Industry News
Rhodia makes investments in UK and U.S.
Rhodia recently made investments
at Halifax, UK and University Park,
IL U.S. industrial sites, part of the
group’s profitable growth strategy in
specialty surfactants. The investments at the two sites, formerly part
of the McIntyre Group acquired by
Rhodia in 2009, will optimize and
increase production capacity and
enhance competitiveness, according
to the company.
In the UK, Rhodia plans to consolidate surfactants production lines
currently at Leeds and Halifax on a
single platform to reinforce its long-term competitive position in Europe.
The phased transfer of assets from
Leeds to Halifax and accompanying
investments will generate additional synergies and bring about the
critical mass for new growth projects, the company stated.
To meet increasing demand from
its North American customers,
Rhodia will launch an investment
program at the University Park, IL
facility to upgrade and increase surfactant production capacities in the
region.
HUNTSMAN TO PURCHASE
INDIAN CHEMICALS BUSINESS
Huntsman Corporation has entered
into a definitive agreement to acquire
the chemicals business of Laffans
Petrochemicals Ltd. Located in
Ankleshwar, India the Laffans chemicals business manufactures amines
and surfactants. The chemicals business has 130 employees and annual
sales of approximately $45 million. The
acquisition is subject to certain terms
and conditions and is expected to occur
in the first half of 2011. The Laffans
chemicals business will be integrated
into the Performance Products division. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
HUBER TO EXPAND SILICA
PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN INDIA
Huber Engineered Materials has
announced plans to expand silica
production capacity at its manufacturing facility in Jhagadia, India.
The expansion more than doubles
the current capacity to a new rate of
33,000 metric tons per year. Huber’s
Jhagadia plant produces silica and
silicate products for a variety of
applications, including paints and
coatings and paper. The new capacity is designed to meet the growing
demand for each of these applications in India and the surrounding
region. The project is expected to be
completed by early 2012.
2010 AKZONOBEL
SCIENCE AWARD
Bert Meijer, from Eindhoven
University of Technology, was
awarded the 2010 AkzoNobel
Science award in recognition of his
numerous achievements in materials science and polymer chemistry.
These have included introducing
patented technology which led to the
development of the first nano-con-tainer (also called the dendritic box),
and the synthesis and development
of supramolecular polymers. Meijer
was the first scientist able to translate the idea of a supramolecular
polymer into a viable product with
polymer-like properties.
WACKER BEGINS SUPPLY OF VAE
COPOLYMER DISPERSIONS
FROM NANJING PLANT
Munich-based Wacker has begun sup-
plying vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE)
copolymer dispersions from its plant
in Nanjing, China. The fully integrat-
ed site offers VAE copolymer disper-
sions and dispersible polymer pow-
ders for the construction, coatings,
adhesives and other industries. The
Wacker Nanjing site is a fully inte-
grated world-class production com-
plex which serves the entire product
line from vinyl acetate ethylene
copolymer dispersions to dispersible
polymer powders.
HUNTSMAN TO EXPAND
CAPACITY FOR SPECIALTY AMINES
The Performance Products division
of Huntsman Corp. will expand
manufacturing capacity of its specialty amines manufacturing facility
located in Llanelli, Wales.The
planned expansion will increase
capacity by more than 50%. The
investment will boost its production
capabilities primarily related to its
Jeffamine polyetheramines family of
products, as well as diglycolamine
agent and morpholine. CW
PRICING CHANGES
Cytec: Sept. 15–$0.10/lb. increase for
Cymel, Cyrez, Melmac, Beckamine and
Uformite aminoplast resins sold in the
Americas.
DISTRIBUTOR APPOINTMENTS
Gelest has appointed Sudhir Makim to
distribute its complete line of Gelest
silane, metal-organic and silicone products serving India.
