Coatings World - December 2010

Evonik expands precipitated silica capacity

Evonik Industries is planning to sig-
nificantly increase its silica (precipi-
tated silicic acids) production capacity
over the next four years. “By 2014 we
will have gradually expanded global
capacity at our existing plants by 25
percent, thus securing supply for our
global customers,” said Klaus Engel,
chairman of the executive board of
Evonik Industries. Investments to
ensure this increase in production
capacity will be in the mid double-
digit million euro range. Total capacity
expansion is expected to be in the six-
digit metric ton region and will be
implemented mainly at Evonik’s exist-
ing silica sites in Asia and Europe. In
May 2010 Evonik had announced
capacity expansion for precipitated sil-
icas at its subsidiary INSILCO Ltd. in
Gajraula, India. The application possi-
bilities for precipitated silicas are
diverse and manifold. Silica, along
with organosilane, is a crucial compo-
nent in low-rolling resistance tires.
Silicas are also used as carriers and
free flow agents in the food and ani-
mal feed industries, and serve as addi-
tives in the paints and coatings indus-
tries, or even as abrasives in tooth-
paste. Evonik produces precipitated
silica at 10 sites in eight countries
around the world.
LANXESS EXPANDS IRON
OXIDE FACILITY IN CHINA
Lanxess started a new production unit
for high-quality black iron oxide pig-
ments at its site in Jinshan, Shanghai,
China. The produced color shades
include bluish-type black pigments.
With the annual capacity of 10,000 met-
ric tons of black iron oxides, in addition
to the already existing 28,000 metric
tons of yellow iron oxides, Lanxess can
serve customers globally out of the this
iron oxide plant in Asia with the high-
end Bayferrox pigments. Important
market segments for these products are
the construction industry and the paint
and coatings sector, as well as the plas-
tics and paper industries. The rising
demand for inorganic pigments in
China is mainly driven by China’s ongo-
ing urbanization. This mega-trend has
led to a boom in the construction and
paint industry. Lanxess’ new production
unit progresses further in new markets
for the bluish-type blacks in the Asia
region including China, Australia and
India. The new facility sets high stan-
dards in terms of environmental protec-
tion. The manufacturing unit not only
recycles by-products from other process-
es into high-quality black iron oxide
pigments, it is also among the first in
the country equipped with an ultra-
modern wastewater treatment facility
that is directly linked to an industrial
water treatment plant. Thanks to this
modern wastewater treatment technol-
ogy and closed circuits throughout the
whole plant, significantly less waste-
water is generated in comparison to
existing production units in the region.
Lanxess Inorganic Pigments started
production in Shanghai in 1996. In
2008, Lanxess acquired its manufactur-
ing site for iron oxide pigments in
Jinshan. In April 2010, Lanxess com-
pleted the first phase of the technical
improvement for yellow iron oxide pig-
ments production. The plant can run at
a full capacity of 28,000 metric tons.
The second phase is scheduled for com-
pletion in 2011 and will again reduce
the plant’s emissions and improve its
environmental performance. The inor-
ganic pigments business unit belongs to
the Lanxess Performance Chemicals
segment, which achieved total sales in
fiscal 2009 of €1,530 million.

TAMINCO AND MGC
FORM JV IN CHINA

Taminco and Mitsubishi Gas Chem-
ical Co. (MGC) have reached an
agreement for Taminco to acquire a
50 percent share of Ling Tian, MGC’s
methylamines- and derivatives-pro-
ducing facility in Nanjing, China.
The deal is subject to regulatory
approvals and customary closing con-
ditions. “Investing in this joint ven-
ture represents a significant step
for Taminco in the Asia region,” said
Laurent Lenoir, Taminco’s CEO.
“This transaction will provide a
strong basis for growth within the
amine derivatives market, along-
side a reliable partner well estab-
lished in China.” The joint venture
will act as a platform for even
greater growth for both companies.
The partners initially intend to
build a new alkyl alkanol amine
unit in Nanjing, which will mainly
serve the water treatment, personal
care, and oil and gas markets in
Asia. The unit is expected to be
operational by mid-2012.

ECKART EXPANDS
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
Eckart America Corp. will consolidate
its sales and distribution network in
the U.S. beginning Jan. 1, 2011. The
northeast will be expanded with DN
Lukens as the regional representa-
tive to include Eastern New York,
Eastern Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. This will give them coverage
from Maine to New Jersey. The upper
Midwest will be expanded with Hall
Technologies as the regional repre-
sentative to include North and South
Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa
and Illinois. In addition, Hall
Technologies acquired Sexton, Inc.,
covering Ohio and Indiana. As a
result, Eckart will further expand
Hall’s territory to include Michigan,
western Pennsylvania, western New
York and Kentucky. CW

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