AkzoNobel to invest in new Performance Coatings technology center in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- AkzoNobel is investing more than EUR6.5 million in its Songjiang site near Shanghai to expand an existing research center by adding a dedicated facility for the company’s Performance Coatings businesses, as per the company's press release.

Once completed in June 2015, the new development and application center will add capability and capacity to serve growing demand throughout Asia for innovative solutions targeted at the packaging, coil, specialty finishes and powder coatings markets.

When fully operational, the new laboratory will be Performance Coatings’ second largest research and development base after Felling in the UK.

"Boosting our R&D capabilities in Asia means we can accelerate the development and formulation of new products tailor-made for the Asian market," said Conrad Keijzer, AkzoNobel’s Executive Committee member responsible for Performance Coatings. "The expanded R&D center will therefore play a crucial role in supporting our growth ambitions - for China in particular - and will provide us with a major innovation facility located close to our customers in the region."

RD&I Director for Performance Coatings, Klaas Kruithof, added that the new center will also drive efficiency by further consolidating the company’s R&D footprint. "Expanding the existing facility will enable ongoing research and development activities for powder coatings to be transferred from Ningbo," he explained. "It will also be capable of accommodating R&D activities for Decorative Paints and the company’s Surface Chemistry business."

Strategically positioned in the greater Shanghai area, the Songjiang site was recently expanded to create one of AkzoNobel’s biggest resin plants for performance coatings in the world. With operations spread across the country, AkzoNobel employs more than 7,400 people in China, including 500 in R&D. In 2013, the company generated revenues in China of €1.6 billion, the majority coming from local demand.

As MRC wrote before, AkzoNobel has completed the sale of its Primary Amides chemicals business to PMC Group effective December 31, 2013.

Akzo Nobel N.V., trading as AkzoNobel, is a Dutch multinational, active in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 55,000 people.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's imports of polycarbonate (PC) decreased 19,300 tonnes in January-May 2014, down 12% compared to the same period last year, according to MRC DataScope report.

Market players said the main reasons were the depreciation of the rouble and reduced purchasing capacities of consumers.
The banking system has reduced and complicated procedures of the short-and medium-term lending, which complicated traders' crediting and cut their purchases volumes.

At their turn, converters are increasingly insisting on a bigger deferred payment, exacerbating the sellers' difficult situation. Thus, in this situation importers are looking for diversification of their purchases and do not stick only to to European producers.
In particular, it concerns the extrusion sector, which is the most popular in the Russian market with 80% share from the total. Peak of the season traditionally was in May.

High domestic prices for European PC did not allow converters to fully satisfy their needs because of reduced working capital. This boosted demand for Kazanorgsintez PC, which is the only Russian producer of PC and also for Asian PC.

Saudi Kayan, managed by Sabic Innovative Plastics, sold 506 tonnes of extrusion PC in May in Russia. This product is not of such quality as Sabic's material, but its price is close to Kazanorgsintez's and Asian PC, making it attractive for Russian consumers.

MRC

МОSCOW (MRC) -- Mitsubishi Rayon Co. (MRC) and Mitsui & Co. have signed a memorandum of understanding to undertake detailed feasibility studies for establishing a joint venture in the U.S. to build a methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer unit, said Apic-online.

The plant, for which a specific location has not yet been decided, is expected to have 250,000 t/y of MMA capacity based on the Alpha technology developed by MRC's Lucite International subsidiary.

MRC and Mitsui said they have also entered into a non-binding material terms of agreement with Dow Chemical. This agreement concerns "potential partial supply of feedstock from Dow to the joint venture through Mitsui" for the production of MMA and potential supply of a portion of the MMA from the joint venture to Dow.

The joint venture intends to secure access to ethylene from Dow's U.S. Gulf Coast production network. MMA production is expected to start at the end of 2018.

As MRC wrote before, Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) have announced the formation of a joint venture company, to build and operate two plants – one for Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), and the other for Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) – at one of SABIC’s manufacturing affiliates in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a global leader in vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) emulsion polymers, has announced the European region re-launch of its industry-leading line of Elite Ultra dispersions for use in nonwovens, specialty papers and other associated industries, reported the company on its site.

The result is the new Vinamul Elite 15 with firmer hand, and Vinamul Elite 25 with softer hand for use in wipes, tabletop and hygiene applications.

The newly released products offer lower odor through a reduction in total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), higher solids content, and a potential for carbon dioxide reduction versus older generation products. Both Vinamul Elite products still feature high dry and wet tensile strength, good absorbency and are APE-surfactant free.

"In collaboration with our customers to find fresh, innovative solutions that meet their product development needs, Celanese identified a solution for higher solids in the emulsion and responded with the Vinamul Elite series," said Peter Zeimentz, segment manager for the Celanese emulsion polymers business.

These new Vinamul Elite products will be available throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

As MRC wrote previously, Celanese Corporation has recently developed new emulsion products for architectural paints. The company also expanded its product portfolio for the coatings and adhesives industries, including Celansese's solvents, vinyl acetate monomer, EVA polymers and emulsions. Thus, the company's new emulsion products - EcoVAE 450, Avicor 385 and Avicor 390 - represent solutions to many of the industry's issues including low-VOC primers, stain resistance and broad formulation latitude.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of USD6.5 billion.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Board of Directors of A. Schulman, Inc., , a global plastic supplier, has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of USD0.20 per common share, payable August 1, 2014, to shareholders of record on July 18, 2014, reported the company on its site.

Last year,the Board of Directors of A. Schulman, declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of USD0.20 per common share, payable November 4, 2013, to shareholders of record on October 28, 2013, which represented a 2.6% increase over the prior quarter's dividend payout. The dividend on an annualized basis now stands at USD0.80 per share, and represents a yield of approximately 3%.

As MRC reported earlier, last September, A. Schulman, Inc. purchased the Perrite Group, a thermoplastics manufacturing business with operations in Malaysia, the United Kingdom and France, for approximately USD52 million. Perrite was part of the Vita Group portfolio of companies. The acquisition was expected to increase revenues in A. Schulman's Asia Pacific (APAC) segment by 35% and doubled the size of the company's existing Engineered Plastics business in the region.

Perrite has manufactured and distributed thermoplastic compounds for the electrical, automotive and industrial markets for more than 35 years, offering a broad portfolio of standard and custom compounded polymer products. Perrite's product lines include the high-performance Ronfalin ABS brand and prime-quality polyamide Vitamide range. Other key brands include Percom polypropylene, Perlex polycarbonate, Styralin polystyrene and Pertal POM. Perrite employs approximately 220 people and recorded revenues of USD140 million in fiscal 2012.

A. Schulman is a global plastics supplier, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, and a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. The company employs approximately 3,500 people and has 38 manufacturing facilities globally. A. Schulman reported net sales of USD2.1 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013.
MRC