growth field. Polyamide 12 powders are
an ideal matrix for thermoplastic composites made of fiberglass, carbon fibers,
and aramid or steel fibers. Applications
can be found in the automotive and oil
drilling industry, the sports sector and in
orthopedics.
VESTOSINT is a modified PA12 powder that is manufactured at the Marl site
from a polyamide granulate, using a proprietary Evonik process.
Keyland Polymer Launches
Re-Designed Website
Keyland Polymer has announced the
launch of its redesigned website www.
keylandpolymer.com. The new site has
an updated clean and modern design
with live chat functionality to answer any
questions visitors may have in real time.
The site also features technical data,
profit and productivity comparisons, and
information about the UV-cured powder
coating process. There is also an updated
photo gallery containing images of wood,
plastic, metal and other products finished
with UV powder.
PolyOne Acquires Certain
TPE Assets from Kraton
Expanding on its global footprint and
expertise in thermoplastic elastomer
(TPE) innovation and design, PolyOne
Corporation has announced it has acquired certain technologies and assets
from Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
The two companies also entered into a
supply agreement, whereby Kraton will
provide PolyOne certain raw materials used in production for the acquired
business.
The end markets utilizing the acquired
technologies span new and fast growing
applications in adhesive and removable
protective films, as well as existing applications served by PolyOne, such as packaging, medical devices and personal care
products. The purchase price of $72 million represents a multiple of 9x EBITDA.
“Since our highly successful TPE ac-
quisition of GLS in 2008, we’ve continu-
ally invested in, globalized and grown in
TPE innovation and its broad value-add-
ed uses,” said Robert M. Patterson, presi-
dent and chief executive officer, PolyOne
Corporation. “We are very pleased to
have made this investment for our cus-
tomers and their product design, develop-
ment and performance goals.”
“I view this transaction as a win
for both companies, and most impor-
tantly, for our respective shareholders
and customers,” said Kevin M. Fogarty,
president and chief executive officer of
Kraton. “It allows PolyOne and Kraton
to focus on our core competencies and
help our customers with new and unique
solutions that differentiate them in the
marketplace.”
Patterson added, “The integration will
be swift and seamless, as we leverage our
existing TPE know-how, global reach,
and commercial expertise to help our
customers in new and innovative ways.”
Huber Acquires
Martinswerk Business From
Albemarle Corporation
J.M. Huber Corporation, through its
Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) division, announced that it has acquired
the Martinswerk business of Albemarle
Corporation. The Martinswerk portfolio
is now officially part of the Fire Retardant
Additives (FRA) business unit of HEM.
Huber’s largest acquisition in over
10 years, the transaction includes
Martinswerk’s manufacturing facility in
Bergheim, Germany, more than 470 em-•Martinal precipitated and ground
alumina trihydrate
•Magnifin premium precipitated
magnesium hydroxide
•A variety of specialty chemical
products
• Martifin specialty hydrates for paper
• Martoxid aluminum oxide primarily
for ceramics
• Pergopak flatting agents and carrier
additives
•Compalox granulated activated
alumina
“This strategic acquisition is well
aligned with HEM’s FRA business unit
– both from a product and geographic
standpoint,” explains Jerry Bertram,
Vice President and General Manager of
HEM’s Fire Retardant Additive business.
“It builds on our existing halogen-free fire retardant offerings
and expands the range of products we can provide to customers
around the world.”
To ensure a smooth integration,
HEM is retaining the current management team at Martinswerk. The FRA
business unit will be structured in a regional model with a General Manager
operating out of Europe.
The Martinswerk acquisition builds
on Huber’s 34 year history of supplying
fire retardants and smoke suppressants. It
marks the latest in a series of investments
in the FRA business by Huber, including
the acquisition of the Kemgard product
line from Sherwin-Williams in 2010 and
the purchase of the assets of the specialty
hydrates business from Almatis in 2012.
In 2015, Huber purchased the Safire ni-
trogen and phosphorous flame retardant
technology from Floridienne Group and
Catena Additives.
Says Bertram, “Bringing together our
long-term experience in fire retardant
additives with the product lines from
Martinswerk broadens our portfolio of
environmentally-friendly fire retardant
additives for use across multiple ap-
plications, including carpet backing, fi-
ber reinforced plastics, roofing, silicone
rubber and wire and cable.” He adds,
“This addition truly makes FRA a global
business.”
BASF Launches Polymer
Dispersions for Coatings
BASF launched two new polymer dispersion products in the Indian market at the
PAINTINDIA 2016 in Mumbai. The two
products – Acronal 7079 and AQAcell
HIDE 6299 – are designed for paint and
coatings to help keep building exteriors
clean and durable and improve carbon
footprints through reduction of titanium
dioxide (TiO2).
“As a leading supplier along the
paints and coatings value chain, experts
at BASF’s research and development
center in Shanghai, together with our
teams all over the world, are committed to innovation in paint and coating
solutions that fits the challenging environment in Asia Pacific. BASF’s low
