This page is an archive of news and news background stories. Stories are placed here when they expire from the news pages and are filed in date order, most recent on the top. Go to the most recent or browse through the headline links.
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Ineos integrates Chlor and Vinyls management October 31, 2005
The top management of Ineos Vinyls and Ineos Chlor has been combined under the name Ineos ChlorVinyls and the management of Ineos Chlor chief executive Tom Crotty. Ineos Vinyls former chief executive Calum MacLean is now responsible for managing the integration of BP's Innovene business into Ineos. Despite the bringing together of their management, Ineos Chlor and Ineos Vinyls remain separate groups.
ChemChina buys Australia's PE producer October 31, 2005
Australia's only polyethylene producer is to be bought by a Chinese company. China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) is reported to be paying A$200 million for Qenos, owned jointly by explosives manufacturer Orica and Exxon. Qenos, which has plants in Sydney and Melbourne with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of ethylene and 50,000 tonnes of propylene, has suffered from the difficult conditions in the polyolefins business over the past few years and was put up for sale last year with an expected price tag of A$310 million.
New technologies improve PP and PE October 28, 2005
Borealis is expanding the property potential of its polyolefin materials with an agreement to use metallocene single-site polypropylene technology and a new multi-modal polyethylene tailoring process.
The metallocene PP agreement is with Novolen, the research and licensing company set up five years ago by ABB and Equistar to buy the Novolen technology from Targor and later the rights to market and licence Basell's PP metallocene technology. The agreement gives Borealis access to Novolen's metallocene PP patent rights to manufacture single-site polymerisation catalysts to produce Borealis metallocene PP. The two companies will also further develop metallocene single-site polymerisation catalysts for use in bulk PP polymerisation processes. According to Borealis, the agreement 'marks the beginning of a new era of single-site PP commercialisation'.
The new multi-modal PE technology - Borstar PE 2G - consists of a new catalyst system in combination with process improvements which reduce the number of production steps, improve production safety through modified catalyst handling, reduce the energy consumption of the process by 7 per cent, and increase plant capacity. From a processor's point of view, materials made with the new technology can have a greater degree of customisation, particularly in terms of mechanical and optical properties, with better transparency and sealability and improved processability.
The process has been tested at PE plants in Porvoo, Finland and Stenungsund, Sweden and has been implemented in the new Borealis PE production facility at Schwechat in Austria, making LLDPE for flexible consumer packaging and industrial applications. New grades using the process include Borstar FB4370, which combines stiffness and toughness with easy opening and downgauging potential, and Borstar FB4250T, an enhanced LLDPE grade for high quality film in demanding packaging applications such as heavy duty films, particularly where higher stiffness and mechanical toughness combined with transparency are needed.
The improved mechanical properties of these new grades enable downgauging by 20 - 25 per cent. They also have improved flow properties which bring more consistent processing and film quality, says Borealis.
Borealis is also using Borstar PE 2G to make PE 100 pipe grades, which it says have improved durability through slower crack growth. The smoother surface finish that can be achieved improves water flow characteristics.
New plastics boss for Quinn October 27, 2005
The Quinn Group has appointed Tom Nulty general manager of its plastics division. He joined the group in February 2005 from US energy services company FMC Technologies, based in Norway, where he was responsible for finance and strategy for its European, African and East Canada regions. He will be based at Quinn's head office in Derrylin, Northern Ireland.
Top changes at Demag October 27, 2005
There have been main board changes at Demag Plastics Machinery, both in Germany and at UK subsidiary Demag Hamilton. In March this year chairman Prof Helmar Franz and chief financial officer Gerhard Becker left the company. Mr Becker was replaced by Uwe Rohlfleisch, but the role of chairman has remained unfilled.
That is to change with the appointment of Dr Klaus Erkes who moves from Schumag to become Demag chairman on November 1. In this role he will be responsible for sales, technology, and service.
Leaving the company at the same time will be chief strategic marketing officer and head of marketing Gerd Liebig, who is moving to Engel. His departure follows that of the joint managing director of Demag Hamilton, Dr Florian König, who is leaving Demag and returning to Germany. The other joint MD, technical director Nigel Flowers, has been confirmed as the company's managing director.
Chinese plant will give Engel large tonnage capacity in Asia October 27, 2005
Engel has released more details about the injection moulding machine factory it plans to build in Shanghai, China, work on which should start before the end of the year. It will complement the company's Korean plant, which builds small capacity machines, by producing large tonnage machines identical to those built in Austria and the USA. Completion of the 8,000 m² plant is scheduled for the autumn of 2006. Castings and steel components will be sourced locally, and the savings in the shipping costs over machines built in Austria or the USA will be passed on to customers.
