Interplastic acquires polymer-based technology

(polynews) -- Interplastic Corp. has bought polymer-based product technology from paint and coatings producer Valspar Corp. for an undisclosed price.

The deal includes technologies, formulations and processing data for two lines of polymer-based gel coats and one line of polymer-based coatings. The products are used in the marine industry and other markets.

Interplastic Corporation is a specialty chemical company with headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, the USA. Its thermoset resins division focuses on the production and distribution of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, gel coats, and colorants for the composites and cast polymer industries. Its molding products division is a leader in the production of sheet molding compounds and other thermoset molding materials.
MRC

(Plastopedia) -- Green Dot, a Kansas, USA based start-up, has launched a pioneering material specifically designed for customers looking for a soft plastic solution. Green Dot's GDH-B1 can offer a safe choice for soft plastic childrenplastics chemicals' toys. The new material was tested at NSF International for Children's Product Safety Testing for hazardous metals and proved to be in compliance with standards for the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg Businessweek had chosen Green Dot as one of America's Top 25 Social Entrepreneurs of 2012. The company was selected as a finalist from among a field of more than 300 applicants. Bloomberg, whose criteria included scope, impact, and economic sustainability, noted that the price of Green Dot's GDH-B1 cornstarch bioresin was competitive with similar materials that aren't biodegradable and that the company had already shipped nearly 70,000 units of its first product.

The company's revenue is expected to exceed USD1 million this year.
MRC

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- Large columns of smoke and flame billowed over Venezuela's largest crude refinery Sunday, as authorities looked to put out a fire caused by an explosion over the weekend that killed dozens in the country's deadliest oil industry accident.

Government officials on Sunday said the 640,000 bpd Amuay refinery can be restarted in two days once the blaze has been extinguished and the area deemed "secure."

But crews battling the fire, which broke out early Saturday following a likely gas leak explosion that killed 41 people and injured over 80 more, were dealt a setback by shifting winds overnight.

At least one official at the local oil industry union questioned the government's stance that the plant could resume operations in just a couple days.

The Amuay refinery, together with the facilities at Cardon and Bajo Grande, form part of the Paraguana Refining Center , the largest oil processing conglomerate in the world. The facility is part of the larger Paraguana complex, located in the northwestern coastal state of Falcon, with a total refining capacity of roughly 950,000 bpd.

Venezuela supplies about 13 percent of the daily oil and oil products imported into the United State, much of which is gasoline.
MRC

(plastemart) -- Chinese researchers set a new world record in power conversion efficiency for polymer-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. The 9.31% efficiency was certified by the Newport Technology & Application Center’s Photovoltaic Lab in Long Beach, Calif.

Unlike traditional, rigid solar cells, organic solar cells are made from flexible polymer. Instead of bulky wires, polymer solar cells use organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules. The super-efficient cell utilized a new polymer jointly developed by Solarmer and Philips 66.

Solarmer is a world leader in development of OPV technology. The company's materials portfolio has more than 100 novel high efficiency polymers for OPV.

Phillips 66 is a holding company created through the repositioning of ConocoPhillips. The Company is engaged in producing natural gas liquids and petrochemicals.
MRC

(Business Recorder) -- The National Tariff Commission (NTC) has imposed provisional anti-dumping duty on import of Biaxially Oriented Poly Propylene (BOPP) film, ranging between 22.92 to 62.70 percent from China, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Saudi Arabia, from August 14, 2012 to December 13, 2012.

The anti-dumping duty would be 22.92 percent on the import of BOPP film from Oman (exporter name Taghleef) and anti-dumping duty would be 22.92 percent on the import of BOPP Film (all other exporters).

The anti-dumping duty would be 62.70 percent on the import of BOPP Film from China (all exporters). The anti-dumping duty would be 26.91 percent on the import of BOPP Film from Saudi Arabia. According to the sources, these provisional anti dumping duty is levied for a period of four months with effect from August 14, 2012 to December 13, 2012.

The provisional antidumping duties shall take the form of security by way of cash deposit in Commission's Non-lapsable PLO Account No 187 with Federal Treasury Office Islamabad. Provisional antidumping duties would be collected in the same manner as customs duty under the Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969). The release of the investigated product for free circulation in Pakistan shall be subject to imposition of such antidumping duties.

In terms of Section 39 of the Ordinance, the Commission is required to make final determination within 180 days of publication of notice of Preliminary Determination. However, the Commission has planned to finalise this investigation within four months of the publication of this notice of Preliminary Determination, sources added.

MRC