Henkel to showcase its comprehensive automotive composite expertise at JEC World 2018

MOSCOW (MRC) -- As a global solution provider to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, Henkel continues to drive significant progress in sustainable light weighting technologies with new composite and adhesive products and extended global Composite Lab capabilities, as per Automotiveworld.

Henkel’s specialists will be available to discuss the benefits of the company’s broad technology portfolio and global service capacities for composite applications in automotive and other demanding industries during JEC World 2018 on Booth G48 in Hall 6.

Among the highlights on display will be Henkel’s new Loctite MAX 5 matrix resin for carbon fiber reinforced composite wheels. The new technology is designed to replace aluminum in this demanding chassis application and builds on the recent success of Loctite MAX 2 for use in glass fiber reinforced leaf springs. The new resin combines high temperature resistance, excellent toughness and long-term durability with rapid mold filling, thorough fiber impregnation and high curing rates for cost-efficient large volume production.

Another spotlight will be on the company’s new Loctite UK 2032 adhesive for multi-substrate designs, following the strong response to Loctite UK 2015 introduced at last year’s JEC. Both adhesives are ideally suited for bonding structural parts made of composite materials with distinctly different coefficients of thermal expansion, from plastics to e-coated steel or aluminum.

Loctite UK 2032 and Loctite UK 2015 are specifically designed to meet automotive performance requirements as well as high volume production demands.

Furthermore, Henkel will show various demonstration parts molded in new RTM test tools at the company’s Heidelberg Composite Lab. This includes thick leaf spring test parts as well as parts with a complex 3D geometry. In the Composite Lab Henkel also does preforming of these parts made with the Henkel Binder Loctite FRP 2000.

"There is an ongoing strong trend for further light weighting in automotive, with a clear focus on chassis components and integrated multi-substrate designs engineered to meet the industry’s strict fleet fuel consumption and CO? regulation targets," says Konrad Brimo Hayek, Senior Business Development Manager – Chassis, ADAS & Safety for Henkel.

"With our comprehensive product portfolio for the composites industry, including matrix resins, multi-substrate adhesives, binders and release agents, we are determined to play a leading role in this market as a global solutions partner with extensive customer support capabilities. Above all, this also includes Henkel’s dedicated two Composite Labs in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan), providing advanced process know-how, application engineering and customer trial facilities," Brimo Hayek adds.

Henkel will present its matrix resins and multi-substrate adhesives for large-scale composite production on March 8th, 12.30 pm.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polymer Solutions Group, a leading manufacturer of specialty polymers and additives, has announced it has acquired the assets of Phoenix Chemical Company, Inc., reported PRWeb.

PSG is a portfolio company of Arsenal Capital Partners and was established in June 2015.

Based in Calhoun, GA, Phoenix Chemical is a specialty chemical manufacturer and distributor focused on the carpet, textile, water treatment, and household, industrial & institutional chemicals markets. Phoenix Chemical brings to PSG significant market expansion, technical and manufacturing capabilities, and enhanced logistics that complement PSG’s other business units; in particular, Peach State Labs (PSL), Flow Polymers, and SASCO Chemical.

Mike Ivany, President and Chief Executive Officer of Polymer Solutions Group, said, "The addition of Phoenix Chemical to PSG will allow us to further build our Functional Materials Business Unit. Phoenix Chemical brings unique skills and capabilities, and we look forward to all our businesses supporting each other as we build the PSG platform. We are fortunate that John Bryant will be staying on to lead the Phoenix Chemical business."

"I am delighted with the sale of our Phoenix Chemical business to PSG. We have built a great business and combining it with the PSG platform allows us to continue our growth with expanded technology and manufacturing resources," said John Bryant, President of Phoenix Chemical. "Our customer relationships are key to our success, and with PSG, we expect to be able to expand our offerings and enhance our ability to add value."

The assets of Phoenix Chemical and its affiliated entities, New South Distribution, Inc. and Olive Branch Distribution, Inc., are being acquired by Phoenix Chemical Company LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of PSG.

PSG is a manufacturer of specialty polymers and additives for the rubber, wood, consumer, construction, and medical industries. PSG was formed by Arsenal Capital Partners in 2015 with the acquisition of Peach State Labs (Rome, GA). Flow Polymers (Cleveland, OH), SASCO Chemical (Albany, GA) and Alkon Solutions (Leeds, UK) were added in 2016.

Established in 2000, Arsenal Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in middle-market specialty industrials and healthcare companies. Since inception, Arsenal has raised institutional equity investment funds of approximately USD3 billion. Arsenal invests in industry sectors in which the firm has significant prior knowledge and experience and seeks companies typically in the range of USD100-500 million of initial enterprise value. The firm works with management teams to build strategically important companies with leading market positions, high growth, and high value-add.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations oN March shipments of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) began in Russia between producers and converters on Monday. All producers announced a Rb2,000-3,000/tonne price increase from February, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The growth of prices of suspension PVC in the Russian market began in January, and March will be the third month of resin appreciation. Despite the low seasonal demand for PVC and finished products, local producers managed to balance the domestic market. In addition, a two-week scheduled shutdown of production from the largest supplier, RusVinyl, is planned in April. It will affect the balance of the Russian market in the near future.

Some Russian producers announced a price increase of roubles (Rb) 3,000/tonne from the February level. The current strengthening of the rouble exchange rate against the dollar does not save the situation for Russian consumers. Prices for imported PVC continued to be much higher than Russian resin. Although the trend is possibly to change.

