Coatings World - February 2013

Wacker Expands Technical Center in Dubai

Wacker has expanded the service portfolio at its technical center in Dubai. The center of excellence located at the “Dubai Silicon Oasis” (DSO) technology park now also includes a dedicated laboratory for interior and exterior paints and coatings applications. The new lab comprises applications technology and test equipment for polymer dispersions needed as binders for interior architectural paints. A further focus is on silicone additives and binders for interior and exterior paints and coatings. The expansion not only enables Wacker to help its local customers develop new and tailor-made products for the strongly growing market for high-quality coatings. It also encourages the exchange of know-how and promotes internationally recognized quality standards in the region.

Dow Coating Materials Expands Dispersant Production Dow Coating Materials, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, has announced plans to expand production of its dispersants product line in response to rapidly increasing demand from customers across the globe. Additional production of Tamol and Orotan high-performance hy-drophobically modified copolymer dispersants from Dow is slated to begin in Q1 2013. The additional Tamol dispersant will be produced for architectural and Industrial coatings manufacturers; hygiene and medical applications and personal and home care products.

Huntsman’s Altiris pigment wins IChemE award Huntsman’s Pigments division has won an industry award for its new Altiris infrared reflecting pigment. The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) award for innovative product of the year was presented to Rob Portsmouth, business development director, at IChemE 2012 Awards dinner in Manchester, UK. “This is a fantastic achievement,” said

Portsmouth. “It is international industry
recognition of the value of our innovation
and of the engagement and commitment
of everyone involved in the development
and manufacture of Altiris pigment.”
“Chemical engineers are working all
over the world on innovative projects and
finding solutions to some of the biggest
challenges facing society today – a grow-
ing demand for secure and sustainable
energy, access to clean and plentiful water
supplies, food and nutrition and societal
health and wellbeing,” said IChemE CEO
David Brown. “The IChemE Awards give
us a platform to recognize some of the
best work taking place all over the world
throughout the chemical and process en-
gineering community.”

BASF Opens PU System
House in China

BASF has opened a new polyurethane system house in Tianj, China, which will further expand its global service and production network. The new facility will deliver customized polyurethane solutions to its customers, supported by local production, in-house sales, and technical service and development teams.

As BASF’s first investment in Tianjin, this site is also the company’s eleventh polyurethane system house in Asia Pacific and the third in Mainland China. It will join a comprehensive worldwide network, which currently includes 38 system houses.

The new system house develops and manufactures polyurethane systems for a wide range of industries. The new facility occupies 3. 4 hectares of land in the Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area. Along with the current system houses in Shanghai and Nansha, as well as a planned system house in Chongqing, BASF reports that is well positioned to lead the polyurethane market. The system houses are also supported by BASF’s production sites for basic materials in Caojing, Shanghai and the upcoming facility in Chongqing.

BASF Sells Capcure
Business,to Gabriel
Performance Products

BASF and Gabriel Performance Products, LLC, a U.S.-based specialty chemical company, signed a contract to transfer the BASF Capcure business to Gabriel Performance Products.

Capcure mercaptan-based curatives are used in epoxy curing applications that require rapid room temperature cure. The Capcure product line acquisition strengthens Gabriel’s position in the epoxy curing market.

“The transaction allows BASF to further optimize its product portfolio after the acquisition of Cognis in 2010,” said Detlef Ruff, vice president global strategy, new business and product development dispersions and pigments of BASF.

Heraeus Noblelight
Acquires Fusion UV
Business Group

Heraeus Noblelight, business group of the German based precious metal and technology group Heraeus, is acquiring the Fusion UV business group, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, from British manufacturer Spectris. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Heraeus Noblelight is a leader in the production of specialty light sources and systems. The globally active Fusion US business group is a specialist in microwave based UV curing applications.

Ashland Receives 2012
Best Service Award from
AkzoNobel

Ashland Specialty Ingredients recently received the 2012 Best Service Award from AkzoNobel. The award recognized Ashland’s outstanding achievements as a top global supplier in delivering high-quality coating additives solutions while fulfilling application requirements.