HDPE production in Russia increased by 17%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- For the ten months the Russian producers increased HDPE production up to 669.4 KT which is 17% more compared to the same period last year. Despite unstable work of some producers, overall production has considerably grown this year.

In March Salavatnefteorgsintez started HDPE production with annual capacity of 120 KT. But still the plant hasn't reached its full capacity. For the eight months Salavatnefteorgsintez produced a bit more than 21 KT of polyethylene.

Nizhnekamskneftehim despite periodical switch to linear polyethylene production this year has increased HDPE output more than by 100 KT.

Totally taking into account the current level of capacities loading of the Russian producers, total volume of HDPE output by the end of the year may exceed the level of 800 KT. Gain in HDPE production will exceed 100 KT.

MRC

(ICIS) -- Arkema aims to generate earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) above ┬1bn ($1.37bn) in 2015 through innovation, growth in emerging markets and bolt-on acquisitions, the French specialty chemicals company said on Tuesday. This would correspond to an EBITDA margin of 14%, Arkema added. The company's EBITDA in 2009 was ┬310m.

Arkema said that in 2015, group sales were expected to total around ┬7.5bn, compared with around ┬5.8bn at the end of 2010. The company said this would happen as a result of innovation on sustainability, which should generate around ┬400m new sales in the next five years.

Growth would also be driven by a 60% increase of sales in emerging countries, especially in Asia. The company added that selective acquisitions in its best product lines would represent around ┬1bn of additional sales.

Arkema was spun off from oil major Total in 2006. It has operations in more than 40 countries and eight research centres. It employs 14,000 people.

MRC

(European Plastics News) -- The French induction heating technology company Roctool has announced a non-exclusive licence agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation Technos (MTS) and Fuji Group. The deal will allow Japanese companies to test and evaluate Roctool technology before taking up production licences.

The technologies involve both the Cage system for external induction heating of compression moulds for composites, and the more recent 3iTech integrated internal inductor system for injection moulding.

Under the 5-year agreement, while Fuji Group will apply the Roctool induction heating technologies to some of the moulds that it produces, MTS will provide assistance to the business development department at Roctool in Japan in both equipment sales, mainly generators, and promote Roctool technology.

MRC

(Thomas Net News) -- Harvel Plastics, Inc., recently announced the promotion of Greg Martino to vice president of sales. Martino previously served as the national sales manager for its industrial PVC and CPVC pipe, duct, and extruded products sector.

Harvel Plastics, Inc. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-quality PVC and CPVC industrial piping and duct systems and other thermoplastic extrusions. With manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Pennsylvania, California, and Texas, Harvel supplies wholesalers across North America plus export markets.

In addition Harvel also produces a full range of specialty piping systems for emerging technologies including renewable energy and biotech development.

MRC

(Plastics News) -- Nova Chemicals Corp. has sold its 50 percent stake in the Ineos Nova joint venture to partner Ineos Group for an undisclosed price.

Officials with Nova ≈ which also is a major North American polyethylene maker ≈ said they expect the sale to close in the first quarter of 2011. They added that Nova ⌠does not expect to record a material gain or loss related to the transaction.

In a statement, Nova CEO Randy Woelfel said the business has made progress since the JV was established, but it was not a ⌠strategic priority.

Ineos Nova's operating profit for the first nine months of 2010 was estimated at $56 million, up from $22 million in the same period last year.

MRC