Incorporated E-mail: [email protected]
Plastics Additives & Compounding July/August 2006