The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) announced that Joshua Baca, vice president of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Plastics Division, will deliver the keynote at the 63rd Polyurethanes Technical Conference on 5 October 2021. The conference will take place 5 – 7 October 2021, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Smithers is currently recruiting for professionals at the forefront of the elastomers industry to present at the renowned Silicone Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers World Summit this November/December in Europe. (Exact date and location to be confirmed). The deadline for the submission of papers has been extended. So there is still time to submit an abstract.

The Institute for Plastics Processing (Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung – IKV) invites to the 2nd International Symposium on Plastics Technology on 14 and 15 March 2022 in Aachen, Germany. In 2020, the scientific committee of the Symposium received contributions from 14 nations, which dealt with innovative topics in plastics technology and ensured a wide-ranging programme. Now the Call for Papers is open again and contributions are being sought for next year's Symposium.

Plixxent Holding GmbH announced the acquisition of Tagos S.r.l., an Italian producer of polyurethane‐based systems, catalysts and coatings, targeting various end-markets such as transportation, hospitality, and construction. The company was founded in 1965 and is based in Busto Arsizio near Milan, Italy, and has a leading position in products for cryogenic insulation materials. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Olin Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement with Ashta Chemicals, Inc. to purchase and sell the chlorine produced at Ashta's headquarters and production facilities in Ashtabula, OH, USA. Olin said existing contracts will be honoured for chlorine customers of both companies. Olin is a global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition.

Nouryon announced the completion of the spin-out of its base chemicals business, Nobian, into a separate company remaining under the ownership of Nouryon’s equity owners, The Carlyle Group and GIC.

LG Chem Ltd. has entered mass production of polyolefin at its new naphtha cracking center in Korea with the largest capacity in Asia.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is expanding its online store to include Seals-Shop Marine (www.seals-shop.com/eu/en/marine-shop), which now bundles seals and bearings for the marine industry and for use on and in the water. This will also make products from the Orkot materials portfolio directly accessible online, said the company.

Cargill and Helm announced that they are entering into a joint venture, Qore, to help leading brands replace fossil-based chemistries with bio-based intermediates. As part of the agreement, both companies are investing a combined USD 300 million to build the first commercial-scale, renewable 1,4-butanediol (BDO) facility in the USA.

GPD Companies affiliate Distrupol, a European distributor of thermoplastics and elastomers, has acquired Lautrup Chemicals for an undisclosed amount.