One aspect of the Chinese market is to be able to supply global manufacturers setting up there with the same equipment worldwide, but the process can work in reverse with emerging Asian companies who have their own global ambitions. Engel has Korean customers who are setting up manufacturing facilities in Slovakia with injection moulding machines of exactly the same type as those already in use in Korea. These machines are being purchased not from Engel Korea but from Engel's factories in Austria.
Hot runner manufacturers open plants in China and Brazil October 27, 2005
Hot runner systems supplier Synventive Molding Solutions has opened a manufacturing plant in China. The new facility at Suzhou will make the MultiZone and Kona XP product ranges and will become Synventive's headquarters for its expanding Asian operations, which already includes sales and service centers in Shenzhen and Ningbo, China, and in Singapore and India.
Meanwhile Husky's Brazil Technical Center has become fully operational in the production of hot runner systems for the growing Brazilian market. The company has been building up hot runner capacity at the São Paulo facility for the past year and has delivered more than 135 systems, both manifolds and complete hot runner systems with plates, from 2 to 32 drops.
Arkema expands Evatane capacity October 27, 2005
Arkema has started up an EVA plant at Balan in France which it says has the capacity to supply 35 per cent of the European high content EVA market, and to be able to export 30 per cent of its production outside Europe, in particular to North America and Asia. The Eur 47 million plant has been designed to produce classic HC EVAs as well as very high content specialty EVAs. Arkema's Evatane HC EVAs are used in many applications, in particular for the manufacture of cables, multilayer packaging film and hotmelt adhesives.
More Basell PE technology for Iran October 27, 2005
Two new PE plants to be built in Iran will use Basell's Spherilene technology. The two 300,000 tonnes LLD/HDPE swing plants will be built by Lorestan Petrochemical Company and Mahabad Petrochemical Company, affiliates of Iran's National Petrochemical Company, and are planned to start up in 2008. The new plants are part of NPC's 11th Olefin project which also includes a 300,000 tonnes HDPE plant and a 300,000 tonnes LDPE plant, both using Basell processes.
Exatec gets US approval for vehicle glazing October 20, 2005
Approval from the US Department of Transportation for the use of Bayer/GE's Exatec polycarbonate glazing in cars opens the way for worldwide acceptance of the system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has approved Exatec 900 for all non-windscreen glazing, provided it fulfills all the existing automobile glazing requirements.
Chancellor urged to take action to counter rising energy costs October 20, 2005
After yesterday's warning from the EuPC that plastics processors need a substantial increase in their selling prices to offset the higher costs of raw materials and energy, comes an approach to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take account of these problems in his budget speech.
The 'Nine Associations' - a group of nine trade associations representing 6,150 companies in the plastics, rubber, coatings and associated machinery and tool making sectors - have written to Gordon Brown to take action on five key points:
to keep the operation of the gas market under scrutiny and investigate the impending price rises of up to 58 per cent.
to fight hard for the further liberalisation of European energy markets, in which they say the UK is being severely disadvantaged by the absence of a level playing field.
to develop an energy strategy which in the short-term ensures that the infrastructure for being a net importer is established and in the medium-term to look at security of supply, the development of more nuclear capacity and the development of energy from waste incineration capacity - and to ensure that assumptions made on the role of renewables are
realistic.
to withdraw or reduce the Climate Change Levy under which, despite the 'relaxation' of the criteria, many companies are still not eligible to enter a Climate Change Agreement and get the 80 per cent rebate.
and to work in partnership with business on energy efficiency and savings programmes but to ensure that the domestic energy and transport sectors bear their share of the burden.
The Nine Associations - the British Plastics Federation, British Rubber Manufacturers Association, Packaging and Industrial Films Association, British Coatings Federation, Flexible Packaging Association, Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association, Northern Ireland Polymers Association, Gauge and Tool Makers Association and Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association - say that their member companies have experienced raw material cost increases of 30 to 40 per cent for resin and solvents over the last twelve months and are facing average increases of 56 per cent for electricity and 58 per cent for gas.
