Coatings World - August 2016

BASF announced the launch of its global pigments business brand. The new brand encompasses BASF’s distinct colorants and pigments portfolio, and serves customers across five key industries, including coatings, plastics, printing, cosmetics and agriculture.

“To continue to grow and develop their
business, our customers need a diverse se-
lection of pigments and global expertise,”
said Alexander Haunschild, senior vice
president, Global Pigments Business. “In
this competitive marketplace, we created
a brand focused entirely on pigments to
provide our customers with products and
solutions from one single source.”
BASF organized its global pigments
business in an industry approach and
established teams concentrated solely on
the coatings, plastics, printing, cosmetics
and agriculture markets. This is the first
time the company has created dedicated
global pigment teams for the agriculture
and cosmetics industries.

“Our number one priority is to remain
a reliable global supplier to our customers.
This brand underlies the key strengths we
bring to the market: chemical expertise and
a broad portfolio of colorants and high per-
formance effect pigments,” said Haunschild.
“BASF continues to invest resources into
this change and we are confident we have
the right experts and portfolio to help our
customers continue to innovate.”
BASF operates 13 pigment production
sites in China, France, Germany, Korea,
the Netherlands, Switzerland and the U.S.

Nuplex Approves Transfer
of its Ownership to Allnex

Shareholders of Nuplex voted to approve the company’s combination with Allnex during a special meeting of shareholders held in Auckland, New Zealand.

Allnex, one of the global producers
of coating resins and additives, backed
by its shareholder Advent International,
entered into exclusive talks with Nuplex,
one of the global manufacturers of resins
listed in New Zealand and Australia, to
explore a business combination of the
companies. Allnex and Nuplex signed a
scheme of arrangement in April, through
which ownership of Nuplex would be
transferred to Allnex.

Siltech Corporation
Announces Major Plant
Expansion

Siltech Corporation has announced a major expansion of its Mississauga plant and warehouse. This expansion is being completed in two phases. Phase 1 includes a state of the art 1500 m2 warehouse that features the latest fire-suppression and safety features. This warehouse space was commissioned in June 2016.

Phase 2 is an expansion of the existing manufacturing plant which will house an additional five 20,000 liter stainless steel and glass lined reactors bringing the total annual capacity to over 25,000 tons. This expansion is scheduled to be completed by November of 2016.

Dag Enhorning, president of Siltech said that “with strong growth in North America, Europe and Asia this expansion is necessary to meet our customer’s continued demand for our products.”

Cathay Industries Acquires
Hoover Color Corporation

Leading global iron oxide pigment manufacturer Cathay Industries has agreed to acquire Hoover Color Corporation (Hiwassee, VA) for an undisclosed amount.

The transaction is expected to close within the third quarter of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions.

Commenting on the transaction,
Terence Yu, group chief executive officer,
Cathay Industries, said, “The acquisition
of Hoover Color further strengthens our
color pigments business as well as enhanc-
ing our capabilities. As market leader in
natural occurring Umbers and unique eco-
Color brings a century of customer focus
to the Cathay Industries Group.”
“Merging our two companies will
complement Cathay’s focus on innova-
tion, sustainability, and position us as a
leading supplier of performance pigments
with a unique offering for the paints and
coatings industry,” said Yu.
Charles Hoover, president of Hoover
Color Corporation said “Over the last
25 years, Cathay Industries has led the
restructuring of the iron oxide industry
through innovative technology, and this
partnership cements the relationship our
two companies have developed over the
last two decades. All of us at Hoover
Color look forward to exciting times
ahead for the combined businesses.”
Hoover will join the executive team at
Cathay Industries and continue in his role
as president of the Hoover Color newly
formed division of Cathay Industries.

Huber Launches Innovative
Packaging for Precipitated
Amorphous Silica

Huber Engineered Materials, a division of J.M. Huber Corporation,has launched a new packaging concept implemented at its Havre de Grace, Maryland, precipitated amorphous silica production facility. The innovative, multi-million dollar packaging system replaces paper bags with a conversion to more robust polyethylene bags. The improved bags offer stronger tensile strength, minimization of nuisance dust and greater control of moisture to maintain the integrity of the material inside. Elimination of trapped air within each bag yields excellent stacking for more stable pallets during shipment, unloading, and warehousing. The new packaging is also easily recyclable which is integral to Huber’s commitment to sustainability.