Industry News
AkzoNobel ranked first by DJSI
AkzoNobel has been ranked in first
place in the Chemicals supersector on
the Dow Jones Sustainability World
Indexes (DJSI). Produced by Zurich-based Sustainable Asset Management
Group together with Dow Jones Indexes
and STOXX Limited, the DJSI Indexes
evaluate the economic, environmental
and social performance of sustainabili-ty-driven companies across 57 industry
groups. Only the top 20 percent of the
600 largest North American companies
are ultimately selected for the DJSI
North America Index.
A variety of sustainability criteria are
considered in determining the best-in-class performers, including climate
change strategies, energy consumption,
human resources development, knowledge management, stakeholder relations and corporate governance.
The latest listing reveals that
AkzoNobel achieved the highest total
score in the sector and improved on
last year’s second place. The company
was also ranked in the top three in
2008 and 2007.
“Our first place ranking, coupled with
our consistent performance over the last
few years, is clear evidence of how of how
successfully sustainability is being inte-
grated into our global business opera-
tions,” said CEO Hans Wijers. “We are
fully aware that the future success of our
customers and our own business activi-
ties is inextricably linked to the effec-
tiveness of our sustainability efforts. We
therefore refuse to let our standards slip
and will continue to strive for improve-
ment in all areas in order to maintain
our leadership status.”
Air Products has been included on the
Dow Jones Sustainability North America
Index as one of the best performing sus-
tainable companies for 2010/11.
“Our people are very proud to have
our sustainability accomplishments rec-
ognized by the DJSI Indexes,” said John
McGlade, chairman, president and chief
executive officer of Air Products. “We
are proud of our performance against
our environmental goals and will con-
tinue to push to higher levels of per-
formance. At the same time, we’re
pleased to be able to help our customers
in their efforts to improve the efficiency
and sustainability of their products and
manufacturing processes with our ever-
expanding portfolio of gas, materials
and technology offerings and solutions.”
Air Products recently released its
2010 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
G3 Sustainability Report describing its
sustainability priorities, impacts and
opportunities.
EASTMAN TO EXPAND RESIN
PRODUCTION AT FACILITIES
Eastman Chemical Company will
expand production of hydrogenated
hydrocarbon resins at its Middelburg,
The Netherlands and Longview, TX
facilities. The Middelburg expansion,
which is the third expansion of its
Regalite hydrogenated hydrocarbon
resins at this site since 2006, will
increase current capacity by more than
20%. It is expected to be completed in
the second half of 2011. In Texas, the
PRICING CHANGES
BASF: Effective immediately–€200/MT increase
for MDI and polyols and polyurethane systems in
Europe.
Clariant: Effective immediately–10-15%
increase for its coating additives.
Cytec: Oct. 1–$0.05/lb. increase for Aero
Melamine.
Huber: Oct. 15–Up to 8% increase for its precipitated silicas and silicates.
Songwon Industrial: Sept. 1–5%-15%
increase for its Songnox antioxidants, Songlight
company is planning a capacity increase
of greater than 10% for its Eastotac
hydrogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon
resins. This expansion is planned for
completion in early 2011.
CRAY VALLEY EXPANDS
TEXAS POLYOLS PLANT
The Hydrocarbon Specialty Chemical
division of Cray Valley has obtained
approval for a 40% capacity increase
for its plant at Channelview, TX. The
additional capacity is expected to be
online by September 2011. The plant
produces Poly bd hydroxyl terminated
polybutadiene materials.
Polybutadiene polyols typically react
with isocyanates to produce high-performance urethanes that are used in
coatings, adhesive and sealants, encap-sulants and other specialty applications. Polybutadiene polyols provide
low temperature flexibility, resistance
to strong acids and bases, superior
electrical properties and a low moisture transmission rate.
HYDRITE ADVANCED RESINS
BEGINS MANUFACTURING EPOXY
RESINS AT WISCONSIN PLANT
Hydrite Advanced Resins, LLC, (HAR), a
new company formed from the combined
and Songsorb UV stabilizers, Songstab acid
scavengers and its range of aminic antioxidants.
DISTRIBUTOR APPOINTMENTS
Celanese Emulsion Polymers has
appointed Boysan to distribute its line of
emulsion products for the paint, coatings,
construction and adhesives industries.
Dow Corning has extended its distribution
contract with Antala Industria S.L., which will
begin distributing Molykote specialty lubricants in Spain and Portugal.