As well as the 'testing business conditions' represented by escalating material and energy prices, the Nine Associations have urged the Chancellor to take action on other economic factors which add to the burden of industry. These cover not increasing taxes on the manufacturing sector - the OECD recently proposed that Britain should increase taxes to raise £10 billion to cover its public sector spending deficit; increasing capital allowances to stimulate investment; and reversing cuts in support given to companies to export - they say that with the UK heading for a £60 billion trade deficit this year, the Government's cutbacks seem to be 'extremely short-sighted'. The approach to the Chancellor also raises concerns about proposals to give fathers six months' paternity leave which would 'increase cost and reduce productivity', and the cost of correcting deficits in company pension schemes.
Polymers with brominated flame retardants could and should be separated from WEEE scrap October 20, 2005
An interim report has been published showing that polymers containing brominated flame retardants in mixed waste electrical and electronic equipment would be better separated and treated to remove the additives than for them to be disposed of or even incinerated with energy recovery. The report was commissioned by the Waste & Resources Action Programme and undertaken by Axion Recycling in light of the impending European WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) Directive, which is set to encourage the closed loop recycling of WEEE polymers in the future. Producing the report involved practical trials and process design work to assess the viability of the most appropriate separation and treatment options previously identified in the first stage of the four-phase project.
Its conclusions included:
that the identification of polymers containing brominated flame retardants by both BFR content and polymer type at WEEE dismantling facilities is technically feasible using relatively low cost, fast-acting hand-held instruments;
separation of polymers should be commercially viable for WEEE items over about 0·5 kg providing the requirements of Annex 2 of the WEEE Directive regarding separate treatment of hazardous materials prior to shredding are implemented in the UK;
bulk separation of a clean mixed polymer fraction from mixed WEEE polymer by density is technically feasible and should be commercially viable in the UK - however further separation of the clean fraction and also bulk separation of BFR-containing from BFR-free polymer is difficult with currently available technologies;
X-ray based polymer chip sorting is extremely promising as a commercially viable technique for bulk separation of polymers containing bromine, and other elements such as chlorine, lead and cadmium, and it also has potential for separation of styrenic polymers by type; and
two solvent-based BFR removal processes - Creasolv and Centrevap - appear at this stage to offer the best commercial and environmental potential. Creasolv has produced high quality, almost BFR-free recycled polymer in the course of the project from waste TV casings.
The next phase, which has already started, is to evaluate in more detail the viability of the Creasolv and Centrevap processes, focusing particularly on solvent removal techniques.
KM to expand its rapidly growing reaction processing division October 20, 2005
Krauss-Maffei is to add tooling to its Reaction Process Machinery division to become a full system machinery supplier. At present it makes mixing heads, metering machines and production plant for polyurethane processing. Initially the company will concentrate on automotive customers and once it has built market share in this sector it intends to broaden its focus to supply customers in other industries.
The new Tooling Technologies business unit will operate from two centres in Germany. A plant specialising in pressing, punching and flexible machining techniques will start operating in December 2005 at Viersen, while KM is building a centre for foam moulds in Harderberg, near Osnabrück. Each plant will have a laboratory with resources to support customer projects from the start through to series production. In the medium term, each centre expects to employ around 120 people.
The Reaction Process Machinery division is KM's fastest growing business unit with sales in 2003/2004 increasing 16·6 per cent to Eur 72·2 million and in 2004/2005 rising even faster, by over 30 per cent to more than Eur 95 million - although the 2004/2005 sales figure reflected one major order placed in the previous year, and orders taken in 2004/2005 fell from Eur 92 million to Eur 80 million.
Overall KM had a record year for sales of plastics machinery - up from Eur 538 million to Eur 550 million - but, again, the sales resulted from high order levels in the previous year, and orders taken fell by 4 per cent from 2003/2004 at Eur 540 million.
Extrusion is also a growth business for KM, with its sales up by 14 per cent to pass Eur 82 million, but again showing lower order levels at Eur 78 million. Surprisingly in the current market, the company took slightly more orders for injection moulding machines in 2004/2005 than in the previous year - 4 per cent up at more than Eur 380 million but its sales fell 4 per cent on 2003/2004. Sister Mannesmann Plastics Machinery company Demag Plastics Group did not perform so well in injection moulding machinery in the past year, recording 'unsatisfactory' results, according to MPM chairman Pepyn Dinandt reviewing the group's 2004/2005 performance. He said that bringing Demag back to sustained profitability will require painful cuts, and that in addition to the job cuts of 130 announced in May this year, 'we will be forced to reduce employee numbers by a further 100 people'.
