Hanwha Chemical reported fire at LDPE unit in South Korea

MOSCOW (MRC) -- South Korea-based Hanwha Chemical has undertaken its low density polyethylene (LDPE) unit off-stream owing to fire, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the fire occured in early morning of May 30, 2017, which forced the company to halt ooperations at the plant. The reason behind the fire and duration of the shutdown could not be ascertained.

Located at Yeosu in South Korea, the LDPE unit has a production capacity of 120,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, in 2015, Hanwha Chemical merged two of its chemical compounds businesses, Hanwha Next and Hanwha Compound. The combined entity, named Hanwha Compound, produces polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The company operates manufacturing plants in Yeosu and Suncheon, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons.

Hanwha Group is one of the largest business conglomerate in South Korea. Founded in 1952 as Korea Explosives Inc., the group has grown into a large multi-profile business conglomerate, with diversified holdings stretching from explosives, their original business, to retail to financial services.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Lubrizol Corporation's Engineered Polymers business has recently showcased its thermoplastic polyurethane product portfolio for textiles, hot melt adhesives and film and sheet at Techtextil 2017, as per GV.

Amongst others, the company highlighted its Pearlbond TPU for adhesives, X4zol-J fibre and Estane TPU film technologies for textiles.

X4zol-J, a fibre TPU, is a new elastomeric monofilament that is manufactured differently from spandex, resulting in unique qualities that provide comfort above and beyond traditional stretch fibres, according to Lubrizol. The product is said to take apparel fit to the next generation as it provides balanced 360 comfortable stretch and support, breathability and sustainable benefits.

For excellent bonding performance, the company offers its plasticiser-free Pearlbond 300 and 700 TPU series for hot melt adhesives (HMA). The series helps designers and formulators to match the pace of the increasing sophistication of textiles by improving processability, reducing cycle time, shape retention, soft touch and flexibility in body movement, said the company.

"Lubrizol collaborates with HMA formulators and manufacturers to provide materials with superior performance for today's textiles," stated James Ruben, global market segment manager, Lubrizol engineered polymers. "Techtextil allows us to discuss major textile challenges with key industrial players, and explore how Lubrizol's innovative solutions perfectly fit to integrate breakthrough technology and create a durable new fabric solution."

As MRC reported earlier, in February 2016, speciality chemicals major Lubrizol Corporation announced the commencement of its USD50 million chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) compounding plant in Dahej. This was the company's first CPVC compounding plant in the country, and it claimed that it is the first such in India by any global major. The plant has a capacity to produce nearly 55,000 tonnes of compounds annually. The company has invested over USD50 million (Rs325 crore) on this facility.

Earlier, in 2013, Lubrizol unveiled a four-year, USD400 million global expansion of its CPVC resin and compounding manufacturing sites.

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that apart from its production develops and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol"s advanced polymer technology delivers exceptional performance for the plumbing, fire sprinkler, industrial and other building and construction related applications. Lubrizol is providing innovative solutions for its customers" high-performance application needs and remains committed to ongoing investment in its CPVC capabilities that support future growth.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Uponor Corporation, the Finland-based systems & solutions provider for safe drinking water delivery and energy-efficient radiant heating & cooling infrastructure, has opened its first manufacturing facility in Taicang (China), said Business-standard.

The new plant is the company’s 14th manufacturing facility globally. In Taicang, Uponor Asia will produce sustainable plumbing solutions and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems for the new residential and commercial building markets in China.

The facility in Shanghai is the base for all sales activities in East China, including also product management, engineering & design and the national marketing team.

"Our production base in Taicang is Uponor’s first production base in Asia. On approximately 5,000 square metres, we are producing plastic piping systems for both plumbing and indoor climate systems made from PEXa, PPR and PERT, serving China and other Asian countries," said Werner Witte, vice president, Uponor Building Solutions - Asia.

Uponor has showrooms in Taicang and Shanghai, both of which are equipped with the latest radiant heating and cooling technology to guarantee a continuous healthy, comfortable and energy efficient indoor climate. They will also serve as proof to customers and partners alike of the advantages of radiant heating & cooling.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema, which already endorses the UN Global Compact, is naturally committed to the pursuit, through its innovation, of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to contribute to this ambitious roadmap.
European Sustainable Development Week, as per compay's press-release.

Adopted in September 2015 by 193 countries within the United Nations, the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development program aims to address the key economic, social and environmental challenges of our planet.

Accordingly, the plan’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals represent a universal roadmap to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and guarantee the prosperity of all. Thus, governments, civil society and private sector are broadly invited to play a part in the program.

Arkema supports the UN Global Compact, endorsing its 10 guiding principles, which are among the founding values upon which its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative is based.

In line with this approach, and with innovation at the heart of its CSR strategy, Arkema is committed, through its innovation platforms – bio-based products, new energies, water management, lightweight materials and design, electronic solutions, home efficiency and insulation – to the pursuit of the SDGs, by contributing more specifically to six of them.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Hyderabad-based Mold-tek Packaging Ltd (formerly known as Moldtek Plastics Ltd), a manufacturer of injection moulded rigid plastic packaging containers, is aiming to expand its in-mold labelling (IML) containers business by focusing on fast-growth sectors such as food and FMCG, in addition to its traditional users such as lubes & paints manufacturers, said Business-standard.

Mold-tek claims to the first company in India to introduce in-mold labelling concept for decorating plastic containers using robots. IML enables photographic quality decoration with complete hygienic and hands free production of containers suitable for food & FMCG products.

"The company is moving into high-value added IML decorated containers for not only its traditional blue chip clients in paint & lube industry, but also increasing entry into food & FMCG industries, where IML is proved to be the best option for hygienic and food safety standard packaging,: commented J Lakshmana Rao, chairman & managing director, Mold-tek Packaging.

Mold-tek has started commercial supplies of IML containers for the new brand chocolates Dairy Milk Lickables recently launched by Mondelez. The company is also developing various new IML containers for other leading food & FMCG companies.

Mold-tek expects the contribution of food & FMCG sectors to overall turnover to increase considerably from the FY2017-18. “We expect it to reach around 16-18 percent next year from 6 percent in 2016-17," stated Rao.

The company will also set up plants at Vizag and Mysore for supplying pails (a bucket-shaped plastic containers) to the new plants of Asian Paints. Meanwhile, Mold-tek Packaging Ltd reported 12 percent increase in revenues in FY2016-17 to Rs 345 crore compared to Rs 308 crore in 2015-16. Similarly, net profit was up 12 percent to Rs 27 crores from last year’s Rs 24 crore.
MRC