both partners. With this cooperation, Sinopec and BASF have
achieved a win-win result and
will create further value,” said
The partners are considering an expansion of the site’s ethylene oxide
unit, which has an existing capacity of
330,000 metric tons per year. EO is a basic chemical mainly used for the production of ethylene glycol, and also for the
production of surfactants for washing
and cleaning agents, and as a raw material for the production of ethanolamines,
glycol ethers and polyurethanes.
Additionally under consideration is
a new neopentylglycol unit. NPG is a
unique polyalcohol offering superior
performance advantages in many end-use applications, due to its high chemical
and thermal stability. It is mainly used
as a building block in polyester resins
for coatings, unsaturated polyesters, lubricants and plasticizers. As the global
market leader for NPG, BASF is the only
company in the world that has production facilities in Europe, North America,
and Asia. As its production benefits from
backward integration, BASF offers its
customers high delivery reliability.
“We see great market potential in
China and the region for these products.
These state-of-the-art plants in Nanjing
will further strengthen our Verbund site,”
said Dr. Stephan Kothrade, President,
BASF-YPC Company
PolyOne Completes Sale of
Non-Core Resin Assets to
Mexichem
PolyOne Corporation has completed
the previously announced sale of its
vinyl dispersion, blending and suspension resin assets to Mexichem, S.A.B. de
C.V. for $250 million in cash. PolyOne
expects after-tax proceeds of approximately $150 million and to recognize an
after-tax gain on sale of approximately
$140 million.
The sale of PolyOne’s last remaining resin production assets marks an
important milestone in the company’s
ongoing specialty transformation that
92 | Coatings World
began in 2006.
“This was a natural next step in the
evolution of our portfolio and ultimate
vision for PolyOne,” said Stephen D.
Newlin, chairman, president and chief
executive officer, PolyOne Corporation.
“Now more than ever, we are focused
on our core business of specialty solu-
tions and unique formulations where
we believe we can generate the most
value for our customers, associates and
shareholders.”
Assets transferred in the sale were
strictly those related to resin produc-
tion and included manufacturing plants
in Pedricktown, New Jersey; Henry,
Illinois; and a resin research facility in
Avon Lake, Ohio. PolyOne continues to
own and operate its Geon Performance
Materials and Specialty Coatings busi-
nesses, which produce vinyl-based
formulations, plastisols and powder
coatings marketed under the respected
and trusted Geon T brand name.
BASF Completes Second
REACH Phase
BASF has completed the second phase
of registration for REACH under EU
chemical law. REACH stands for the
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization
and Restriction of Chemicals and represents a fundamental reorganization
of chemical law in Europe. The second
phase of registration for chemicals with
a production volume between 100 and
1,000 metric tons per year ends on May
31. In this phase, BASF submitted ap-proximatelly 550 substance dossiers to
the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
BASF also topped the list of companies
in the registration process with 680
substance dossiers in phase 1. By the
end of the final transition period in the
year 2018, BASF is expecting a total of
approximately 3,500 registrations. 250
employees at BASF are engaged in the
implementation of REACH, and the total
costs for BASF by the year 2018 will be
between €500 million and €550 million.
REACH applies to all substances currently produced in or imported to the
EU. They are registered in three phases
with data requirements depending on
their production volume (substances
www.coatingsworld.com
above 1,000 metric tons per year; substances above 100 metric tons per year;
substances above 1 metric ton per year).
The implementation of REACH is not
limited to registration. Following the
registration process, the dossiers that are
submitted have to be updated continuously. The risk assessments prepared by
the industry are reviewed by ECHA and
EU member states competent authorities.
These evaluations can result in requests
for additional data as well as restrictions
or authorization processes. The REACH
requirements have to be implemented in
the production and business processes.
This is intended to ensure the safe handling of chemical substances in Europe
While REACH only applies in Europe,
BASF has also set a goal to review all risk
assessments worldwide by the year 2020
for substances and mixtures which BASF
sells in quantities of more than one ton.
Lord Corporation Hosts
North Carolina Military
Foundation Board Meeting
Lord Corporation recently hosted the
North Carolina Military Foundation’s
board meeting at its headquarters in
Cary. The event featured presentations
from several keynote speakers, including U.S. Rep. David Price, Commander
of the Marine Corps Forces Special
Operations Command (MARSOC) Maj.
Gen. Mark Clark, and The Adjutant
General of the North Carolina National
Guard Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk.
Discussions at the event focused
on the use of data analytics to address
challenges faced by the Department of
Defense and Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) in cyber security and pre-dictive analysis for intelligence. Speakers
advised the board on the important role
it plays in catalyzing solutions to these
challenges from NC-based companies
and research organizations, particularly
in combating terrorism.
Congressman Price led the presentations and focused on DHS’s priorities
and opportunities for local organizations to support the need for continued
innovative public-private collaboration
as a results-oriented approach to economic development. CW