Plastics processors need double digit price rises to survive October 19, 2005
Plastics processors must push up the prices of their products by 'tens of percentage points' to survive says the European Plastics Converters Association. Processors have been forced to absorb raw material price rises and the increasing cost of energy by increasing competition - EuPC cites the rapid economic growth of China and India - and refusal by customers to accept the inevitability of higher prices.
In a statement today EuPC managing director Alexandre Dangis, said: 'Announcements made by suppliers make it plain that raw material prices will reach record heights in the coming months. Price increases
over the last 18 months have in some cases reached 100 per cent. The raw material component of the converter's selling price can be anything between 30 and 70 per cent depending on the product manufactured. In terms of sheer survival for many firms substantial increases in plastics product prices will be absolutely necessary to recover something of the rises in costs.'
On top of this have come the increases in energy costs: 'The plastics conversion industry, like many others, has been hit by escalating energy costs - for some companies by over 100 per cent for electricity and gas. Combining this with the raw material price increases announced by suppliers in October, creates a terrible pincer movement for the converters who experience immense difficulty in passing on the cost increases to their customers, either because of the sharp competitive situation in their markets or simply because the customer is unwilling to accept the reality of conditions in the upper reaches of his supply chain. We are now at a point where single digit plastic product
price increases will not do. Recovery of costs means tens of percentage points.'
Lanxess to slim down French NBR operation October 18, 2005
Lanxess is to restructure its French nitrile butadiene rubber plant at La Wantzenau as part of a package of measures including the closure of smaller sites and the consolidation of unprofitable activities in its Inorganic Pigments, Leather, RheinChemie, Technical Rubber Products and Textile Processing Chemicals business units. Overall the company aims to save Eur 60 million a year through process optimisation and cutting around 450 jobs.
The La Wantzenau restructure will involve 83 job losses from the current staffing of 400 - down from the originally planned 100 jobs - and should bring annual savings of around Eur 11 million a year.
This latest package of cost-saving measures follows earlier cuts in the Styrenic Resins and Fine Chemicals businesses in which production of styrenics is being focused on the Tarragona plant in Spain.
Arrowquint expands its range and coverage October 18, 2005
Arrowquint, which sells the Eltex electrostatic control equipment in Britain, has added two other ranges of equipment for surface control of plastics products. It has taken over representation for Doyle Systems of the USA which makes web and sheet cleaning equipment and visual inspection systems and Lectro Engineering, also of the USA, which makes plasma treatment systems.
Doyle equipment was previously sold by Doyle Systems UK, run by Bob Deaves who has closed the company and is now working with Arrowquint to ensure smooth transfer of the business. Lectro Engineering was previously represented by Hamilton Machinery Sales, which ceased trading earlier this year.
To extend its coverage Arrowquint has appointed agents in Ireland and Scotland - Europlas in the Republic and Northern Ireland, and Hardies in Scotland.
Nova to market IML process for EPS cups October 18, 2005
Polystyrene major Nova Chemicals of Canada has bought the rights to an in-mould labelling process for EPS cups from Autonational of the Netherlands. The process is able to combine the hot and cold insulation performance of EPS with the presentation potential of in-mould labelling, making a cup with promotional branding without compromising its insulation capabilities.
Nova plans to sell the process as IMage technology, with the moulding equipment built by Autonational. Nova is starting to introduce it through North America, and is also building a global network of distributors.
Mold-Masters invests more in Europe October 18, 2005
Hot runner specialist Mold-Masters has invested more than Eur 2 million in expanding facilities at its European headquarters in Baden-Baden, Germany to handle increasing business within Europe and especially Eastern Europe. It has installed three integrated multi-featured horizontal machine centers for manifold and hot half manufacturing together with new five-axis CNC multi-tasking machines for nozzle production and other machinery including hardening ovens, grinders and laser writers.
Nova-Innovene slashes EPS capacity October 13, 2005
The mothballed EPS plant at Nova Innovene's Carrington site in Manchester is being officially written off as part of a reduction in overcapacity which also sees the closure of the Berre plant in France. The 75,000 tonnes plant was shut down in 2002 and production transferred to Berre and Ribécourt in France and Breda in the Netherlands. Now the 65,000 tonnes plant at Berre, operated by Shell Pétrochimie Méditerranée is to be closed in the second half of next year.
