Evonik expands global R&D by opening a pioneering Asia research hub in Singapore

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Germany-based specialty chemicals company Evonik has opened its first research hub for resource efficiency topics in Singapore, internationalizing its research into the areas of functional surfaces and additive manufacturing, as per the company's press release.

Furthermore the new R&D hub will be the home for Evonik’s project house tissue engineering, which is under the leadership of Creavis, the strategic innovation unit of Evonik. Overall the new hub in Singapore showcases Evonik’s strategic decision to expand the internationalization of its research and development activities.

"Innovation is an integral part of our growth strategy," said Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman of the Board for Evonik Industries during the opening ceremony. "We are actively pursuing new opportunities to boost our international R&D activities and the opening of this research hub is a significant contribution to these efforts. By focusing on promising research areas for the future this hub will strengthen our position as a global leader in specialty chemicals."

For Evonik, Singapore combines the best of two worlds: highly qualified researchers from leading science faculties and quick reaction times of local administration. "This research hub is ideally located to drive innovation for our Resource Efficiency segment by developing forward-looking solutions and technologies for our clients in all global markets", added Claus Rettig, Chairman of the Board of Management, Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH. He said: "With this new hub, we are taking advantage of a new approach to research: Enabling a creative environment for innovations and encouraging agile, flexible working."

Located in Biopolis, the home for international and groundbreaking research in Singapore, the hub offers national and international professionals and graduates - spanning from engineers to scientists - a creative environment for innovative ideas in a highly interactive workplace. Talent from all over the world will be brought together to carry out pioneering R&D by integrating scientific and technological capabilities in a collaborative lab concept.

With the research hub, Evonik is expanding its collaboration with public and private research institutions and organizations. Evonik has formed a partnership with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore to develop novel technologies in additive manufacturing for industrial application.

"Evonik has been present in Singapore for more than 20 years and our strong regional footprint has positioned us as a market leader in the speciality chemical industry, particularly in Asia," said Peter Meinshausen, President of Evonik Asia Pacific South. "The research hub will not only reinforce our competitive position, but will also play a critical role in pioneering impactful innovations to address industry needs and challenges in and beyond this region in the years ahead."

As MRC informed previously, Evonik Resource Efficiency will invest in a capacity expansion of its performance foams business at its production site in Darmstadt, Germany. The investment will increase the output of the facility by about 20% as a first step. The Group will be adding production equipment to its operations complex that manufactures products marketed under the Rohacell brand. The expanded production capacity is expected to be operational by the second half of 2017.

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world.
MRC

HEMCO offers rust proof chemical resistant Corner Canopy Hoods


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Corner Canopy Hood is the solution to maximizing your wasted space in corner areas., HEMCO said. It is designed to capture and exhaust corrosive vapors, heat steam, and odors when mounted over areas that have water baths, hot plates or other lab equipment, as per Coatingsworld.

The canopy hood is molded one piece seamless of advanced composite resins that have superior chemical and corrosion resistance, are flame retardant and lightweight for a no rust guarantee, per HEMCO.

The corner canopy can either be wall mounted or suspended from the ceiling and can be equipped with optional side wall panels to prevent cross drafts from affecting the containment of fumes. Standard wall and island canopy hoods are also available both in composite resin and stainless steel.
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Temasek subscribes to capital increase and acquires approximately 3.6 percent of Bayer

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The investment company Temasek has signed an agreement to subscribe to 31 million new shares of Bayer, corresponding to around 3.6 percent of the capital stock, for total gross proceeds of EUR3 billion, as per Bayer's press release.

With the consent of the Supervisory Board, the Board of Management of Bayer AG resolved to execute the capital increase out of authorized capital against cash contributions and excluding the subscription rights of existing Bayer shareholders. Under the agreement, Bayer is to issue to a subsidiary of Temasek at an at-market price the new registered (no-par value) shares with an entitlement to dividends as of January 1, 2017.

On completion of the capital increase, together with its existing shareholdings in Bayer, Temasek will hold approximately 4 percent of the issued capital stock of Bayer. The shares issued to Temasek will not be subject to any lock-up period. "We are very pleased that Temasek has significantly increased its holding in our company. Temasek takes equity positions in leading companies globally and is a long-term investor," said Bayer CEO Werner Baumann. "This investment affirms our business strategy including the proposed acquisition of Monsanto, as well as Bayer’s strong growth prospects."

