MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay has announced that Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC, is now distributing Tecnoflon fluoroelastomers (FKM) and perfluoroelastomers (PFR FFKM) in North America, as per the company's press release.
Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Vanderbilt Chemicals is a wholly owned subsidiary of R.T. Vanderbilt Company Inc., which was founded in 1916. As an experienced distributor, Vanderbilt Chemicals extends Solvay’s outreach to customers, giving them additional opportunities to obtain expert guidance and technical advice on fluorine-based elastomeric materials. Further, Vanderbilt is positioned to help ensure fast turnaround times on orders, thanks to its network of distribution centers.
“All of us at Vanderbilt Chemicals are excited about the new distribution agreement with Solvay,” said Roger Burtraw, president of Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC. “Solvay’s best-in-class manufacturing capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and new product innovations complement Vanderbilt’s well-established technical and sales presence in North America. We see these synergies as a major benefit to customers and key to our mutual growth and success.”
Solvay’s family of Tecnoflon® FKM and PFR FFKM products are engineered for demanding sealing applications in aggressive chemical and high-heat environments, such as those found in the automotive, industrial, semiconductor and energy industries. These high-performance synthetic rubbers provide a long service life for sealing applications such as O-rings, seals and gaskets.
“Our new distribution relationship with Vanderbilt Chemicals provides broader coverage of our Tecnoflon® product line in North America, giving customers expanded access to technical expertise and value-added services for developing and optimizing fluoroelastomer applications,” said Rose Catherin, sales manager, Americas for Channel Partners & Digital Sales for Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “With Vanderbilt’s support, we can more widely deliver these advanced material solutions to meet customers’ changing needs.”
As MRC reported earlier, in August, 2020, through the acquisition of the Solvay polyamide (PA) business, BASF enhanced its R&D capabilities in Asia Pacific with new technologies, technical expertise, and upgraded material and part testing services. BASF is planning to integrate the R&D centers from Solvay into its R&D existing facilities in Shanghai, China, and Seoul, Korea. The enhanced capabilities will boost BASF’s position as a solution provider to develop advanced material solutions for key industries.
We remind that BASF-YPC, a 50-50 joint venture of BASF and Sinopec, undertook a planned shutdown at its naphtha cracker on 30 April 2020. The company initially planned to start turnaround at the cracker on April 5, 2020. The plant remained under maintenance unitl 18 June, 2020. Located in Jiangsu, China, the cracker has an ethylene capacity of 750,000 mt/year and propylene capacity of 400,000 mt/year.
Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.
MRC