Nova has faced overcapacity and high production costs for several years which has made its older EPS plants in Europe unprofitable. It bought the Carrington and Berre EPS plants from Shell in 1999. The two closures will cut nearly 30 per cent of Nova Innovene's EPS capacity and more than 10 per cent of total Western European industry capacity. These actions represent a first step toward a minimum of $40 million in synergies targeted to be delivered by the joint venture, which was set up earlier this year. Nova expects to take a non-cash asset write down of around $75 m in the third quarter of this year to cover the closures.
Asahi Glass plans Hillhouse ETFE investment October 13, 2005
Asahi Glass is to invest around ¥3 billion (around £15 million) at the Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, site of its subsidiary Asahi Glass Fluoropolymers UK to make Fluon ETFE. Asahi bought ICI's Fluon fluorinated resins business in 1999, and makes PTFE at the Hillhouse site, as well as handling sales for PFA and Aflas fluoroelastomer.
The ETFE plant is being built alongside the existing PTFE plant and is Asahi Glass's biggest single investment outside Japan since it bought the Fluon business. It will increase the company's capacity for ETFE by about 20 per cent to meet sharply increased demand, particularly from the automotive and construction markets.
As well as the new plant, which should be complete by January 2007, the company is to build a technical centre for ETFE and other melt fluorinated polymers to strengthen UK sales.
PolyOne CEO quits unexpectedly October 13, 2005
Polyone's president and chief executive Thomas Waltermire, who has led the company since it was set up by a merger between M A Hanna and Geon five years ago, has resigned unexpectedly. Until a replacement is found non-executive chairman William Patient, who retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Geon in 1999 and joined the PolyOne board in 2003, is acting as CEO.
PolyOne started a major rationalisation process in 2003 and has seen successive improvements in results, but in September had to revise down its third quarter forecasts for this year because anticipated sales increases failed to materialise, raw material costs rose more than expected, and there are still unknown negative effects from the the recent hurricanes. Announcing his resignation Mr Waltermire said: 'As the company enters the next phase of its strategic evolution, the board and I agree that the time is right for new leadership'.
Work underway at world-beating Wilton PE plant October 13, 2005
Work has started on the construction of the world's largest polyethylene facility, the £200 million Huntsman plant at the Wilton International chemical complex near Redcar on Teesside. The 400,000 tonnes LDPE plant is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2007.
PU distributor is taken over October 13, 2005
Dutch-based international chemicals group IMCD has taken over Brian Jones and Associates of Hertford, which distributes polyurethane chemicals in the UK and Ireland. BJA will become a subsidiary of IMCD's UK company Honeywill & Stein, based in Sutton, Surrey.
German RIM moulder invests in environmentally friendly finishing October 13, 2005
German polyurethane moulder Thieme is to spend Eur 3 million - the biggest single investment in the company's 40-year history - expanding its capacity with a new coating line at its Teningen headquarters. The line will become operational in the spring of next year and will enable moulded RIM parts to be primed and coated with water-based paints. Parts up to 2,500 × 2,000 × 800 mm will be coated automatically, and individual coating chambers will be available to accommodate oversize parts. By the end of 2007 the company plans to extend the use of its painting line to other components supplied to its customers from elsewhere, to achieve a uniform finish.
In a move which surprised even its management team, BP has decided not to pursue the flotation of its Innovene olefins business, but instead to sell it to Ineos. The initial step of the flotation was expected to raise $1 billion for an undisclosed slice of the equity, but the Ineos deal is bringing in $9 billion in cash.
BP revealed the plan to sell to Ineos on Friday, and according to reports in the financial press, did not inform the Innovene management team - including chief executive Ralph Alexander - about the three months of negotiations until the previous week.
The proceeds of the sale will be returned to BP's shareholders who, according to the company, would benefit from a direct sale rather than a flotation because it removed uncertainty about market conditions at the time of a listing.
The sale, subject to regulatory approvals, includes all Innovene's manufacturing sites, markets and technologies and is expected to be concluded early in 2006.
Ineos is a shadowy holding company based in the New Forest which has businesses amounting to the second largest chemicals business in Britain. It was set up in a management buy-out from Inspec, which was itself a management buy-out from BP. It has grown by acquisition, most recently in plastics of the EVC vinyls business and BASF's North American polystyrene business. It was also at one time strongly tipped as a contender for Basell. The addition of Innovene will give it a turnover of $30 billion and the claim to fourth position in the world's chemical ranking. Somewhat overshadowed by the latest revelation was the start of operations of Nova Innovene, the 50:50 European styrenics joint venture between Innovene and Nova Chemicals. The company, based in Fribourg, Switzerland, reckons to achieve $1 billion annual sales from its sites in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.
