Nordmann, a leading chemical distribution company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, has announced the appointment by Kolon Plastics, Inc., as the official distributor for its Kopel thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPC) in Europe (excl. Nordics and Turkey). The agreement is effective from 1 July 2019.

The executive planning committee for the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) announced the second keynote speaker for its 19th annual event, which will be held from 4 – 6 September 2019 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI, USA.

At the annual conference of Europur and Euro-Moulders, Angela Austin, Director of Labyrinth Research and Markets Ltd., and Patrick de Kort, Regulatory Affairs Manager of Europur, presented the market report 2019 for the flexible PU foam industry (covering the year 2018). The statistics were compiled with production data provided by member companies and aggregated in compliance with competition law. For the rest of the industry, and to interpret the data, interviews with 80 experts from 65 industry organisations took place.

Huntsman announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its chemical intermediates businesses, which includes PO/MTBE, and its surfactants businesses to Indorama Ventures for approximately USD 2.076 billion.

Bayer and Lanxess announced that they will sell their stakes in the chemical park operator Currenta to funds managed by the infrastructure investor Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). Both companies signed corresponding agreements with MIRA on 6 August 2019. The transaction still requires the approval of the responsible authorities.

The Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is now accepting online abstract submissions for its 197th Technical Meeting to be held 28 – 30 April 2020 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Cleveland Rockside, in Independence, OH, USA.

The Japanese Toyo Tire Corporation announced it will establish a subsidiary in Indijia City, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, the Republic of Serbia in September 2019. According to the company, the subsidiary will construct and operate a new manufacturing plant for radial tyres for passenger vehicles and light trucks on a 600,000 m2 (about 150 acres) site.

The K 2019 trade fair for plastics and rubber will take place from 16 – 23 October 2019 in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association will shine the spotlight on the recycling sector and show how closed loops can work effectively. A series of interviews will shed light on why it is doing this and the significance of the "Circular Economy" for member companies of the association. In this interview, Michael Baumeister, Managing Director Technology and Logistics at Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, gives his views on the topic.

Evonik said it will vigorously defend itself against the action of the Federal Trade Commission, which announced it will file a lawsuit seeking to block Evonik’s proposed acquisition of PeroxyChem, a worldwide manufacturer of speciality peroxygen chemistries.

Isopa, the European diisocyanates and polyol producers association, has for many years published guidelines for the safe loading/unloading, transportation and storage of TDI and MDI in bulk. The guidelines are part of Isopa and the polyurethane industry’s broader product stewardship efforts to ensure the safe handling and use of diisocyanates.