RubberPolyurethanes

Bekaert to cut 1,850 jobs in China and Belgium

Bekaert has announced a reduction of 1,850 jobs in its sawing wires and stainless steel wire operations. The measures affect a total of 600 jobs in Aalter, Zwevegem, Deerlijk, and Ingelmunster in Belgium as well as 1,250 in China.

Polyurethanes

Perstorp strengthens sales channels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

In the fourth quarter of 2011, Perstorp has agreed on a strengthened cooperation with the Hamburg-based German chemical distributor Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH (NRC).

Ground-breaking ceremony for Huntsman's new Asia Pacific Technology Center
Polyurethanes

Huntsman breaks ground on new Asia Pacific Technology Center

On 15 February 2012, Huntsman held a ground-breaking ceremony for its new Asia Pacific Technology Center (ATC) in Shanghai's Minhang Economic & Technological Development Zone. The USD 40 million facility is scheduled to be operational by mid-2013.

Stirrer in the mixing paste production Coloured polyurethane shoe soles
Polyurethanes

ISL-Chemie looks back on more than 40 years of history in colouring polyurethane

The 75th anniversary of the invention of polyurethane gives the Kürten-based German manufacturer of colour pastes and speciality lacquers for the PU industry, ISL-Chemie GmbH & Co. KG, an opportunity to look back on its over 40 years of history, which is closely linked with this material.

RubberPolyurethanes

INDONESIA: Honam signs Indonesian land deal for cracker & downstream units

Honam Petrochemical Corp. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Krakatau Steel for land in Cilegon on which Honam plans to build a new naphtha cracker and downstream production units, said Honam Senior Managing Director of Business Development Kim Gyo-hyun.

RubberPolyurethanes

VIETNAM: Partners sign joint venture agreement for Long Son PC complex

PetroVietnam, Vinachem, Qatar Petroleum International, Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Thai Plastic and Chemicals have signed a joint venture agreement to invest in a petrochemical complex on Vietnam’s Long Son Island.

RubberPolyurethanes

CHINA: New Five-Year Plan envisions four refining, three ethylene bases

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released general details on the country’s new five-year plan (2011-2015), including establishing up to four new refining bases and three ethylene production bases.

Polyurethanes

PPI moving to larger facility in Greensburg, PA

For the second time in four years, Polyurethane Process Industries, LLC, (PPI) is moving to larger quarters to accommodate the needs of its growing customer base.

Polyurethanes

PFF buys second continuous panel laminating system from BGA

Bradbury Group Australia (BGA) is set to deliver a second continuous panel laminating system to Georgia-based Precision Foam Fabricators (PFF), a manufactuer of structural insulated panels (SIPS) for walls, roofs, and ceilings for various applications including cold storage facilities, food processing, cleanrooms, single family residents, schools, strip malls, and commercial buildings.

Screenshot of the new CPI site
Polyurethanes

CPI upgrades www.polyurethane.org website

The clean, new design gives www.polyurethane.org the same look and feel of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) main site, which makes it easier for visitors to access the resources of www.americanchemistry.com when they visit the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry's (CPI) site.

Polyurethanes

Johnson Controls and Harrison Spinks to jointly develop new seat concept

Johnson Controls announced it has formed a development relationship with luxury mattress manufacturer Harrison Spinks to integrate pocketed coil spring mattress technology into an automotive seat concept called ComfortThin.

Polyurethanes

Palmer and BioBased announce strategic alliance

Palmer International and BioBased Technologies have agreed to form a strategic alliance focused on developing a new family of bio-based polyols derived from cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) for use in rigid foam systems.

RubberPolyurethanes

UZBEKISTAN: ADB to Help Develop Uzbekistan's Largest Petrochemical Plant

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan and political risk guarantee totaling up to USD 400 million to help build the largest-ever petrochemical plant in Uzbekistan.

(F.l.t.r.): Dr. Tony Van Osselaer (Head of Industrial Operations at BMS), Patrick Thomas (CEO of BMS), Dr. Marijn Dekkers, Thomas de Win, and Daniel Meyer during the start of construction ceremony for the new multi-purpose production plant.
Polyurethanes

BMS builds multi-purpose plant for PU coating raw materials

Bayer MaterialScience has begun construction of a multi-purpose production plant for PU coating raw materials at Chempark Leverkusen in Germany. The new plant will be integrated into existing HDI and IPDI production at the site. The company is investing roughly EUR 35 million in the expansion of its production capacities. The plant is scheduled to come on stream in fall 2013.

Polyurethanes

Eurofoam to close its production site in Bexbach

Eurofoam, the 50/50 joint venture between Recticel and the Austrian group Greiner, announced its decision to streamline its flexible foam operations in Germany by closing its loss-making comfort foam production and converting unit in Bexbach by end June 2012.

Polyurethanes

THAILAND: PTTGC to invest B100 billion

PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) plans to invest 100 billion baht over the next five years, half of it on recent acquisition Perstorp Holding France SAS, a technology firm and major manufacturer of isocyanates in Europe and Asia.

Polyurethanes

Recticel intends to close its production site in Bladel

Recticel b.v. has recently announced its intention to streamline its flexible foam operations in the Netherlands by closing its comfort foam converting unit in Bladel by mid-2012.

PolyurethanesThermoplastic Elastomers

AkzoNobel to take 100 % control of Metlac Group

AkzoNobel plans to strengthen its position in packaging coatings by exercising the right to buy the remaining shares of Metlac, an Italian-based packaging coatings producer. Financial details were not disclosed.

At the comissioning (f.l.t.r.): Dr. Steffen Kühling (head of production & technology at the PU business), Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Dr. Joachim Wolff, and Dr. Klaus Jaeger (who is heading the BMS sites in North Rhine-Westphalia)
Polyurethanes

BMS commissions new hydrogenation technical center

Bayer MaterialScience has commissioned a new technical centre for the development of isocyanate production processes at Chempark Dormagen, Germany. The research centre was erected in just under a year with an investment of EUR 5 million.

Polyurethanes

BASF to build an integrated 300 kt TDI plant in Ludwigshafen

BASF today announced that it will build a single-train 300,000 t/y production plant for TDI and expand additional plants for its precursors at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. These include the construction of a new hydrogen chloride recycling plant as well as the expansion of plants for nitric acid, chlorine and synthesis gas.

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