Borealis changes Film & Fibre and Moulding Business leadership

(Borealis) -- Borealis announced the promotion of Wim Roels, previously responsible for the Moulding business as Vice President, to Senior Vice President for the Business Unit Film & Fibre, effective August 1, 2010. Thierry Chevrier, coming from BASF, has been appointed his successor as Vice President Business Unit Moulding as of September 1, 2010.



Wim Roels graduated as a chemical engineer in 1983 from KIHO Gent and started his career with Recticel in the polyurethane and phenolic foam business. He joined Borealis as a Technical Service & Development Engineer for moulding applications in 1989, followed by several positions across the company including Plant Manager in Norway, Research Centre Manager in Porvoo (Finland), General Manager for Borealis Belgium, Vice President for Polyolefin Research & Development and Vice President Innovation & Technology. Since May 1, 2008 Wim Roels has been leading Borealis' activities in moulding, driving innovation in the world of packaging and technical products.



Thierry Chevrier brings with him over 15 years of international experience in a variety of senior roles in the Plastics and Pigments industry. Most recently, Thierry was Vice President Global Asset Management & Global Restructuring Management Pigments, focusing largely on the integration and streamlining of Ciba Pigments into BASF, encompassing some 22 sites and 1,500 employees spread across the globe. Prior to this, he was located in the USA for approximately three years as Vice President Business Unit Plastics, Coatings, Inks & Specialities. His first assignment within BASF as Business Director for Pigments and Additives gave him an intensive background in the Packaging, Automotive and Construction Industries including the successful acquisition of Johnson Polymer.

MRC

Solvay increases elastomers output

(prw) -- Solvay is to increase the production capacity for peroxide curable fluoroelastomers, under the trademark Tecnoflon, at its Solexis plant at Spinetta Marengo, Italy. Solvay is investing ┬10m in the capacity increase, which is expected to start producing in the first half of 2012.


According to the company, demand for PC fluoroelastomers in the automotive industry is rapidly growing as these polymers can withstand high temperatures and are also chemical resistant. They are also used in systems for alternative fuels containing methanol or ethanol where their low permeability reduces fuel losses.

MRC

Zircotec increases performance of its F1 composites

(prw) -- Increasing demand for coatings that protect composites against the effects of wear and abrasion has led Italian motorsport specialists CRP Technology to become the first reseller of Zircotec's ceramic and metallic protective coatings for its own mouldings.

This year, driven partly by higher vehicle weight and the introduction of blown diffusers, Zircotec's coatings are unlocking performance and durability gains for more than half the F1 grid, notably for braking and chassis and aero parts.

MRC

DuPont and Sinopec commence EVA production in China

(prw) -- DuPont and China Petroleum & Chemical, known as Sinopec, have started production at their joint venture ethylene vinyl acetate production plant in Beijing, the parties said.


The facility will be DuPont's first EVA production in China, which it said is the world's fastest-growing market for the material.

EVA products made by the Beijing joint venture will carry DuPont's Elvax brand and will be marketed by DuPont. The Beijing facility is designed to provide more local support to customers there entering higher value applications, DuPont said in a release.

MRC

A Shulman reorganises its business in Europe

(prw) -- A Schulman is streamlining manufacturing operations at its Crumlin, South Wales, production facility and moving part of the plant's capacity to two other, larger plants in Europe.


As a result of the realignment, several production lines at the 74,000sq/ft UK facility will be shut down and approximately 30 jobs will be eliminated. Approximately 10,000 tons of masterbatch production will be moved from Crumlin to more cost-efficient, higher-capacity A Schulman production lines in Bornem, Belgium and Givet, France.

At the same time, the company will continue to enhance the capabilities of the Crumlin plant to produce smaller lots of colours and other speciality compounds for the local market

MRC