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MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has announced plans for a major investment in a pioneering superabsorbent technology platform of its hygiene business, reported the company on its site.
BASF will invest up to EUR500 million (USD625 million) over the next 2 to 3 years to establish droplet polymerization capacities worldwide by revamping existing plants. The rollout of the new technology underlines BASF’s technology leadership and leading position in the market for superabsorbent polymers.
Superabsorbent polymers are polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of liquid relative to their own mass. They are used as a main component in baby diapers, incontinence products and feminine hygiene products. BASF researchers have worked intensively in the last decade to develop a new technology and optimize the corresponding production processes. BASF will launch a new generation of highly innovative superabsorbent polymers under the trademark SAVIVATM. The launch is scheduled sequentially, starting end of 2016.
Based on its round-shaped particles with micro-pores, SAVIVATM has an innovative liquid distribution mechanism, making it a highly efficient superabsorbent polymer in a diaper core. It has been tested comprehensively in laboratories, in diaper prototypes and with end consumers in home-use tests, confirming its outstanding properties and its performance in diapers. Selected customers have already given positive feedback.
"To launch this breakthrough innovation in a fast and efficient way, BASF has developed a revamp strategy. In order to keep time-to-market as short as possible, BASF will extend and modify already existing production sites," said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE. Existing facilities will in future be able to produce both SAVIVATM and the current product HySorb a.
The first wave of revamping existing plants will be kicked off in Europe, closely followed by plants in Asia and the Americas. This underlines the business approach BASF is taking, investing close to its customers and providing a global footprint for a reliable, global supply.
As MRC informed before, in September 2014, BASF announced the start-up of a new butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The plant has an annual production capacity of 155,000 metric tons. The plant in Antwerp is BASF’s second butadiene extraction plant in Europe. BASF already operates a butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with an annual production capacity of 105,000 metric tons. With the plant in Antwerp, BASF is more than doubling its production capacity for butadiene in Europe.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
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BASF plans major investment in pioneering superabsorbent technology
Celanese introduces medical grades of tribological polymer
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, has announced the introduction of Hostaform MT SlideX POM, a family of tribologically modified, medically compliant engineered materials, as per the company's press release.
These new thermoplastic polymers enable the production of medical devices with a very low coefficient of friction and wear, low noise (squeaking) and eliminate the need for external lubrication. Medical devices manufactured with these new materials operate smoothly with a high degree of patient comfort and consistency from the very first use.
Hostaform MT SlideX POM is a competitive alternative to various kinds of high-performance, tribologically modified compounds. When compared to alternative materials, Hostaform MT SlideX POM offers a significantly lower coefficient of friction in medical devices combined with the Celanese medical technology (MT) service package. This results in the potential to reduce costs by removing design constraints and simplifying material combinations in complex devices while avoiding external lubrication in manufacturing processes.
The MT service package addresses quality, change control and regulatory compliance in accordance with pharmaceutical and medical industry expectations, based on Celanese's extensive experience with material supply to the medical market.
"The use of medically compliant polymers from Celanese is helping the medical industry to design and manufacture medical devices which can significantly increase patient comfort by reducing friction and noise," said Andrew Brown, director of Celanese's global medical industry platform. "These new materials can improve design and processing capability and increase performance levels of key medical components. The introduction of these new low-tribological polymer grades from Celanese underscores our commitment to medical industry innovation which benefits patients who seek greater comfort and ease of use in their medical devices."
As MRC reported earlier, Celanese Corporation increased the November price of vinyl acetate-based emulsions sold in the Americas. Thus, PVAc homopolymer, vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) and vinyl acrylic emulsions rose by up to USD0.05/wet pound effective November 1, 2014, or as contracts allowed. This price increase affected all applications including, but not limited to, adhesives, paints and coatings, building products, nonwovens, glass fiber, carpet, paper and textiles.
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of USD6.5 billion.
MRC
Ineos declares force majeure on LLDPE
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ineos has declared force majeure on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) from its Grangemouth, UK, site, reported Plastemart.
The 320,000 tpa LLDPE plant is expected to be down for three weeks, alongside Ineos’ KG cracker that is being brought down this week because of a defect in its steam system.
As MRC wrote before, in October 2013, Ineos Industries Holdings agreed to acquire the Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) from Fortum, that serves the Grangemouth site, for GBP54 million. Grangemouth CHP, currently owned and operated by Fortum, is a natural gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant located at the Grangemouth petrochemical site and refinery in Scotland.