Interplas success raises question on rescheduling October 9, 2005
The organisers of the Interplas exhibition have broken its traditional three year cycle and scheduled the next event for early in 2007. But after the enthusiasm at this year's Interplas held in Birmingham last week it would be not at all surprising to see the show revert to its original October 2008 dates.
The change in dates by Reed Exhibitions was made as a contingency against the continuing decline of Interplas as an independent exhibition. A decision by some high profile companies not to attend this year's show was followed by other companies electing not to go, and together with talking down in some quarters, combined to greatly reduce the stand space at this year's exhibition compared with the one in 2002. The exhibition occupied only part of Hall 5 at the NEC, with a little more than a third of the stand space at the previous exhibition.
But while the stand space fell by 60 per cent, the number of exhibitors fell by a half. That is, with a few exceptions the companies at the show had taken less space. With other measures imposed by the organisers to keep costs more realistic this meant that the cost of exhibiting - cited as the principal reason for not attending - had been reduced and the return in terms of the business done at the show was more acceptable. In fact, many exhibitors were clearly both surprised and delighted by the level of orders and serious enquiries received that had justified their decision to attend - particularly when their competitors had not.
The change in dates for the next event is to combine Interplas with the Total Processing and Packaging Exhibition, already scheduled for May 2007. The co-location could be of value in bringing visitors who perhaps might otherwise not have gone to Interplas - as this year's co-location with four other design/manufacturing-themed exhibitions seemed to do. But there has already been disquiet expressed by exhibitors this year that Interplas would then only be 5 months before the K exhibition in Düsseldorf, either forcing them to choose, or risking further reduction in the scale of the exhibition as other exhibitors elect to go only to K.
But the 2008 dates are by no means dead. The success of this year's show seemed to surprise even the organisers, and lends weight to the argument by some that the UK needs a plastics exhibition, that they would prefer a single exhibition, but that it should be an exhibition that is affordable in the current economic circumstances of the industry.
If enough companies expressed that feeling soon enough and strongly enough, it is quite conceivable that Reed would reinstate the original schedule for Interplas 2008.
Celanese names buyer for Topas business - but keeps it in the family October 9, 2005
The loss-making Ticona Topas cyclo-olefin copolymer business put up for sale by Celanese at the end of last year is to be bought by a joint venture between two Japanese companies, Daicel Chemical Industries and Polyplastics. Ticona will not be totally relinquishing the business, as it is joint owner, with Daicel, of Polyplastics.
The Daicel and Polyplastics joint venture will be set up in Germany and the 100 employees and production and research facilities of the Topas business at Oberhausen and Frankfurt in Germany and in the USA will be transferred to it.
DSM sells out of SBR October 9, 2005
As part of its continuing transformation into a life sciences and performance materials business DSM is selling its styrene butadiene rubber business to Lion Chemical Company of the USA. Lion Chemical is the private equity firm that last year bought PolyOne's Elastomers and Performance Additives business, now named Excel Polymers.
DuPont buys German filaments manufacturer October 9, 2005
DuPont is increasing its position in brush filaments with the acquisition of German manufacturer Pedex. DuPont Filaments makes brands such as Tynex, Chinex and Orel. The Pedex range of products for industrial use and personal care is based on specialized monofilament technology which DuPont says will complement its own. DuPont Filaments-Europe will acquire Pedex's existing manufacturing assets in Wald-Michelbach, Germany, including around 130 employees. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Kautex Maschinenbau pulls out of the UK after many years October 2, 2005
German blow moulding machinery manufacturer Kautex Maschinenbau has closed its UK subsidiary Kautex Machinery Sales (UK) in Milton Keynes. The company has not confirmed how support for its machines in Britain will be continued, but it is understood that it will now come direct from Bonn, where it is planning a 'significant' expansion.
Graham Porcas, who had been managing director of the UK operation for many years, will be selling Dreher granulators, with which he had connections through Kautex, and will be on the Dreher stand at Interplas - listed as being shared with Kautex, although whether Kautex will take up its Interplas position is unclear.
Declining market forces Welwyn Tool to close October 2, 2005
Also closing its UK office - but opening a new one - is Swiss welding extruder manufacturer Leister. The company's equipment has been sold for many years by a division of Welwyn Tool Company. Welwyn Tool has decided to cease trading while it's ahead. The company says that with the current recession in UK industrial activity and the accelerating exodus of manufacturing business from many of its key UK markets, it has decided to cease trading at the end of October while it is 'still solvent and with time to close in an orderly manner'.