PVC prices have begun to rise sharply in Asia since December, with maximum reached two weeks ago. There is a certain pause after the New Year holidays (according to the Lunar calendar) in China. Price offers for acetylene resin from key Chinese suppliers were in the range of USD920-960/tonne DAP Moscow by mid-February. Taken into account the current strengthening of the rouble against the dollar makes the prices of Chinese PVC not less than Rb68,000/tonne DDP Moscow, including VAT.

Demand for PVC from Russian consumers in January-February was seasonally low due to a similar situation in the finished goods market. But some converters bought PVC in excess to smooth out the price growth for the next months.

Demand for finished products is not expected to increase significantly in March, however demand for PVC will improve in the domestic market, especially given the small volumes of imports and the forthcoming shutdown of the largest producer.

Overall, deals for March shipments are discussed in the range of Rb65 500-67 500/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, for K=65/67 and for volumes up to 500 tonnes, which was up by Rb2,000-3,000/tonne from February.
Negotiations on prices for resin with K70 started from Rb65,500/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, and reached Rb68,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the world’s fourth-biggest petrochemicals company, is in talks to become a partner in Iraq’s Nebras petrochemical project, an advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said, reported Reuters.

Kadhim Mohammed Jawad Hassan told Reuters on the sidelines of CWC’s Iraq Petroleum Conference in Berlin that talks between Saudi Arabia and Iraq on the project are advanced and at the ministerial level.

He said SABIC would enter as a fourth partner with Royal Dutch Shell, and the Iraqi oil and agriculture ministries.

SABIC was planning to open an office in Iraq late last year.

The Nebras project is still in the pre-FEED (front-end engineering design) stage.

As MRC wrote previously, SABIC continued its global expansion with the inauguration of a new polypropylene (PP) pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, in September 2017, and the announcement of a new investment in a state-of-the-art PP extrusion facility to be built at the same location.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- DowDuPont has announced the corporate brand names that each of its divisions plans to assume once they are separated as independent companies as intended, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

While certain product names will change at separation, many products within each intended company will continue to be sold under their current, widely known brand names.

Ed Breen, chief executive officer of DowDuPont, said, "Our selection of these company names is a major milestone in the process of creating three, strong independent companies, and each name reflects the unique strengths and value proposition of the company it will represent. As we move forward, a critical part of our work will be to build and strengthen the global corporate brands that express the commitment we are making to our customers, employees, investors, and all of our stakeholders, to grow value through innovation."

Andrew Liveris, executive chairman of DowDuPont said, "The Dow and DuPont teams have made incredible progress in six short months and today’s announcement is another demonstration of the unprecedented value creation potential of this historic merge and spin transaction. We are squarely focused on unlocking enhanced cost and growth synergies, delivering on our growth investments and innovation pipeline, and separating into three industry-leading companies on the accelerated timelines we recently announced."

The intended Agriculture company, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, will assume the name Corteva Agriscience, which is based on a combination of words meaning "heart" and "nature."

James C. Collins, Jr., chief operating officer, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, said, "In Corteva Agriscience, we bring together three businesses with deep connections and dedication to generations of farmers. Our new name reflects our commitment to enhancing their productivity as well as the health and well-being of the consumers they serve. Our name reflects our purpose: enriching the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. With the most balanced portfolio of products in the industry, nearly a century of agronomic expertise, and an unparalleled innovation engine, we are creating a new agriculture company that will work together with the entire food ecosystem to produce a secure supply of healthy food sustainably and efficiently."

With more than USD14 billion in 2017 pro forma revenue and USD2.6 billion in 2017 pro forma operating EBITDA, the Agriculture Division has the most comprehensive and balanced seed and crop protection portfolio in the world and a strong pipeline of new products that will enable it to continue to provide substantial value to farmers now and over the long term.

While Corteva Agriscience will be the corporate brand name upon the separation of the division from DowDuPont, the company will continue to offer products under a number of the most recognized and premium brands in agriculture: Pioneer, Mycogen, the newly launched Brevant Seeds, and its award-winning Crop Protection products, such as Aproach Prima fungicide and Quelex herbicide with Arylex active, as well as others it will introduce as it brings new products to market.

With respect to the intended Materials Science company, based in Midland, Michigan, Jim Fitterling, chief operating officer, Materials Science Division of DowDuPont said, "The Dow name and the Dow diamond have an extremely strong foundation from which we will grow and serve our customers. The iconic red diamond logo will serve as a point of continuity for all of our stakeholders as we build the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. We will continue Dow’s long history of innovation and be centred on Dow’s core values of respect for people, integrity, and protecting our planet."

With nearly USD44 billion in 2017 pro forma revenue1 and USD9.1 billion in 2017 pro forma operating EBITDA1, the Materials Science Division is the premier materials science solution provider, leveraging its integration and innovation strengths to focus on three high-growth market verticals - packaging, infrastructure and consumer care.

The intended Specialty Products company, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, will become the new DuPont, reflecting the strength of its technology-driven specialty businesses with highly-differentiated products and solutions that transform industries and everyday life.

With USD21 billion in 2017 pro forma revenue2 and USD5.3 billion in 2017 pro forma operating EBITDA2, the intended Specialty Products company is well positioned for growth opportunities where customer collaboration and innovation are central to value creation.

Additional brand development work for the intended Materials Science company and the intended Specialty Products company is ongoing.

As announced earlier this month, Materials Science is anticipated to separate by the end of the first quarter of 2019, and Agriculture and Specialty Products are expected to separate by June 1, 2019.

As MRC informed before, on 31 August 2017, Dow Chemical Co and DuPont said the companies successfully completed their planned USD130 billion merger to form DowDuPont.
MRC