Swiss polymer suppliers Rehau, MB Barter merging into USD2.5 billion business

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Rehau, a family-owned supplier of polymer-based solutions to the construction and automotive industries headquartered in Muri, Switzerland, has announced plans to acquire polymer distributor MB Barter & Trading AG, also of Switzerland, for an undisclosed amount, said Canplastics.

The deal, which is expected to close before the end of this year, will create a new, independent company with a volume of USD2.5 billion, Rehau said in a statement. The transaction includes Rehau GmbH in Muri bei Bern, Switzerland, as well as the worldwide subsidiaries of the MB Barter & Trading Group.

MB Barter is a global distributor of commodity polymers, PET, and rubber globally. The company has 30 offices worldwide.

"Decades of Rehau’s experience in materials, processes and applications [will combine] with the relevant trading and distribution expertise of MB Barter & Trading, with 30 locations worldwide, its reputation as a highly reliable full-service provider and its established relationships with suppliers and customers," Rehau said in its statement.

The name of the new company has not yet been announced.
MRC

Sabic manager to be appointed as Clariant CEO

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sabic installed one of its managers as chief executive officer of the Swiss chemicals maker Clariant and gained four seats on the board, said Bloomberg.

Ernesto Occhiello, a Sabic executive who came from Dow Chemical Co., will take the helm on Oct. 16, as outgoing CEO Hariolf Kottmann moves to become chairman. Muttenz, Switzerland-based Clariant also announced a merger of assets with Sabic to create a stronger plastics business. Investors applauded the move, sending Clariant shares up as much as 8.1 percent, the most in almost 16 months.

The changes could bring some stability to Clariant, which was the subject of recurring takeover speculation during the past decade that culminated in a failed merger with Huntsman Corp. and an attempt last year by an activist investor to break up the company. Instead, Sabic swooped in and bought a 25 percent holding.

"Clariant’s shares have lacked real momentum since the Huntsman deal was called off but today’s announcement gives the shares the convincing equity story they need," said Barclays analyst Alex Stewart.

The two makers of specialty chemicals have been locked in talks on how to leverage their relationship. Riyadh-based Sabic acquired General Electric Co.’s plastics division for USD11.6 billion a decade ago, with the operations now fitting with Clariant’s masterbatches and plastic compounding assets.

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

HDPE plant brought on-stream by Shanghai Golden Phillips

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shanghai Golden Phillips Petrochemical Co has restarted a high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has resumed operations at the plant on September 12, 2018. The plant was shut for maintenance turnaround on August 14, 2018.

Located in Shanghai, China, the HDPE plant has a production capacity of 135,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, the company shut down its HDPE plant in Shanghai from end-May to 13 June, 2017, owing to a lack of feedstock availability.

China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) is a super-large petroleum and petrochemical enterprise group established in July 1998 on the basis of the former China Petrochemical Corporation. Sinopec Group's key business activities include the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, petrochemicals and other chemical products, oil refining.
MRC

Beer-maker Carlsberg replacing plastic wrapping on its six-packs with glue

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Danish brewer Carlsberg says it will cut the amount of plastic used in traditional multi-packs by as much as 76 per cent by using glue to replace the plastic wrapping that holds together its six-packs of cans, as per Canplastics.

When rolled out, the new Snap Pack packaging will reduce plastic waste by over 1,200 tons per year, which is equivalent to 60 million plastic bags, Carlsberg said.

According to Carlsberg, the Snap Pack’s glue is strong enough to keep the cans together during transport and storage, but is easily pulled apart by the consumer when so desired.

"We’re constantly in pursuit of new ways to make probably the best beer in the world even better," Carlsberg said in a press release. "And not just the way it tastes. To reduce waste, we’re introducing our new snap pack, which uses a revolutionary glue technology."

The Carlsberg Group is a Danish brewing company founded in 1847 by J. C. Jacobsen with headquarters located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The company's flagship brand is Carlsberg Beer (named after Jacobsen's son Carl) but it also brews Tuborg, Kronenbourg, Somersby cider, Russia's best selling beer Baltika, Belgian Grimbergen abbey beers as well more than 500 local beers.
MRC

Fire damages Herbolds warehouse in Germany

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A fire swept through the headquarters of recycling machinery maker Herbold Meckesheim GmbH in Meckesheim, Germany on Sept. 10, damaging the central warehouse and the shipping department, said Canplastics.

In a statement posted on the website of Herbold’s American subsidiary Herbold Meckesheim USA, the company estimated that the damage will run “into the millions,” but that the office space, the test centre, and the production halls were not affected.

There were no casualties, the statement added.

"The production will continue with certain restrictions and compensated by existing structures,” the statement said. “Herbold will try to avoid serious delivery bottlenecks. The low in-house production depth and a high quantity of supplies from subcontractors will enable a quick restart of machine and spare parts deliveries as soon as logistics have been put back on track."
MRC