The proceeds from this placement will be taken into account when determining the size of the previously announced share capital increase through a rights offering with subscription rights to existing shareholders to finance the proposed acquisition of Monsanto.

As MRC wrote before, in the second half of March 2018, Bayer received the green light from the EU to buy Monsanto, after promising to sell off substantial parts of its business, clearing a major hurdle to the last of a trio of mega-mergers consolidating the global agrochemical industry.

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech polymer materials. As an innovation company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer's products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. In fiscal 2017, the Group employed around 99,800 people and had sales of EUR35.0 billion.
MRC

Sika AG increased sales by 11% in 2018 Q1

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sika said it achieved double-digit sales growth in the first quarter and a new sales record of CHF 1,554.0 million, as per Coatingsworld.

This equates to an increase of 11 percent in local currencies (previous year: 10.7 percent). A positive currency effect (0.9 percent) led to robust sales growth in Swiss francs of 11.9 percent. Sika's growth was also positively impacted by the consolidation of the seven companies acquired last year (acquisition effect: 6.3 percent). When compared to 2017, the fact that the Easter holiday period fell early this year had a negative impact on organic growth in the first quarter of 2018.

"The good development of business in the first quarter indicates that we will be able to grow strongly once again in 2018, and to further implement our strategic targets for 2020,” CEO Paul Schuler said. "We are looking to increase sales by more than 10 percent for the year as a whole, and thereby break through the CHF 7 billion sales mark for the first time."

In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) sales increased by 10.2 percent (previous year: 12.4 percent). The major EU countries with the core markets of Spain and the U.K. also exhibited growth. The Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa delivered very impressive growth rates. In the beginning of 2018, Sika acquired Index Construction Systems and Products.

The newly formed Americas region generated growth of 12.2 percent (previous year: 14.0 percent), of which 5.5 percent was achieved through acquisitions. The harsh North American winter led to the postponement of numerous large projects. Mexico and Argentina continue to exhibit above-average development.

Growth in the Asia/Pacific region amounted to 3.9 percent (previous year: 7.1 percent). The highest growth rates were recorded by India, Australia and New Zealand. China and Japan also contributed to growth in this region. In Vietnam, a state-of-the-art facility for mortar production has come on stream in the Bac Ninh plant alongside the existing production of concrete admixtures.

The new Global Business segment recorded a growth rate of 20.9 percent (previous year: 3.3 percent). Among other things, this includes the globally managed automotive business as well as the two acquisitions Axson Technologies and Faist ChemTec.

MRC

PPG Launches MEASURECOLOR MOBILE Color-matching Tool in Europe

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PPG announced the European launch of the MEASURECOLOR MOBILE tool, an innovative and accurate color platform that combines a color-matching app with a handheld scanning device to immediately identify color matches, as per Coatingsworld.

Within seconds, the technology links customers to more than 2,500 commonly specified colors in PPG’s industrial powder and liquid coatings color library.

"The easy-to-use scanning device is about the same size as a flashlight battery," said Marco Galanzino, PPG product manager, powder coatings, Europe, Middle East and Africa. "Customers can place it on nearly any surface, including metal, plastic, wood and even soft surfaces, to begin the color-matching process."

Within seconds, the BLUETOOTH enabled scanning device interprets the colour data, calculates the colour difference and promptly sends a PPG colour match to the MeasureColor Mobile app on the user’s tablet or smartphone, eliminating days of lab work and related production costs.

The cloud-based tool does more than match colours to within a Delta E of 0.5. It also provides important ordering information, such as the color name, product code, gloss range, resin chemistry and informs the user whether the product is in stock based on location. Customers can then order the PPG powder coatings they need right on the spot, saving time and money. In addition, the search results give customers the freedom to work with experienced PPG representatives to compare colour standards and choose the best colors for their specific job.

"The mobile tool reflects PPG’s long-standing commitment to customer service and underscores its pledge to provide customers with innovative coatings solutions that meet specific customer needs,” Galanzino said. “Through the MeasureColor Mobile tool, our customers now have a fast and accurate way to keep their color-matching projects moving ahead."
MRC