IMCD N.V. announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100 % of the outstanding shares of Velox GmbH, a European distributor with a focus on raw material specialities and solutions for the plastics, composites, additives, rubber, and paints & coatings industries with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Financial details were not disclosed.

LyondellBasell has started a cooperation with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the field of chemical recycling of plastic materials. The focus of the venture is to develop a new catalyst and process technology to decompose post-consumer plastic waste, such as packaging, into monomers for reuse in polymerisation processes.

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has issued a Call for Papers to be presented at the Antec 2019 plastics technology conference, which will be held from 18 – 21 March 2019 in Detroit, MI, USA. Antec is one of the largest international technical meetings of individuals representing industry, government and academia, providing a broad perspective on the science, engineering and business of plastics.

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) announced that Mitsubishi Corporation Plastics Ltd has joined the IRSG Panel of Associates.

PQ Corp. announced that Fitz Chem LLC (Nagase Group) will expand distribution of PQ’s Gasil and Silcron silica gels to southern Indiana and Kentucky, USA, effective from 1 September 2018. The expanded agreement further strengthens the long-term relationship between Fitz Chem and PQ Corp., according to Tony Nock, Global Director of Silcas and Adsorbents for PQ Corp.

On 23 August 2018, Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. signed an investment memorandum with Goran Knežević, Serbian Minister of Economy, to construct a tyre factory in Serbia. Mr. Vučić, Prime Minister of Serbia, and Li Manchang, Chinese ambassador in Serbia, attended this signing ceremony.

The Swiss Datwyler Group announced that it has signed a contract to take over the Brazilian company BINS Indústria de Artefatos de Borracha Ltda on 23 August 2018.

LyondellBasell has completed the acquisition of A. Schulman, Inc., a global supplier of plastic compounds, composites and powders, for a total consideration of USD 2.25 billion. According to LyondellBasell, the acquisition more than doubles its existing compounding business and broadens its reach into growing, high-margin end markets such as automotive, construction materials, electronic goods and packaging.

Evonik Industries and the Chinese company Wynca have agreed to form the joint venture company Evonik Wynca (Zhenjiang) Silicon Material Co., Ltd. for the production of fumed silica under the Aerosil brand.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that it has terminated its technology tie-ups with Kumho Tire Co., Inc., effective as of 6 July 2018.