The Leister distributorship has been bought by its management and will continue under the name Welwyn Tool Group from November 1.
Arburg's Davis to retire October 2, 2005
Managing director of Arburg in Britain, Frank Davis, is to retire in November after 30 years association with the German injection machine company. He helped set up Arburg's UK subsidiary in 1993, becoming managing director in 1995. Before Arburg he worked for Arburg's UK agency Hahn & Kolb. The new MD will be Colin Tirel, currently sales director.
Horners' award winners named October 2, 2005
A mobility aid for the blind and partially sighted has won this year's Horners Award, which is presented annually for imaginative or innovative contributions to the plastics industry. The UltraCane has been developed and manufactured in the UK by Sound Foresight. It emits ultrasonic waves at all levels and these waves bounce off obstructions, causing a button within the handle to vibrate according to the proximity of the obstacle. Plastics are used throughout the product from the ABS hand piece to the folding carbon fibre cane and the nylon lower probe.
Minima, the product design consultancy responsible for the UltraCane, focused on function, feel, ergonomics and aesthetics. The structural components of the UltraCane were manufactured in a polycarbonate/ABS blend combining structural rigidity and high impact resistance and Multiflex thermoplastic elastomer was incorporated into the handle, providing a high coefficient of friction which provides good gripping and tactile properties.
The winner of this year's Horners' Bottlemakers Award is RPC Containers of Llantrisant. It won for its clear injection stretch blow PET bottles which contain 30 per cent post consumer recycled material, the first commercial application of such a high percentage of PCR-PET in a PET bottle for food use. The bottles - in 250 and 300 ml sizes for fruit juices and smoothies - are part of a six months trial by Marks & Spencer in conjunction with recycling specialist Closed Loop London, that involves the incorporation of around 1,500 tonnes of recycled PET into the packaging of the company's Food to Go range.
Milacron to revamp plastics machinery businesses October 2, 2005
A shake-up is expected in the Milacron plastics machinery businesses in both Europe and North America. The company has re-forecast lower its third quarter and full year earnings because of adverse market conditions and is initiating 'a consolidation plan'. Ronald D. Brown, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said 'While our North American machinery businesses continue to show solid year-over-year growth, further increases in oil and related resin prices have caused many plastics processors to defer anticipated machinery purchases. In addition, we continue to suffer from ongoing softness in markets served by our European plastics technologies operations. In light of these conditions, we are taking significant measures to cut costs and return Milacron to sustained profitability.'
LSR expansion planned for Germany October 2, 2005
The GE/Bayer joint venture in liquid silicone rubber is to increase capacity at its Leverkusen, Germany, site to meet rising demand. During the past year LSR capacity was increased by more than 10 per cent through LEAN and Six Sigma methodologies. However, more capacity was needed, so the company is planning to expand the Leverkusen plant.
Ciba invests in Asian antioxidants October 2, 2005
A new plant for antioxidants to be built in Singapore by Ciba Specialty Chemicals will meet growing demand from Asia and the Middle East. The plant will cost around CHF 125 million and will have a capacity of around 30,000 tonnes of granular forms of Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168 and its blends. Production is expected to start in early 2008.
Another PolyOne business to go October 2, 2005
PolyOne has come a step closer to selling another of the business groups it earmarked for disposal two years ago. It has signed a letter of intent to sell its Engineered Films business unit to the unit's management and an investor group formed by Matrix Capital Markets. PolyOne will retain a minority interest. The Engineered Films unit makes films for use in applications such automotive interiors, flooring, wall covering and pool liners. It has two plants in the USA and in 2004 turned over $126 million.
The elastomers and performance additives division was sold last year.
Galt confirmed as new head of Husky October 2, 2005
John Galt has been officially confirmed as Robert Schad's successor at the head of Canadian injection machine builder Husky. He was named as the new president and chief executive officer in January. Mr Schad, the charismatic founder of the company more than 50 years ago, will continue as a director and advisor on technology development and strategy.
PS points mean prizes - for charity October 2, 2005
An on-line game from BASF celebrates the company's commercialisation of polystyrene 75 years ago - and raises money for a children's charity. In the game the player moves a character through a supermarket aisle and fills his trolley with products. Any products made of polystyrene score points, and for every 100 points, BASF will donate Eur 5 to SOS Childern's Villages.
