The 27th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing celebrated an inspiring restart in Friedrichshafen from 12-16 October 2021. Organiser Schall welcomed in total 1470 exhibitors from 39 countries. (2018: 1933). Overall emphasis was placed on the topics of sustainability, circular economy and recycling. 

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) has announced a partnership with Cal Beyer, CWP and CSDZ to provide key education and resources to both spray foam and construction industry participants on suicide and substance abuse prevention. Fueled in part by ongoing stressors including the pandemic, as well as the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) assessment of the construction industry having the second highest rate of suicide in the USA at 53.3 per 100,000 workers, the SPFA Board of Directors initiated its campaign to assist the industry. As part of the program, the SPFA on 18 November 2021 will host an informative webinar led by Cal Beyer, which will be accessible at no cost to all in the construction industry.

Tosoh Corporation announced that is will cease producing and selling toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and TDI-related products effective April 2023. According to the company, despite the continuous implementation of measures to improve profitability, the environment surrounding this business has become increasingly severe in recent years, and there are no prospects for improvement. Consequently, Tosoh plans to cease production permanently at its Nanyo Complex of TDI and TDI-related products.

Repsol announced that it will invest EUR 657 million in the expansion of its Sines Industrial Complex, located on the Portuguese coast. On 13 October 2021, Repsol Chairman Antonio Brufau and CEO Josu Jon Imaz attended the signing ceremony of the investment contract with the Portuguese government, presided over by Prime Minister António Costa, and also attended by the Minister of State, Economy, and Digital Transition, Pedro Siza Vieira.

Synthos announced that it will construct a new butadiene extraction unit with associated logistic infrastructure in Plock, Poland. Air Liquide Engineering and Construction licenses the BASF NMP Butadiene Extraction technology and has been awarded with the overall engineering, procurement and construction services and supplies for the project. The commissioning of the butadiene extraction unit and first production are scheduled for 2024. The unit will have a butadiene capacity of 120,000 t/y.

On 11 October 2021, Recticel announced that following the unsolicited offer by Greiner in May 2021, its Board of Directors concluded that the offer was not in the interest of shareholders and other stakeholders, and significantly undervalued the company. Subsequently, the board initiated a complete review of its strategic alternatives and came to the conclusion that a better strategic project and superior value can be created by pursuing a strategy to separate its businesses and to dispose Engineered Foams.

Evonik announced that it has recently extended its distribution agreement with Brenntag for its Dynasylan product line to 16 countries in Eastern Europe. Effective immediately, Brenntag will additionally distribute the silane products in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Leoni has officially opened its fourth plant in Serbia, in the city of Kraljevo. The company said it has so far invested over EUR 50 million in building and equipment for its new production facility.

LG Chem said Monday (11 October 2021) that it will build two technical service centers ― one in the United States and one in Europe ― as part of efforts to better serve its customers and partner companies worldwide. The two service centers, costing KRW 120 billion (USD 100 million) combined, will be responsible for offering solutions on product development, quality improvement and other technical issues concerning petrochemical products made by LG Chem. The construction of the two facilities will be completed, and they will be fully operational, by 2023.

According to the new report the “Polyurethane Foam Market by Type (Rigid foam, Flexible Foam, Spray Foam), End-use Industry (Building & Construction, Bedding & Furniture, Automotive, Electronics, Footwear, Packaging, Others), and Region – Global Forecast To 2025” from MarketsandMarkets Research Private Ltd., the PU foams market is projected to grow from USD 37.8 billion in 2020 to USD 54.3 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.5 % from 2020 to 2025.