Ineos Group Limited is a privately owned multinational chemicals company consisting of 15 standalone business units, headquartered in Rolle, Switzerland and with its registered office in Lyndhurst, United Kingdom. It is the fourth largest chemicals company in the world measured by revenues (after BASF, Dow Chemical and LyondellBasell) and the largest privately owned company in the United Kingdom.
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Lubrizol to acquire Warwick Chemicals
MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Lubrizol Corporation, an innovative specialty chemical company, has signed an agreement to purchase Warwick Chemicals, a leading global developer, producer and supplier of stain removal technology with hygiene benefits, as per the company's press release.
This acquisition will complement Lubrizol's existing home care product line, strengthening its strategy of providing high-value technology solutions to its global customers.
Headquartered in Mostyn, North Wales, Warwick Chemicals has strong positions with global and regional detergent producers. Their products are an essential element in laundry detergent powders and automatic dishwashing products used across five continents and in more than 50 countries.
The transaction also includes Warwick Equest, a leading manufacturer of test swatches for fabric cleaning.
"Consistent with our long-term strategy and vision, we are always seeking to expand our portfolio with technologies that provide solutions, add value to our customer's products and deliver consumer benefits," said Rick Tolin, vice president and general manager of Lubrizol Personal and Home Care. "The acquisition of Warwick will complement Lubrizol's strong portfolio of rheology modifiers, functional polymers and surfactants, and will place us in an excellent position to offer integrated solutions to our customers."
Upon completion of the transaction, Warwick Chemicals will retain its company name and will become part of Lubrizol Advanced Materials, reporting into Lubrizol's personal and home care business. This transaction includes all intellectual property, trademarks and customer lists of Warwick Chemicals.
As MRC wrote previously, Lubrizol Corporation and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. have recently announced that they have entered into an alliance agreement making Lubrizol the exclusive worldwide seller and marketer of the LUCANT(TM) polymer product range to the lubricant industry. This agreement will maximize each company's strengths and utilizes a joint development approach to new polymer R&D. LUCANT will be marketed as a viscosity modifier for lubricant applications as well as a synthetic base fluid component for lubricant formulations.
The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that apart from its production develops and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol's advanced polymer technology delivers exceptional performance for the plumbing, fire sprinkler, industrial and other building and construction related applications. Lubrizol is providing innovative solutions for its customers high-performance application needs and remains committed to ongoing investment in its CPVC capabilities that support future growth.
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Finnish packaging company Huhtamaki sells films business
DBAG will hold 17% in Huhtamaki Films and invest up to 12.5 million euros (USD15.6 million). The DBAG Fund VI and the company’s management will hold the remaining shares.
The film division, which is headquartered in Forchheim, Germany, saw net sales of more than 187 million euros (USD252.8 million) in 2013. In July, its Espoo, Finland-based parent company announced that it was looking to divest from the segment to focus more on food packaging.
DBAG was interested. The firm looks for well-positioned, mid-size companies and it sees Huhtamaki Films as a specialized enterprise that collaborates closely with customers to develop and produce plastics-based liners and films for hygiene and health products, the construction industry, and adhesive tapes and labels. Sales are pretty evenly divided among the three areas of application.
About 75% of Huhtamaki Films’ diverse product portfolio, which ranges from the outer layer of baby diapers to acoustic and thermal insulation to films for sealing sewage pipes, was developed to meet specific customer needs. The products are made with various degrees of siliconization, barrier properties to protect against light or fluid, and they can have tear-proof, biodegradable or antistatic qualities.
The films and liners are produced at four facilities that employ more than 600 people in Forchheim; Malvern, Pa.; Thailand and Brazil. The company has more than 1,000 staff in total.
Huhtamaki Films is the first company to be added to DBAG’s portfolio for the 2014-15 financial year. The management buyout offers a chance to expand the product offering, according to Peter Wahsner, executive vice president of Huhtamaki Films.
DBAG expects to complete two or three management buyouts and up to three expansion capital investments annually. Managed and advised assets currently add up to about 1.3 billion euros (USD1.6 billion). The Huhtamaki transaction, which is subject to regulatory clearance, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
Huhtamaki announced in July that it would buy India's Positive Packaging for 247 million euros to increase its access to Indian and Middle Eastern markets.
As MRC wrote before, Huhtamaki, the Finnish-based consumer packaging specialist with worldwide operations, will build a moulded fibre egg packaging unit adjacent to its existing packaging facility in the greater Moscow area.
The new unit will concentrate on a narrow range of high-volume premium egg packaging, with complementary products sourced from other Huhtamaki units and technology licensees. This supply network enables the company to start sales and deliveries while the new unit is still under construction. The company already has a specialised fresh foods sales force in Russia.