BASF receives certification for compostable system

(basf) -- BASF recently gained a further TUV certificate ( DIN Certco) for the previously certified compostable adhesive Epotal ECO.

The water based biodegradable adhesive by BASF is now even more powerful. Higher adhesion levels can be reached by combining the adhesive dispersion with a special curing agent.

Epotal ECO is a water based adhesive that first gained the certificate for compostable additives, granted by DIN Certco, in 2010. Test results show that within 70 days Epotal ECO is decomposed by 90 percent. After decomposition Epotal ECO leaves no toxic residues nor shows any negative effects on the environment. In addition, Epotal ECO retains all the advantages of water based adhesives: high green strength, absence of any toxic substances and thus enables an immediate subsequent processing.

Together with Epotal ECO, all usual biodegradable materials can be adhesively bonded. It is particularly suitable for the production of completely compostable packaging based on plastics. First prototypes such as candy-, coffee- and instant soup-packaging demonstrate that suitability in practice. Interest in compostable materials is growing in other fields of application, for instance shoe-, carpet-, clothing- and sporting goods-industries. Epotal ECO is realizing new product ideas in all of these industries.

MRC

(kuraray) -- Kuraray Co., ( Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) has agreed to acquire MonoSol, LLC., a U.S. based manufacturer of polyvinyl alcohol film, in support of Kuraray's strategy to expand its "Vinyl Acetate Chemical Chains Business" which is one of the core businesses of Kuraray, and has reached an agreement with MonoSol Holdco, LLC, the parent company of MonoSol, regarding this transaction.

MonoSol is a leading manufacturer of poval films for various industrial applications such as packaging films for unit dose detergent products as well as agrochemicals and dyes, mold-release films for synthetic marble and so on.

Through this acquisition, Kuraray will expand its product offering of poval films into a wider range of industrial applications. Kuraray currently supplies poval film for optical-uses including a polarizing film, which is an essential component of liquid crystal displays. MonoSol manufactures complementary film products.

Kuraray will accelerate the expansion and development of its global "Vinyl Acetate Chemical Chains Business" through organic collaboration among Japan, U.S., Europe and Asia. The transaction is subject to formal approval by the regulatory authorities.

MRC

(emballagedigest) -- Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, announced the acquisition of Connecticut-based Lerman Container in a transaction that expands the company's geographic coverage and team of packaging solution experts. It marks Berlin Packaging's third strategic acquisition since 2010, when the company acquired Pittsburgh-based All-Pak and Chicago-based Continental Packaging Solutions.

The combined company will have 2012 revenues exceeding USD700 million, over 110 packaging consultants, and more than 80 sales offices and warehouse locations across North America.

Established in 1979, Lerman is a packaging distributor with marquee customers across multiple vertical markets. The acquisition: - Augments Berlin Packaging's presence in the Northeast by adding Lerman sales and customer service staff in Connecticut and New Jersey, providing easier access to innovative, cost-effective packaging solutions for Berlin Packaging customers in those markets.
MRC

(hydracarbonprocessing) -- Formosa Plastics will build a new, grass-roots 800,000 tpy olefins cracker, an associated 600,000 tpy propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit and a new 300,000 tpy low density polyethylene (LDPE) resin plant at its site in Point Comfort, Texas, the company said on Monday.

The moves - part of USD1.7 billion in capital investments - are largely based on affordable US natural gas costs for use as feedstock, the company said.

They will create an estimated 1,800 construction jobs and, once completed, an additional 225 long-term operating and maintenance jobs.

The olefins cracker will take advantage of the increasingly reliable and low-cost domestic natural gas and supply feedstock both to existing production units and the new LDPE unit, Formosa said.

The PDH unit will produce additional propylene, increasing operational flexibility.

Meanwhile, the addition of a LDPE resin plant will complement the company's existing product line of Formolene polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) and Formolon polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and specialty PVC.

Details on the units specific technologies, costs, start-up dates and contractors are not being released, according to the company.

MRC

(Reuters) - German chemicals and real estate conglomerate Evonik may have to reconsider the timing of a possible initial public offering (IPO), its majority owner said on Monday.

The RAG Foundation, which has never officially committed to a timetable for floating Evonik, cautioned it would monitor possible risks to an IPO. But it said it continues to support the idea of flotation.

Sources have said the RAG Foundation, which owns 75 percent of Evonik, would publish an intention to float on Friday if it decides to go ahead with an IPO. The shares could then be listed on June 25.
MRC