Coatings World - November 2011

rheology additives plant, Coatex, an Arkema subsidiary, now has production capacities for the paint and coating, cement, paper and mineral processing markets in Asia.

The future Changshu research and development center will offer both a geographic and a technical fit with the group’s other research centers, in particular the Kyoto center in Japan. It will help boost the development or adaptation of products and solutions provided by Arkema to its customers in China and South-East Asia in the fast-growing markets of new energies, cable, electronics, automotive and sports.

Rhodia expands specialty surfactant capacity in China Rhodia Novecare has expanded production capacity for specialty surfactants and polymers at its Zhenjiang, China site to help meet growing demand from local customers. Production technologies applied in Zhenjiang will help reduce waste water, salt production and air emissions, the company said. Rhodia’s Novecare business is the largest international surfactant player in Asia. Its surfactant-based formulations are used in various applications including coatings, tires, detergents, body washes and shampoos, agrochemi-cals and oilfield. “After acquiring Jiangsu Feixiang Chemicals in 2010, the Asia Pacific business represents now one-third of Novecare’s sales,” said Chen Pu, vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific, Rhodia Novecare. “China is definitely the most important country to drive our growth in this region. The new plant expands our manufacturing footprint in China with five plants.”

Dow and Saudi Aramco sign
agreement for Sadara Chemical
Company

Saudi Aramco president and CEO Khalid Al-Falih and Dow chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris signed a joint venture shareholders’ agreement for Sadara Chemical Company.

Sadara will be comprised of 26 manufacturing units, several of which constitute “mega projects” in themselves. Once complete, the joint venture complex will be one of the world’s largest integrated chemical facilities, and the largest ever built in one single phase.

Just over 100 kilometers from where Al-Falih and Liveris signed the agreement, bulldozers, graders and rollers are proceeding with site preparations on the world-scale, mixed feed cracker, which will be integrated with Saudi Aramco’s extensive hydrocarbon infrastructure.

“Sadara is an extraordinary and unique venture that will build upon the strengths of both Dow and Saudi Aramco to deliver the diversified and specialty materials and chemicals needed to drive growth in the entire region and beyond,” said Liveris. “This premier partnership is truly unprecedented and is very well positioned to bring value creation on every front; transforming the Saudi economy, as well as the entire chemical industry, at the same time.

Sadara is expected to deliver annual
revenues of approximately $10 billion
within a few years of operation while con-
tributing significantly to Saudi Arabia’s in-
dustrial diversification. The planned
product portfolio will add value chains to
the Kingdom’s vast natural resources and
complement the existing chemical land-
scape. Ultimately, the joint venture will be
instrumental in Saudi Arabia’s strategy to
become not only a strategic chemicals and
plastics producer, but also a hub for future
downstream manufacturing.

PolyOne to buy additives and colorants maker ColorMatrix Group PolyOne Corporation has purchased for $486 million ColorMatrix Group, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty additives, liquid colorants and dosing technologies that

Lonza acquires Arch Chemicals for $1.2 billion

The world’s biggest manufacturer of drug ingredients, Lonza Group AG, Basel, Switzerland has come into an agreement to buy Arch Chemicals Inc. for approximately $1.2 billion creating a global leader in the bacteria and fungi killing business.

Arch Chemicals’ products are used for disinfecting swimming pools, protecting wood from fungus, preventing the growth of molds and mildew in paints and dandruff treatment. This deal with Norwalk, Connecticut based Arch Chemicals will make Lonza Group the leader in the $10 billion market which is exhibiting growth of as much as six percent per year and it will also reduce its dependence on manufacturing pharmaceutical ingredients for drug makers said the company.

Lonza Microbial Control, a new business sector formed by the acquisition and led by Jeanne Thoma as previously announced, will offer a complete portfolio of microbial control solutions. Lonza will offer this complementary range of products and actives to a broader range of customers in both established and emerging markets.