Asahi Kasei to establish a spunbond manufacturing company in Thailand

(Asahi Kasei) -- Asahi Kasei Fibers will establish a subsidiary in Thailand for the manufacture and sale of spunbond nonwovens. The disposable diaper market in Asia is forecasted to continue to grow at a high rate, and the new subsidiary will enable Asahi Kasei Fibers to significantly expand business in the Asian market for materials for disposable diapers and other hygienic products, with a new 20,000 ton/year Eltas spunbond plant scheduled to begin production in September 2012.

Since launching its spunbond business in 1973, Asahi Kasei Fibers has developed a wide range of applications for its Eltas spunbond brand. These include hygienic products such as disposable diapers, automotive and other industrial applications, and general consumer products. With production sites in Moriyama, Shiga, and in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Asahi Kasei Fibers has mainly focused on developing business in Japan.

As the market for disposable diapers in Asia continues to grow, Asahi Kasei Fibers will study the addition of further capacity in Thailand. The timing of subsequent expansions will be determined appropriately in line with market growth.
MRC

(Borealis) -- Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, celebrates the groundbreaking of a new semi-commercial plant for catalysts in Linz, Austria. With a total investment of approximately EUR 75 million the company is further expanding its innovation capabilities in plastics.

Based on this technology the new plant will be used to develop new types of catalysts as well as improve processes for catalyst production. The plant will not only serve research purposes but will produce commercial batches for Borealis' locations worldwide. Completion is scheduled for summer 2012.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dynamical growth of prices for oil and its derivatives resulted in serious increase of prices for polyethylene (PE), in particular, HDPE, in Europe in March, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Political and war conflicts in some countries of Africa and Middle East became one of the main reasons for high dynamics of oil prices. Over two weeks quotations for naptha rose more than by USD 100/mt. This resulted in growing contract price for ethylene by EUR 60/mt in Europe in March. At that some market players considered the possibility of month split-up to decades in order to define contract prices for ethylene each decade. Later they rejected this idea and the price was fixed for a month.

Prices for polyethylene in Europe grew not proportionally to the growing prices for ethylene. Export quotations for LDPE grew on average by EUR 40-80/mt, depending on producers, and were fixed within the range of EUR 1.420 - 1.500/mt, FCA. Prices for butene linear polyethylene increased on average by EUR 60-80/mt.

The biggest growth in prices was for HDPE, where European producers have the lowest
margin. Growth of contract prices for ethylene along with scheduled and non-scheduled shutdowns of some capacities allowed European producers to increase prices for HDPE in March by EUR 70-100/mt, depending on a grade. The most painful for converters from FSU became the growth of prices for pipe polyethylene. Export quotations for European colored PE100 increased to record EUR 1.340 - 1.400/mt, FCA.

MRC

(PlastiPure) -- Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, published a major scientific article from researchers at PlastiPure, CertiChem, and Georgetown University, focused on quantifying and addressing the potential health issue of estrogenic activity (EA) in plastic products. The results of this study indicate that the large majority of commercially available BPA-free plastic materials and products readily leach chemicals having EA. Leaching increases when products are subjected to common-use stresses such as dishwashing, microwaving and sunlight.

There is currently great scientific concern about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Chemicals with EA are believed to constitute the largest group of EDCs and have been linked to adverse health effects such as birth defects, reproductive cancers, and behavioral and learning disorders. While the estrogenic chemical BPA is widely known by the public, it is less well known that thousands of other chemicals are suspected to have EA. The EHP paper is groundbreaking in its quantification of levels of EA across multiple BPA-free materials and consumer plastic products, which until PlastiPure's research have been suspected, but largely unmeasured.

In this study, all types of plastic materials often tested positive for leaching of chemicals having EA, including those manufactured from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Bio-resins, such as several polylactic acid (PLA) resins and products, also showed easily detectable EA. In addition, materials specifically targeted and used as replacements for BPA-containing polycarbonate (PC), such as polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and polyethersulfone (PES), often leached chemicals having EA levels equivalent to or above those found leaching from BPA-containing PC.

MRC

(Solutia) -- Solutia Inc., a globally leading producer of performance materials and specialty chemicals and the world's leading producer of professional window films for automotive, residential and commercial markets, presented national and regional dealer awards at its annual elite Vista window films dealer conference, held at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, California, February 11-13.

This year's well-attended dealer conference, themed "Energize Your Business," included sessions focused on unleashing the power of EnerLogic(TM) window film , launching a fresh decorative film product offering and unveiling new dealer communication tools.

Advanced Window Solutions of Cortlandt Manor, NY was named National Dealer of the Year. Marc Vitaliani accepted the award on behalf of the window film company. Advanced Window Solutions was chosen from more than 350 dealers in Solutia's elite Vista dealer program. The award was based on several criteria, including dealer loyalty, growth and the use of Solutia's exclusive Vista sales and marketing programs.

MRC