A. Schulman to produce new compounding resins

(Canadian plastics) -- A. Schulman Inc. (ASI) inks a definitive agreement to acquire ECM Plastics, a privately owned plastics compounder located in Worcester, Mass., for USD36.5 million. The transaction is expected to close in early September pending the completion of closing requirements.

ASI wants to enter into new compounding resins such as ABS, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and fluoropolymers.

A. Schulman is a global plastics supplier, headquartered in Akron, Ohio. A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. The Company’s principal product lines consist of proprietary and custom-formulated engineered plastic compounds, color concentrates and additives that improve the appearance and performance of plastics in a number of specialized applications.A. Schulman has 33 manufacturing facilities globally. It reported net sales of USD2.2 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.
MRC

(chemmonitor)-- Keyuan Petrochemicals, a petrochemical company based in China, has launched commercial styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) manufacturing at its second production line. Beforehand, the company implemented pilot tests and production.

The company finished a new SBS plant in early autumn 2011. The annual output of the facility totals about 70,100 tons.

Keyuan Petrochemicals Inc., is a leading independent manufacturer and supplier of various petrochemical products. The company is located in Qingshi Industrial Park, Ningbo, China and has annual petrochemical manufacturing design capacity of 720,000 metric tons for a variety of petrochemical products, including BTX aromatics, propylene, styrene, MTBE and other chemicals.
MRC

(plastemart) -- Malaysia has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) from Vietnam, as per a state agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The investigation came after San Miguel Yamamura Plastic Films Sdn. Bhd. filed a lawsuit. The plaintiff has provided evidence showing that BOPP films imported from the aforesaid markets have surged in volume. Alleged dumping had hit the paper industry of Malaysia, according to the company. Thus, companies in the industry are losing market shares and their profit falls.

Vietnamese producers and exporters have to return the Malaysia questionnaire no later than September 5 this year.
MRC

(noodles) -- Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers (MCPP) intends to purchase a polyvinyl chloride compound plant in Bellevue, Ohio (USA) from A. Schulman, in a move to expand its presence in North America's polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compound market.

MCPP plans to purchase the Bellevue plant in order to enhance competitiveness in the PVC compound field and meet increasing demand in the North American market. MCPP plans to capitalize on this strategic acquisition by entering into a variety of markets beyond automotive components, as well as by expanding its existing business in thermoplastic elastomers for automotive injection and extrusion applications.

Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. It manufactures thermoplastic elastomers. Its products are used in various applications, such as automotive components, industrial, food contact, electric/home electric, PVC compounds, rigid PVC Compounds, halogen-free flame retardant polyolefin compounds, communication, miscellaneous daily goods, industrial goods, medical equipment, food wrapping, and modifier applications.
MRC

(Converting Quarterly) -- Pregis Corp, a leading supplier of protective packaging solutions based in Illinois, the USA, has acquired Inter-Pac, based in Tupelo, MS, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will make Pregis the largest producer of polyethylene sheet foam in the United States.

Pregis will continue to operate Inter-Pac’s 180,000-sq-ft Tupelo manufacturing facility.

This transaction will benefit Pregis' customers across all segments and channels, including such markets as furniture, housewares, electronics, automotive, industrial and recreational products. The company is going to bring a much wider product portfolio to Inter-Pac’s existing customers, according to company sources.

As one of the first manufacturers of packaging raw material in the United States, Inter-Pac has been leading the plastic and foam industry for more than 50 years. The company produces polyethylene foam, also known as PE, a strong resilient closed cell foam; inter-foam; I-Plank, a thicker polyethylene product that can be processed into any shape, density or thickness; extruded profiles.
MRC