increasing the lifetime of metallic structures used in corrosive media, reducing material
consumption and increasing
the efficiency of the devices.
BASF Inaugurates Mobile
Emissions Catalysts
Manufacturing Operation in
Shanghai
BASF inaugurated its expanded mobile
emissions catalysts manufacturing operation in Shanghai, China, further strengthening the company’s regional presence
and its position as a leading supplier to
the automotive industry.
The inauguration event culminates
a three-year expansion project which
doubles the company’s production capacity for mobile emissions catalysts in
China, adding new light duty emissions
catalysts production lines, a new heavy
duty diesel catalysts plant and a state-of-the-art automated warehousing facility.
The project increases the site’s employee
base by 120 positions.
Catalysts technologies such as the
Three-Way Catalyst (TWC), Diesel
Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), and the advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction
(SCR) technology system for heavy duty
diesel applications will be locally manufactured in Shanghai.
As well as serving as BASF’s Asia
Pacific hub for its emissions catalysts business, the Shanghai site houses the company’s regional Research and Development
Center, and complements BASF’s emissions catalysts manufacturing operations
in Guilin, China; Chennai, India; Rayong,
Thailand; and joint venture manufacturing sites in Korea and Japan.
Synthron Launches Logistics
Platform
Synthron, a subsidiary of Protex
International that develops, produces
and markets chemical specialties and the
Protex International Group have now diversified in this specialized field of chemical logistics with the launch of a Logistics
Platform. It is strategically situated near
Chartres, located 70 km from Paris.
The Group has invested in the con-
struction of a 9000 m² warehouse, which
has storage space for 9,000 pallets and
has six separate loading docks. The site
has sufficient area available for further
warehouse and storage expansion. The fa-
cility is a classified site for the protection
of the environment (Installation Classée
pour l’Environnement, ICPE) - and the
site is classified as “Seveso low threshold”
and has obtained authorization to store
products relating to many ICPE headings.
The regulations concerning the stor-
age of chemicals are strictly controlled;
the site of LOGI-INDUSTRIE is autho-
rized to store chemicals, according to
their physical form and hazard classifi-
cation: solid, liquid, flammable, toxicity.
Procedures regarding safety and environ-
mental protection and health and safety
have been developed. The staff is fully
trained in the handling and transporta-
tion of hazardous products, transport
vehicles are connected permanently by
remote monitoring, and there is also per-
manent on-site monitoring. Risk man-
agement systems are also in place to
minimize the risk of spillages.
LOGI-INDUSTRIE has a system
that allows the direct interfacing with
the computing logistics at its custom-ers. On-site systems are in place to manage customer data, labels, storage zones,
and tracking of products movements, so
that the clients are constantly aware and
briefed about their deliveries.
According to Robert Moor, CEO of
Protex, “The chemical industry is a very
important and specialized industry and
the safe and efficient storage and transportation of products is very important
aspect. This new facility located near
Paris will allow the optimization for
transportation of chemical products in
France and Europe.”
Protex Acquires Mereco
Technologies
Protex International is strengthening
its base in electronic chemisty with the
acquisition of Mereco Technologies
Group Companies Inc., located in West
Warwick, Rhode Island. Electronic
Chemistry now represents ten percent of
the activity of Protex International and
this segment had grown 25 percent during the last five years.
The integration of Mereco will al-
low Protex to pursue the policy of
“cross-fertilization” with both the hu-
man and technical exchanges necessary
for project management and new prod-
uct conception.
Protavic CEO Robert Moor stated:
“With the lightning speed development of
the electronic industry all over the world,
research – but especially the discoveries
of new chemical specialties – are a pri-
ority and a major concern for multiple
industries such as: high-tech, aeronautics,
solar energy, optics, medicine and other
emerging technologies.”
Protex Acquires Chartwell
in the U.S.
Protex International has acquired
Chartwell International Inc., based in the
U.S. Protex International said it pursues
its external growth policy by targeting
acquisitions that bring scientific added-
value products and expertise that com-
plement existing Group activities.
“Chartwell offers some exciting al-
ternative technologies to silane, which
can present problems of stability and hy-
drolysis,” the company said. “This new
acquisition now joins with the Protex
International Group and will offer high-
technology products which meet current
and future regulations, regarding health
and safety, ecology and the environment.”
Protex International, via its sub-
sidiary Synthron, offers the paint and
coatings industry a range of speciality ad-
ditives for paints, varnishes and sealants
and printing inks. Synthron has a range
of antifoams, spreading and levelling
agents, substrate wetting agents, dispers-
ing agents for organic and mineral based
pigments, catalysts for curing, rheology
modifiers, antistatic agents and more. CW
