Coatings World - December 2016

that it has become members of both CEFIC and Eurocolour.

Caroline Simpson, Regulatory manager at Union Colours said CEFIC is the European Chemical Industry Council, representing 29000 European companies who collectively produce 21 percent of the world’s chemicals and employ 1.2 million people, CEFIC acts as the voice of the European chemicals industry. “Eurocolour is a sub group of CEFIC and we will be joining other major pigments manufacturers for legislative topics such as REACH, which will ensure we remain up-to-date with forthcoming regulations. This demonstrates again that Union Colours is committed to supporting the chemical and pigment industries long term,” she said.

Wacker Expands Production
Capacity

Wacker Chemie AG is increasing its production capacities for HDK pyrogenic silica. To this end, Wacker is expanding a hydrophobic silica specialties plant at its site in Burghausen, Germany. The plant’s capacity will rise by 40 percent as a result, with capital expenditures on the project amounting to €1.4 million. With work beginning early next year, project completion is expected in the third quarter of 2017.

Hydrophobic – i.e. water-repellent – specialty silicas are used in toner powders for printers. They enhance the stability of the end product, as well as its flow and charging properties. Used in specialty adhesives and paints, these kinds of silicas permit optimum adjustment of rheologi-cal and mechanical properties.

“The expansion enables us to meet
rising customer demand for highquality
specialties and tailored solutions from
Wacker,” said Auguste Willems, Wacker
Executive Board member. “This project
is part of our strategy to achieve further
profitable growth through cost-effective
expansions at existing plants and to in-
crease the proportion of specialties in our
total business.”
Wacker produces HDK pyrogenic
silica at Burghausen and Nünchritz in
Germany and Zhangjiagang in China.
The Munich-based chemical company is
the world’s third-largest manufacturer
in this sector. Ultrapure powder-form
amorphous silicon dioxide is used as a
filler in silicone elastomers and as a rhe-
ology-control additive in paints, adhe-
sives, unsaturated polyester resins and
plastisols. It also serves as a flow aid in
the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food
processing industries.

Ashland and HP Announce
Strategic Collaboration
for Labels and Flexible
Packaging

Ashland has announced a strategic collaboration with HP Inc. to develop laminating adhesives and coatings that are compatible with HP Indigo ElectroInk, reinforcing the viability of digitally printed labels and flexible packaging. The announcement was made at the Pack Expo International show in Chicago, where Ashland exhibited.

“Ashland’s relationship with HP will benefit our customers, helping us to solve their challenges with the efficacy, usability and integrity of their packaging, particularly in the food segment,” said David Hatgas, global business director, adhesives and coatings, Ashland.

Building on a collaboration spanning four years, the structured working relationship will expedite the development of laminating adhesives and coatings that improve the usability of digital printing for a wide variety of packaging applications.

“HP is constantly innovating to
reinvent our customers’ application
possibilities,” said Nurit Raccah, la-
bels and packaging media and materi-
als business manager, Indigo division,
HP Inc. “This strategic collaboration
with Ashland, a world-class adhesive
supplier, demonstrates our continued
commitment to providing HP Indigo
customers full end-to-end solutions to
grow their businesses.”
Ashland’s ongoing relationship
with HP has yielded a significant
number Ashland products that meet
HP’s standards for use with HP Indigo
digital presses. Purelam 9500/9240
solvent-free laminating adhesive and
Purethane A-1090/CCAT 104 water-
based laminating adhesive crosslinker
both satisfy the HP criteria for
flexible packaging
Ashland’s PureRad and
PureKote overprint varnishes
are certified by the Rochester Institute
of Technology (RIT) under the HP
Indigo Overprint Varnish Performance
program. These radiation-curable and
water-based products are available in
a range of finishes from high gloss to
matte. They provide improved adhe-
sion to HP Indigo ink and deliver ex-
cellent scratch and chemical resistance
for labels. Some products in these lines
also provide outstanding heat and UV
resistance.

The ongoing collaboration between the two companies will ensure that more products quickly become available to improve customer productivity, flexibility and performance.

Custom Milling &
Consulting, Inc. Launches
New Website

Custom Milling & Consulting, Inc. has launched a new website with a fresh new look.

The new website was designed to be easy to navigate, user friendly, and to showcase the latest information for all milling needs. It has been designed to be easily viewable across all your mobile devices. It is available at www. cmcmilling.com.

Brenntag Achieves Gold Status in EcoVadis Sustainability Assessment, Becomes Full Member of TfS

Brenntag has been awarded the Gold Recognition Level of the international rating agency EcoVadis for its sustainability management. In the October 2016 assessment Brenntag increased its score to 66 points. With this result, Brenntag has successfully completed the on-board-ing process of the chemical industry’s “Together for Sustainability” initiative, gaining full membership status.