Styron sells Brazilian PS plant to Unigel group

(ICIS) -- Styron sold its 200,000 tonne/year polystyrene (PS) plant in Guaruja, Sao Paulo, to Gaxetas e Perfis do Brasil, a company associated with the Unigel group, market sources said on Monday.


A Styron spokesperson confirmed the PS facility was sold on 31 December, but the deal excluded a latex plant at the site. Other details of the sale were not disclosed.


There was much speculation about the future of the PS facility. Styron had idled the plant indefinitely on 23 August 2010, presumably to pare losses while looking for a buyer. PS sales in Brazil and other South American countries continued until stocks ran out.


Unigel supplied styrene monomer (SM) to the plant when it was running, making the company one of the most likely candidates to purchase and restart the facility.


Market observers also said this could help Unigel enter the specialty plastics market with products such as styrene acrylonitrile (SAN).


MRC

Italian bag ban puts thousands out of work

(prw) -- Italian plastics processor trade association Unionplast is ramping up its campaign against the new national law banning non-biodegradable shopping bags. At the same time, proponents of oxy-degradable plastics have written to the Italian government complaining against a ruling last week that such materials cannot be considered biodegradable.


The association's director, Enrico Chialchia, told PRW that Italy has until now been largely self-sufficient in plastics bags, with imports accounting for only around ten percent of the total market, estimated at over 220,000 tonnes/yr. He estimates that the sector encompasses some 250 companies, employing around 5000 people, many of them in the south of the country, where unemployment levels are the highest. A large number of these companies have already laid off staff, he says, or have actually shut down.


Unionplast is calling for the government to reconsider its decision, pointing out, among other things, that the new law knocks a big hole in attempts to promote plastics recycling in Italy. It advocates increased use of recyclate in bags. It also points out that many Italian consumers have adopted the habit of using polyethylene bags several times, using them also as containers for household plastics packaging rubbish.


MRC

Norwegian EasyRoller AS has introduced a new version of its all-plastic wheelchair

(Plastics News) -- Norwegian company EasyRoller AS has introduced a new version of its all-plastic wheelchair that features a one-piece body and chassis component produced in rotationally molded polyethylene.


The single-piece rotational molded body and chassis replaces a frame constructed by welding together ABS tubes, which has been used on the original version of the wheelchair since its launch by Hemnesberget-based EasyRoller in 2000.


The new body and chassis part measures 105 cm. high and is manufactured by rotational molder Partnerplast AS of Andalsnes, Norway. It comprises seat, frame and footrest and is said to be less costly and quicker to produce than the previous welded assembly.


MRC

Wall Street expects stronger Q4 but comparisons get tougher

(ICIS) -- Wall Street analysts are expecting mostly higher fourth-quarter 2010 earnings from US chemical companies along with some upside surprises. However, the year-on-year comparisons will be tougher than the second- and third-quarter year-on-year comparisons.


The analyst noted that only a handful of companies were expected to post profit declines - Huntsman, Arch Chemicals, Solutia and DuPont, reflecting specific issues such as a higher tax rate (Huntsman), timing shifts (Arch), the return of incentive compensation (Solutia) and tough comps (DuPont).


US coatings and chemicals producer PPG has already reported an earnings beat, coming in with fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.25 (┬0.93) versus the consensus estimate of $1.13.


However, shares of PPG ⌠fell 2% post the Q4 release as strong segment results were overshadowed by concerns over rising raw materials and slower China GDP, said Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter.


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France's Groupe VM Materiaux buys Fenetres Lapco

(prw) -- French construction products firm Groupe VM Materiaux has acquired Canadian PVC and aluminium window manufacturer Fenetres Lapco Inc.


Fenetres Lapco had sales of C$8.5m in 2010. Based in Mirabel, Quebec, it was founded in 1994 by Normand Lapierre, who will work closely with the firms on a consulting basis.


VM Materiaux has interests in concrete, roofing, flooring, frames and equipment. It is based in L'Herbergement, France. The acquisition was effective from 1 January.


VM Materiaux subsidiary Atlantem Industrie made the purchase. VM Materiaux said in a news release that the deal represents its strategy for international development.


MRC