Coatings World - January 2009

I ndustry News

AkzoNobel completes REACH registration

AkzoNobel has submitted its list of substances in compliance with the European Union’s REACH legislation. The company completed the process ahead of the Dec.1 cut-off date and has pre-registered approximately 6,000 substances following the introduction of the directive in June 2007.

Under the terms of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), all chemicals of one ton or more in volume manufactured in or imported into the EU each year must be tested for their effect on health and safety and be registered with the European Chemicals Agency.

“We have been working extremely hard to meet the deadline and will now turn our attention to the next registration deadline of December 2010,” said Dave Buckland, AkzoNobel’s corporate regulatory affairs manager. “Obviously it’s an enormous and very complex challenge, but it’s also a business opportunity. One which will make an important contribution to the preservation of the environment and the quality of human life and we are determined to play a full part in ensuring the success of the legislation.”

As a result of REACH, some sub-

PRICING CHANGES

BASF: Effective immediately—5-10% increase for acetylene-based specialty intermediates and carbonates worldwide.

DISTRIBUTOR APPOINTMENTS Ecocolor Industries has appointed MC Technology as a distributor for is entire line of UV/EB dispersions for coatings and inks. DuPont Tate and Lyle Bio Products has appointed Archway Sales as a distributor for renewably resourced Susterra 1,3- propanediol.

stances will inevitably be phased out of production or become uneconomical, while eco-efficient alternatives are likely to become more attractive.

AkzoNobel anticipates registering approximately 700 substances. This is a much smaller number than the total amount pre-registered by the company because monomers and re-imports require pre-registration, but not full registration.

SARTOMER AMERICAS
ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURING

Sartomer Company is restructuring its Americas division. The restructure reflects the growth and independence of the European and Asian operations, which have functionally been supported by the Americas group.

The restructuring process includes various personnel changes, including elimination of 17 positions at the Exton, PA headquarters, as well as select manufacturing sites. Albert Tuccio has been promoted to senior vice president responsible for sales and marketing, research and development and operations. William Wittig, formerly director of functional additives, is now director of photocure and functional additives. Michael Rose, formerly strategic accounts manager, is the new director of sales, photocure and functional additives. Jim Horgan will continue to lead the research and development group and Larry Athens remains as head of operations.

“The development of Sartomer, from a U.S.-centered company to a global operation, plus the effect of the recent global economic environment led us to evaluate the effectiveness of the current organization and to make changes to prepare for the future,” said Marcel de Wolf,

president of Sartomer. “These changes mainly affect the U.S. operations to make the organizational structure of the Americas division consistent with our European and Asian divisions.”

IN BRIEF

Cytec Industries will be moving its production of monomers from its plant in Pampa, TX to its multi-func-tional monomers and oligomer plant in North Augusta, SC...............

Dow

Chemical has established the Dow Only Representative Trustee (ORT) to leverage REACH registration and reduce costs all along its supply chains...Rohm and Haas has launched a polymer emulsions plant near Moscow, Russia...Ashland has completed its acquisition of Hercules creating a leading specialty chemicals company...DuPont has begun operations on a new titanium tetrachloride purification unit at its New Johnsonville, TN site...

Evonik

Industries is on schedule with the construction of its polymerization unit for methacrylic resins in China...Eliokem has received a certificate of conformance for its Responsible Care Management Systems (RCMS) in accordance with Technical Specification RC101.02. This certificate applies to the North American HQ and manufacturing facility in Akron, OH. Eliokem will be listed on the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) list of Coatings Care participants...