Northern Irish extruder expands October 2, 2005
Boomer Industries of Lisburn in Northern Ireland has opened a new plant to make extruded PVC building products and has added 13 jobs to bring its workforce up to 53. The new purpose built 30,000 sq ft facility at Knockmore Industrial Estate, Lisburn, has cost £1·6 million, and attracted £399,000 of assistance from Invest Northern Ireland. Around 70 per cent of the company's output is sold in Britain, 15 per cent in Ireland and the remaining 15 per cent to overseas markets including the Middle East and the United States.
Degussa gathers technology to bolster its high performance materials October 2, 2005
Degussa is boosting its position in high performance materials, and in particular their development in China, by buying the patents held by Ticona in the field of polyaryl ether ketones. The technology, originally developed by Hoechst, was assigned to Ticona when Hoechst spun off its non-pharma businesses in 1999.
The Hoechst technology will fit alongside Degussa's own, and will tie in with the 20 years of research carried out Jilin University, Changchun, China, which is about to embark on a joint venture with Degussa to produce PEEK. Degussa pointedly describes PEEK as 'the official ISO 1043 abbreviation for polyether ether ketones' - as well, of course, as being a trade name used by Victrex. The joint venture, to be known as JIDA Degussa High Performance Polymers Changchun Co, will be held 80 per cent by Degussa and 20 per cent by Jilin University.
Degussa's High Performance Polymers business makes polymers based on polyamide 12 and other specialty polymers. Products from the PEEK family will enable it to expand its range of products which meet extreme mechanical, thermal, and chemical demands. Earlier this year Degussa assisted its potential competitor Victrex to improve its facilities for PEEK production by selling it the oxidation plant at Seal Sands on Teesside which carries out a step in the manufacture of PEEK.
BP plans world's biggest single train PTA plant in China October 2, 2005
BP is to expand its worldwide purified terephthalic acid capacity further by building a second unit at the Guangdong Province, China, site of its BP Zhuhai Chemical Company 85 per cent owned joint venture with the Fu Hua Group. The site already houses a 350,000 tonnes unit.
The new plant will have a capacity of 900,000 tonnes and will be the first to use BP's latest generation PTA technology which reduces capital and conversion costs, and greenhouse gas and other emissions. It is expected to come on stream at the end of 2007 and to be the world's largest single train PTA plant.
BP plans further PTA investments in China, and to extend its franchises in Europe and North America.
German compounder expands and brings in specialty nylons October 2, 2005
German compounder J&A Plastics is planning to invest Eur 4 million at its Krefeld headquarters and at its Eupen site in Belgium to increase capacity from 10,000 to 13,000 tonnes. The Krefeld plant will then handle all the company's compounding operations through five twin screw lines, while the Belgian site will be the centre of the company's recycling business.
J&A's sales have increased on average 10 per cent annually for the past five years and the company is expecting sales of Eur 28 million in 2005.
J&A has a strategic partnership with Grupo Repol of Spain, and Repol's distributorship agreement with American nylon specialist Nycoa is giving J&A the opportunity to use Nycoa materials in northern Europe. The product range includes neat and reinforced products made from PA6 and PA66 as well as special nylons such as the copolymers NycoTrans (PA6/69) and NycoFlex (PA6). Nycoa also makes NycoPoly PA6/66 products for barrier films and monofilament extrusions and the NycoNano materials made from PA6 nano-composites for injection moulding and extrusion.
NycoFlex PA6 copolymer is said to offer the performance of TPE with the high chemical and thermal properties of nylon at a very competitive price. Impact resistance is high with failure, even under repeated stretching and compression in environments with high or low temperatures, 'almost impossible'. The range includes impact-resistant, flame-retardant, UV- and heat-stabilising grades as well as antibacterial and antimicrobial products.
NycoTrans transparent co-polymer for injection moulding and extrusion is a range of patented PA6/69 materials which in some circumstances are inexpensive substitutes for PA12. It is transparent up to thicknesses of 5 mm and is said to bring excellent chemical resistance at considerably lower cost than nylon 12. It has Food & Drug Administration approvals for drinking water.
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Sister Mannesmann Plastics Machinery company Demag Plastics Group did not perform so well in injection moulding machinery in the past year, recording 'unsatisfactory' results, according to MPM chairman Pepyn Dinandt reviewing the group's 2004/2005 performance. He said that bringing Demag back to sustained profitability will require painful cuts, and that in addition to the job cuts of 130 announced in May this year, 'we will be forced to reduce employee numbers by a further 100 people'.