DSM to boost capacity of Akulon XS for flexible packaging films

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Royal DSM is expanding Akulon XS production capacity at its facility in Emmen, the Netherlands in a bid to cater to the increasing demand, said the company on its site.

Akulon XS is a new polyamide that has been developed specifically for blown films used in flexible food packaging. The semi-crystalline structure of Akulon provides a barrier against oxygen and aromas; while the material also offers exceptional mechanical strength and durability, the company said.

This can help processors to overcome performance and productivity challenges faced when using conventional PA6 with high crystallization speed. The high crystallization speed of conventional PA6 will make processors to combine it with special amorphous polyamides or polyamide copolymers, reducing cost efficiency and properties.

DSM Akulon, Novamid, EcoPaXX global business director Danilo Fioravante said: "Demand for barrier films for flexible food packaging continues to rise in response to the growing need to reduce food waste and for longer food shelf-life. "This latest expansion in Akulon XS helps to address these demands and underpins our commitment to developing sustainable solutions for industry and society."

The capacity expansion for the high-performance polyamide 6 is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016.

Akulon is becoming film formulators' priority as it acts as barrier material that can significantly extend the shelf life of packaged food and thus avoid the environmental and financial cost of food waste.

As MRC informed earlier, last year Royal DSM has opened its new center for research into and development of high-performance materials on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.
MRC

Zeon to close rubber plant in UK in March 2016


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Zeon Chemicals Europe Ltd (ZCEL) has announced that it is postponing the planned closure of its site in Sully, Wales, to March 2016 from previously announced end of 2015, as per European-rubber-journal.

In April, Zeon announced the closure plans citing changing market conditions and uncertainty in the long-term availability and supply of primary raw materials to the UK site.

As MRC informed earlier, Zeon expected to end production in late December with the site closing at the end of March 2016. Capacity of the plant was not available. Zeon noted that it has already completed a consultation process with the site's approximate 100 employees.

As MRC wrote before, in 2013, Zeon started a new solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) plant on Singapore's Jurong Island. The plant is expected to have an initial capacity of 35,000 mt/year. The company was tentatively planning to double capacity in 2015-2016 but will watch the market demand for SBR first before deciding on this. The SBR produced at the plant will be used for tires, with SBR's key feedstocks being butadiene (60%) and styrene monomer (35%).

Zeon has three synthetic rubber plants with a total production capacity of 270,000 mt/year, which can produce SBR, butadiene rubber, as well as isoprene rubber.

Clariant closes alliance with Brazilian Beraca, takes 30% stake


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has closed its transaction to acquire a 30% share in Beraca Ingredientes Naturais S.A. (Beraca), which assumed the Health & Personal Care Business of Sabara Quimicos e Ingredientes S.A. Beraca is a leading player in natural, sustainable and innovative ingredients, as per conpany's press release.

Financial details of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

The two companies announced their intention to form a strategic partnership in January 2015. The deal was completed today and includes the possibility of major participation by Clariant in the future.

Beraca, prior to the partial acquisition by Clariant a family-owned business, will remain an independently managed company. It will continue to market its world-wide known product portfolio of active performance systems, fixed and essential oils, clays and butters sustainably harvested from Brazilian biomes.

Christian Vang, Head of Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties at Clariant, commented: "The alliance now created between key players in the Personal Care sector will build a partnership to deliver environmentally-compatible solutions, combining expertise on the sustainable use of biodiversity and state of the art formulation technology. Customers and end-consumers across the world will have access to a larger range of solutions. Besides meeting known demand for natural ingredients we see exciting opportunities to grow this business in geographies such as Africa and Asia."

"This partnership with Clariant is a key step of Beraca's sustainable growth and expansion plan. We foresee great innovation synergies that will culminate in creating more value to our main stakeholders, especially our customers and our partner sourcing communities. With this joint-venture, Beraca envisions its sustainable development cause in an even broader and meaningful magnitude", added Daniel Sabara, CEO of Beraca.

As MRC informed earlier, Clariant announced its latest double digit million investment at the groundbreaking ceremony held on November 5, 2015 at the Java Integrated Industrial & Port Estate (JIIPE) in Gresik, Surabaya, where construction has officially commenced to develop the first phase of a multi-purpose facility that would allow Clariant to establish its presence even further in Indonesia and Asia.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
MRC

Solvay and Accsys strengthen collaboration to accelerate marketing of sustainable Accoya wood


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay and Accsys Technologies PLC have strengthened their cooperation agreement to accelerate the development and marketing of Accoya, a high performance wood, ideal for outdoor use and challenging applications due to a technology that modifies sustainably sourced timber through a process called acetylation.

Under the terms of this agreement, Accsys will gradually double the existing manufacturing capacity at Accsys’ site in Arnhem, the Netherlands, to 80,000 cubic meters per year, funded in part by a loan from Solvay. Solvay has obtained rights to market Accoya as of January 1, 2016, concentrating on 22 countries, with Accsys providing sales and marketing services to Solvay.

"Accoya wood matches or exceeds the durability and dimensional stability of the best tropical hardwoods and has been certified repeatedly for its sustainability," said Philippe Rosier, President of Solvay Acetow. "This strengthened agreement with Accsys fits perfectly with Solvay’s commitment to respond challenge of resource scarcity and the promotion of use of materials that can be recycled."

As a result of the increased manufacturing capacity in Arnhem, sales are expected to be achieved for Accoya in a faster timescale than would otherwise be possible.

Sourced from sustainable FSC certified wood, Accoya is based upon acetylated wood technology which modifies the chemical structure of natural wood and makes it more resistant to water and fungous.

As MRC informed earlier, Solvay has been recognized as one of the world’s most innovative companies, with a ranking in the Thomson Reuters 2015 Top 100 Global Innovator.

SOLVAY ACETOW is a cellulose acetate tow leader in filtration applications for consumer goods as well as in plastic and textile. Acetow is a worldwide producer with five production sites and has almost a century of experience in his core competence acetylation. Its innovation strategy is based on two pillars: improving core business and diversification.

Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, with its head office in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium. The company has diversified into two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. Solvay supplies over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers пїЅ fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds.
MRC

Court dismisses Klesch case against Arkema and orders Klesch to pay damages and costs


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema announced that as part of an arbitration procedure initiated by the Klesch Group against Arkema in March 2013, the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce has dismissed all the claims made by the Klesch Group against Arkema, as per company's press-release.

The court has ordered Klesch Chemicals to pay Arkema EUR73.6 million (USD78.2 million) in damages and the Klesch Group to reimburse Arkema the major part of the costs incurred in this procedure.

Klesch Group initiated the arbitration procedure in 2013, seeking EUR310m in compensation from Arkema for misrepresentations in the sale of its vinyls business. As MRC informed earlier, Klesch Group, led by American investor Gary Klesch, said it had discovered significant gaps in the information presented by Arkema's management before it completed the acquisition in July of Kem One SAS, whose products are used in items ranging from pipes and packaging to paper.

The court has also ordered Klesch Group to reimburse to Arkema the majority of the costs incurred in the arbitration procedure, it said.

Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
MRC