BASF Expands
Capacity for Specialty
Amines at Verbund
Site in Ludwigshafen
BASF is significantly expanding its
production capacity for about 20 specialty amines at its Verbund site in
Ludwigshafen. The company will therefore invest a double-digit million euro
amount in expanding current production facilities, which are planned to go
on stream gradually by early 2017. The
specialty amines are especially used for
the manufacturing of coatings, lubricants, crop protection products and pharmaceuticals. With this investment, BASF
strengthens its worldwide amine production network with plants in Ludwigshafen
and Schwarzheide, Germany, in Antwerp,
Belgium, in Geismar, Louisiana and in
Nanjing, China.
“This investment will allow us to meet
the growing demand that our European
customers have for specialty amines,”
said Stefan Blank, president, BASF
Intermediates division. “We have decades
of experience in the development and
manufacturing of amines and hold a lead-
ing position globally with regard to these
versatile intermediate products. Through
the current expansion, we will strengthen
this position.”
In March and April 2014, BASF an-
nounced the construction of two new
multiple product plants for the manufac-
turing of specialty amines at the BASF
Verbund sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany
and Nanjing, China, where startup is
planned for 2015.
Wacker Constructs Plant for
Specialty Monomers at its
Burghausen Site
Wacker Chemie AG is currently build-
ing a new plant for specialty monomers
with an annual capacity of 3,800 metric
tons at its Burghausen site. Wacker has
budgeted approximately € 8 million for
this. The specialty monomers vinyl neo-
decanoate and vinyl laurate are key raw
materials for the manufacture of specific
dispersible polymer powders. The plant is
scheduled for start-up in the second quar-
ter of 2015. This new development al-
lows Wacker to meet increasing demand
for high-quality polymeric binders and
strengthens its position as one of the
world’s leading manufacturers of dispers-
ible polymer powders.
Specialty monomers are key raw materials for the manufacture of specific
dispersible polymer powders. With the
construction of the new plant, Wacker is
strengthening its position as a market and
technology leader in this field.
Wacker says it aims to meet the
globally rising demand for its dispersible polymer powders, which is driven
by worldwide trends such as urbanization, renovation and energy efficiency.
With the construction of the new plant
for specialty monomers, the Munich-based chemical Group is creating the
necessary capacity to independently secure the supply of key raw materials for
the manufacture of the powders at its
Burghausen site over the long term. The
specialty monomers vinyl neodecanoate
and vinyl laurate confer special properties on Wacker’s dispersible polymer
powders, such as hydrophobicity.
“The construction of the new plant
for specialty monomers is an important
strategic step,” said Christoph Riemer,
head of dispersible polymer powder business at Wacker Polymers. “It makes us
more independent of raw-material price
fluctuations and boosts supply security
during peak-demand periods. In addition,
it strengthens the position of specialty
products in our dispersible polymer powder portfolio.”
Accella Performance
Materials Acquires IPS
Polymer Systems, Inc.
Accella Performance Materials, Inc., a
manufacturer of polyurethane systems
and recycled rubber products, has announced the acquisition of IPS Polymer
Systems, Inc. in Rancho Cucamonga,
CA. Accella is backed by Arsenal
Capital Partners.
The acquisition further supports
Accella’s strategy to build the leading
polyurethane systems house in North
America, with an even stronger pres-
ence on the West Coast. The combination
brings together an expansive polyure-
thane technology portfolio, convenient
regional manufacturing, and leading tech-
nical application expertise, supported by
an expanding national sales channel when
combined with MarChem Polyurethane
Systems, Arnco, and Pathway Polymers.
Accella’s CEO, Andy Harris, said, “IPS
and Accella have over 40 years of experience with polyurethane technology and
proprietary formulations. IPS is an excellent fit with Accella’s current polyurethanes business and will bring expanded
technology and capabilities to both companies. The acquisition of IPS is strategic
in our objective to build the leading independent polyurethane systems house in
North America to bring the greatest value
and offerings to our customers.”
Andy Harris added “We do not ex-
pect any disruption to current customers
in either company and will continue to
focus on high value technology, excep-
tional customer service, and product
quality to provide our customers even
greater value.”
John Televantos, Partner at Arsenal
Capital and long-time polyurethanes
industry veteran, said, “We are very
pleased to bring IPS Polymer Systems
into the Accella group, and with the
progress of Accella overall. IPS strength-
ens the Accella polyurethanes platform
and will enhance the value Accella
brings to market. We are committed to
support the ongoing growth of Accella
and will continue to invest in strategic
opportunities that will further transform
the business.”
Roy Seroussi, a Principal at Arsenal
Capital said, “IPS has a long history of
proven products, innovation, and a posi-
tive reputation that fit very well with
Accella’s history and culture. This will
help support our customers’ growth and
competitiveness, as we further expand the
Accella polyurethane systems business.”
Ezzat Seif, the founder and former
CEO of IPS Polymer Systems, will stay
with the business and continue on the
leadership team, and said, “We are delighted to be a part of the Accella team
and are excited to expand the value we
provide to a broader customer base. We
selected Accella as a good cultural fit and
to bring greater opportunities to our valued employees and customers.”
