Robert Welch launches new signature line of storage jars made with Eastman Tritan copolyester

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A new award-winning line of Signature storage jars by Robert Welch uses Eastman Tritan copolyester to deliver on the brand reputation for exceptional design, quality and functionality, reported Eastman on its site.

Robert Welch is a British, family-run company with almost 60 years of experience and an extensive range of products for the home. For its latest line of storage jars, the company selected Tritan, a new-generation copolyester, because it has crystal-clear clarity, has dishwasher durability and is free of bisphenol A (BPA).

The Signature storage jar line made with Eastman Tritan copolyester features three sizes, ranging from 660 ml to 2.5 liters, each with an elliptical design that allows the jars to be stacked neatly on top of each other to save space. The silicone and stainless steel lid is designed for an airtight seal to protect and help keep foods fresh. The design was recently recognized by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design with a 2014 Good Design Award.

"Because of our company’s core value of beautiful and accessible design, our first priority when looking at a new material is how it will look and work with our concept. We go into each new project with a strict list of needs," said Kit deBretton Gordon, senior designer, Robert Welch. "We found Eastman Tritan copolyester to be attractive and glasslike without the breakability or heaviness. It allowed for us to execute our elliptical design with no seam, a thick base and some stainless steel accents when other materials couldn't."

Beyond design, Eastman Tritan copolyester added functionality and toughness to the line. Being used for food storage, the line needed to be food-safe and easy to clean. Tritan is a BPA-free material and allows for the jars to be impact-resistant and dishwasher-durable.

As MRC informed previously, brand owners can now select Eastman Tritan copolyester and Eastar copolyester from Eastman Chemical Company for carbon filtration and reverse osmosis systems. Brands that market point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) water filtration systems and components know that the ability to clearly see the filter at work can result in more frequent filter media replacement - and greater sales.

Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Nanjing Tanker, an oil shipping unit of Sinotrans & CSC, has inked an agreement with CNOOC Taizhou Petrochemcial after it was being selected as the shipping partner for CNOOC’s petrochemical project, said Energy-business.

CNOOC commenced development of the new petrochemical facility in Taizhou in 2012 with an investment of CNY10.2bn.

This facility will generate feedstock oil intended for petrochemicals, liquefied petroleum gas, fuel oil as well as lubricants.

It is scheduled to commence operation in the second half of fiscal 2015.

Following the completion of restricting in January, Nanjing Tanker intends to return to profits by 2015 and aims to get on stock exchange two years later, according to the report.

As MRC wrote before, LyondellBasell announced that CNOOC Oil and Petrochemicals Co., has selected the LyondellBasell Spherizone technology for a 400,000 tons per year polypropylene (PP) plant planned to be built at Huizhou, China.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Norway's Yara International ASA quarterly net profit surged to 1.86 billion Norwegian kroner (USD245.24 million), versus a restated profit of NOK63 million, in the year-ago quarter, said the company in its press-release.

Its revenue climbed to NOK25.99 billion versus NOK20.47 billion, while earnings before interest and taxes jumped to NOK3.12 billion from NOK656 million.

Its operating profit climbed to 2.69 billion Norwegian crowns (USD354 million), compared to 583 million crowns.

For 2014, Yara announced its plans to would pay a dividend of NOK13 per share, compared to NOK10 a year ago.

Yara shares rose 2.34% to close at USD51.67.

As MRC wrote before, BASF and Yara have made good progress with their plan to jointly build a world-scale ammonia plant on the US Gulf Coast. The proposed plant would be located at the existing BASF site in Freeport, Texas, have an annual capacity of 750,000 metric tons, and be based on a hydrogen-synthesis process.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Belarusian companies reduced imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from foreign markets by 14% from January to December 2014 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Overall, 16,300 tonnes of PET were shipped to the market in 2014 versus 19,000 tonnes a year earlier. Converters reduced their import purchasing because of the general fall in demand in the market of finished products last year. The depreciation of the Belarusian rubel in December 2014 also had a negative impact on the purchasing power of local importers, which might result in lower imports in the first half of 2015.

At the same time, significant quantities of PET have been entering the Belarusian market from Russia. Russian plants announced their export prices for Belarusian companies in roubles. The devaluation of the Russian rouble partially offsets the depreciation of the Belarusian currency. Therefore, purchasing of Russian material is not expected to decline.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Royal DSM, the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, reported its unaudited results for 2014, said the company in its press release.

DSM reported sales of EUR9,181 million, a 4% increase versus 2013. In line with market expectations, DSM reported EBITDA of EUR1,168 million compared to EUR1,261 million in 2013. The fourth quarter 2014 EBITDA was EUR288 million compared to EUR297 million in Q4 2013.

DSM’s fourth-quarter net loss widened to EUR107m last year from EUR77m in the corresponding period in 2013 amid negative exchange rate effects and poor market conditions for caprolactam. The company’s net sales rose by 1.71% year on year to EUR2.37bn in the fourth quarter while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were up by 1.73% at EUR294m.

As MRC reported previously, Royal DSM reported a sharp decline in third-quarter net profit, despite strong performance in all segments. Looking ahead, the company said its full-year 2014 outlook is in line with current market expectations. For the third quarter, net profit decreased 21% to EUR93 million from EUR117 million last year. Net earnings per share was EUR0.51, down from EUR0.65 in the previous year.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.
MRC