Huntsman names new president of Performance Products Division

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Huntsman Corporation has announced that Monte Edlund will succeed Stu Monteith as president of Huntsman’s Performance Products division (HPP), effective July 1, reported the producer on its site.

Most recently vice president for the Americas region in Huntsman’s Advanced Materials division, Edlund joined Huntsman with the acquisition of the Rexene Corporation and has been a senior leader with the company since 1997, when he was appointed vice president-polymers. Prior to his role in Advanced Materials, Edlund served as vice president of global specialty textiles for Huntsman’s Textile Effects division based in Singapore.

After more than 35 years’ experience in the chemical industry, 21 of them with Huntsman, Monteith elected to retire as of August 31. He joined Huntsman in 1994 and served as the division’s vice president for global markets and business development before being named Performance Products division president in 2011.

Huntsman President and CEO Peter Huntsman said: "Performance Products division has experienced tremendous growth under Stu Monteith’s leadership, and we appreciate his many contributions to the corporation over these past 21 years. Having known and worked as closely with Monte Edlund as long as I have, I am confident that he will lead HPP to reach new heights."

As MRC wrote before, in October 2014, Huntsman Corporation completed the acquisition of the Performance Additives and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) businesses of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2014 revenues of approximately USD13 billion,including the acquisition of Rockwood’s performance additives and titanium dioxide businesses. Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals. The company's operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Wisconsin-based extruder Pacur, LLC, is introducing its PETG foam, made with Eastman Eastalite copolyester, for medical packaging, reported Eastman on its site.

The opaque, extruded, multilayer product is a durable and cleaner alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) for opaque rigid medical packaging. Pacur collaborated with Eastman Chemical Company and thermoformer Tek Pak, Inc., to create and launch the new lightweight material.

"Medical companies are looking for materials that are easy to use and environmentally friendly while providing exceptional protection for their products," said Jim Banko, vice president of sales, Pacur. "Pacur PETG foam meets all of that criteria and more."

Eastman Eastalite copolyester is a styrene-free alternative to HIPS and other competitive products. It is made without materials of concern, including butadiene, bisphenol A, bisphenol S, ortho-phthalates or halogens such as chlorine or bromine. The material is compliant with select ISO 10993 requirements for medical device biocompatibility and applicable parts of ISO 11607.

"Eastman Eastalite copolyester resonates among processors and thermoformers because of its ease of processing and clean cutting," said Aneta Clark, market development manager, Eastman Chemical Company. "This is extremely important to us because it allows our value chain collaborators to gain efficiency in their production and even cut out some secondary processes. Through working with Pacur and Tek Pak, we are now able to provide these benefits to the market and demonstrate the potential of Eastalite in opaque medical packaging."

As MRC wrote before, in December 2014, Eastman Chemical Company announced the completion of its acquisition of Taminco Corporation, a global specialty chemical company, for a total of USD2.8 billion in cash and assumed debt. The acquired Taminco businesses are expected to be accretive to 2015 earnings per share by greater than USD0.35, excluding acquisition-related costs and charges, and to 2016 earnings per share by greater than USD0.60.

Eastman 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. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2013 revenues of approximately USD9.4 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 14,000 people around the world.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema has inaugurated the thiochemicals plant, which successfully came on stream in Kerteh, Malaysia, beginning of 2015, but was officially inaugurated on 4 June 2015 in the presence of the main Malaysian authorities, reported Arkema on its site.

This world-scale thiochemicals platform produces methyl mercaptan, a synthesis intermediate for animal feed, as well as dimethyl disulfide (DMDS). The facility strengthens Arkema’s position as the world leader in high added value sulfur derivatives, and is fully consistent with the Group’s growth strategy in Asia.

The construction of the new plant represented investments of some EUR200 million for the Group.

The Group confirms its strong expertise of the production process for methyl mercaptan, a sulfur intermediate that is key to the manufacture of the bio-methionine on the same site by Korean company CJ CheilJedang using an innovative biosourced process.

Furthermore, by doubling its DMDS global capacity, Arkema also sustains the steady growth of the petrochemicals and refining markets.

Arkema now operates world-scale thiochemicals plants in Europe, the United States and Asia.

"This inauguration is a key event in the short history of Arkema and a very major step in its development. This plant represents a new highly promising growth platform for the future. I take this opportunity to congratulate our teams as well as our partners for this remarkable technical success", stated Thierry Le Henaff, Arkema Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

As MRC wrote previously, in 2014, Arkema, a France-based chemical manufacturer and the world’s second leading producer of organic peroxides, announced the construction of a new organic peroxide plant on its Changshu site in China. This investment will help double the site’s production capacity. By doubling its production capacity in China, Arkema will continue to support the strong growth in the organic peroxide market in Asia, a region in which the Group is also a producer in India, South Korea and Japan. The new Changshu plant is due to come on stream in early 2016.

Arkema with annual revenue of EUR6.7 billion is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc. Arkema operates 11 organic peroxide plants on the three continents.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne has joined the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Group as an associate member. The Group is led by leading global clothing and footwear brands and is committed to steering the industry towards a goal to reduce discharge of harmful chemicals to zero by 2020, as per the company's press release.

"Bringing associate members on board with a strong track record of delivering specialty solutions broadens our technical knowledge base," explains Cheryl Kreindler, ZDHC Program Manager. "PolyOne has already brought innovative ideas to the table in regards to reducing water consumption and contamination, which are major challenges for the industry."

"PolyOne is committed to environmentally sound practices, services and solutions that deliver value for our customers and the wider industries we serve," added John Van Hulle, president of global color, additives and inks for PolyOne. "Our textile industry expertise means we can apply existing solutions, and potentially shape new ones, that can contribute to achieving the ZDHC Group’s goals."

As MRC reported earlier, in 2014, PolyOne Corporation announced the addition of new capabilities to its OnColor HC Plus portfolio. These expanded offerings add medical-grade LDPE, nylon, PEBA, PS and PVC to the globally available palette of specialty healthcare colorants, and are pre-certified to meet or exceed biocompatibility requirements for ISO 10993 and/or USP Class VI protocols.

PolyOne Corporation, with 2013 revenues of USD3.8 billion, is a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions. PolyOne is a provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Haverhill Chemicals is discontinuing production at its phenol/acetone complex in Ohio, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The press release from the company cited an unexpected withdrawal of support from its financial institutions. That, in turn, has caused a forced liquidation that will result in Haverhill ceasing operations at the Ohio plant.

Shipments to customers will continue until inventory is exhausted. The process is expected to be completed in July, according to Haverhill officials.

The site has a production capacity of 300,000 tpy of phenol and 173,000 tpy of acetone. Haverhill Chemicals acquired the complex from Sunoco in late 2011.

As MRC informed before, Sonoco commenced commercial production of rigid plastic containers for personal care products at its new USD15 million plant, located in the Beauty and Home Care campus in New Albany, Ohio.

Sonoco Plastics is a leading manufacturer of mono-layer and multi-layer blow-molded bottles and jars, thermoformed cups and trays and engineered molded and extruded containers, spools and trays. The Company has 25 plastics operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Netherlands and Germany. In addition to the Beauty Park facility, Sonoco Plastics operates a state-of-the-art food-grade, blow-molding and injection molding plant in Columbus, Ohio. The Company is currently reviewing plans for additional expansion of this facility as well.
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