Coatings World - February 2014

Evonik Opens Production
Plant in Shanghai

Evonik Industries is significantly expanding its global isophorone (IP) and isophorone diamine (IPD) capacities by funding an investment of more than €100 million in Shanghai, China. The new production plants will be completed in the first quarter of 2014 and will increase the total capacities of IP and IPD significantly.

“We’re investing in China, because we are committed to the growth region Asia. As a world leader in isophorone-based products, we will continue to further consolidate and expand our position in this chemistry,” said Ulrich Küsthardt, president of Evonik’s Coating and Additives Business Unit. With the Group’s expansion strategy it aims to support the growth ambitions of key customers in Asia and around the world. Proximity to consumers in this growing market will translate into improved local service, shorter lead times, and faster responses to changes in demand.

BASF Strengthens
Pigment’s Competitiveness
in its Performance Products

BASF continues to implement a series of
measures within its Performance Products
segment to strengthen its competitive-
ness. As part of its long-term pigment
strategy, BASF will enhance customer fo-
cus and continue to design differentiated
products in high-value applications, and
optimize the global production network.
Approximately 650 positions globally
will be reduced by 2017. At the same
time, BASF will invest €250 million in the
next four years in its production network
as well as in research and development.
BASF will optimize its global pro-
duction network for pigments. The ma-
jor measures include the closure of the
Paisley plant in Scotland and the restruc-
turing of the Huningue plant in France.
In addition, BASF is examining strategic
options for the site in Maastricht, the
Netherlands. The planned investments
in the production network will further
strengthen the production footprint in
Asia Pacific, the fastest-growing market.
This also includes the start-up and ex-
pansion of a plant for high-performance
pigments at BASF’s wholly-owned pro-
duction site in Nanjing , China, and the
expansion of the BASF pigments plant in
Ulsan, Korea.

Further measures to improve the competitiveness of the Performance Products segment continue to be analyzed.

Michelman Enters Into JV
with Maruyoshi Chemical

Michelman has established a joint venture with Maruyoshi Chemical Co., Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of specialty waterborne polyolefin emulsions, and chemical trading company, based in Gifu, Japan.

Maruyoshi Chemical has separated their manufacturing business from the chemical trading business with the joint venture involving only the manufacturing business.

Maruyoshi has taken a majority position in the JV, which is named Maruyoshi Michelman Co. Ltd. Nobuyuki Hashizume, president of Maruyoshi Chemical Co., has been appointed director and president, and Steven Wong, Michelman’s Asia-Pacific managing director, has been named the director and managing officer. Michelman has assumed a minority position and will support the JV through strategic market development.

The joint venture will be located in Gifu and combines the strengths of both Michelman and Maruyoshi. Customers will have access to innovative waterborne emulsion technology, state of the art manufacturing, an experienced technical sales and support team, deep knowledge of Japanese as well as global chemical regulatory issues, and emulsion technology experience across numerous industries.

PolyOne Expands with New
Facility in Turkey

PolyOne Corporation has begun production in a new facility in Turkey. The operations feature enhanced capabilities to better serve customers with an expanding portfolio of specialty polymer formulations.