Huntsman TEROL 563 polyester polyols get UL Environment certificate

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Huntsman Corporation’s Polyurethanes division has become the first U.S. manufacturer to receive the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Environment certification for one of its polyols -- TEROL 563 modified aromatic polyester polyol, said the producer in its press release.

TEROL 563 polyol is primarily used in polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation applications. When properly formulated and processed, insulation panels produced with TEROL 563 can pass the Factory Mutual 4450 Calorimeter and ASTM E-84 Tunnel tests.

The UL certification demonstrates that Huntsman’s TEROL Performance Polyols business possesses the technological expertise and logistics to provide an independent, third-party certified range of recycled content and renewable content polyols. Huntsman’s aromatic polyester polyols incorporate both pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content allowing customers to design their insulation products with confidence and meet preferred purchasing protocols.

Huntsman retained the services of UL Environment to certify its pre-consumer recycled, post-consumer recycled and renewable resource content claims. UL verified the claims by reviewing Huntsman’s manufacturing practices and raw materials sources.

"Receiving the UL Environment certification illustrates Huntsman’s continued commitment to environmental excellence and providing high-quality, sustainable insulation products to our customers," said Les Yamato, Business Manager, TEROL Polyols, Huntsman Polyurethanes. "We strive to be an industry leader in sustainability, and the UL Environment certification represents another step toward that goal."

As MRC wrote before, Huntsman Corporation received final clearance and approval from the European Commission to acquire the Performance Additives and Titanium Dioxide businesses of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2013 revenues of over USD11 billion. 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.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Austrian steel technology and capital goods company Voestalpine AG has signed an agreement to sell its plastics solutions business to Polytec Netherlands Holding, which is part of Horsching, Austria-based Polytec Holding AG, said Plasticsnews.

In 2013 Voestalpine’s plastics solutions business unit generated sales of around EUR120 million (USD150 million) at its two Dutch sites in Putte and Roosendaal, and it employed almost 700.

Products produced by the business include underbodies, acoustic, and exterior components for commercial vehicles, as well as non-automotive products.

Polytec said the acquisition will expand its position as a leading supplier of composite parts for the European automotive industry. According to Polytec, following the acquisition, it will have 23 manufacturing plants in 10 countries.

Currently the company has 21 sites and more than 3,500 employees.

Voestalpine said the sale to Polytec will be completed around the beginning of November.

As MRC wrote before, together with its partners Bekaert (Belgium) and voestalpine Plastics Solutions (Netherlands), BASF was working on the development of thermoplastic components that are reinforced with steel cord fabrics and produced by means of injection molding. The three companies have joined together with the objective of employing and further developing this new EASI technology with partners in the automotive industry. The abbreviation EASI stands for Energy Absorption, Safety and Integrity.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Prices for polycarbonate (PC) in the Russian market are expected to rise from November on the back of the rising cost for feedstock, as per ICIS-MRC Price Report.

The only PC producer in Russia, Kazanorgsintez (KOS), announced an increase in production costs for all the production chain: benzene, acetone, phenol, Bisphenol A. The feedstock prices are also under the pressure of anticipated of introduction of excise duty on benzene import in the Russian Federation. Imported benzene is used by many Russian companies in PC production, including Kazanorgsintez.

If government of the Russian Federation introduces this excise duty, converters will face a significant rise in Russian PC prices.

October prices for Russian injection moulding and extrusion polycarbonate slightly decreased to Rb118,000-119,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, compared with the level in September. November PC prices are expected to be risen by Rb2-3/kg, from the October level.



MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Showa Denko (SDK) has decided to dissolve it PT Showa Esterindo Indonesia (SEI) subsidiary and terminate the production of ethyl acetate in Indonesia, reported Apic-online.

SEI will be dissolved and liquidated "without delay" following the demolition and removal of the 50,000-t/y ethyl acetate facility. Production will be stopped by the end of this year.

"The demand for ethyl acetate in Southeast Asia had been stable for awhile. In recent years, however, the business environment for SEI has become harder than before because of rises in material prices and expansion of the capacities of neighboring countries to supply ethyl acetate," SDK explained.

As MRC wrote before, Showa Denko is in plans to shut its vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant for maintenance turnaround in March 2015. It is planned to remain off-stream for around one month. Located at Oita in Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 175,000 mt/year.

Showa Denko K.K. is mainly engaged in the petrochemical business. The Petrochemical segment manufactures and sells olefin, organic chemicals and others. The Chemical Product segment supplies chemicals, industrial gases, special gas and functional drug for semiconductors, functional high molecular materials, among others.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- German compounder and distributor Albis Plastic (Hamburg) has started distributing six copolyester products from Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, Tennessee / USA) in Turkey, said Plasteurope.

The new distribution agreement, which expands the two companies’ existing partnership, covers the products Durastar, Eastalloy, Eastar, Aspira, Tritan, and Provista and took effect from October 2014.

"In working closely with Albis as a distribution partner in this expanded territory we are underlining our pan-European distributor strategy, allowing us to serve beyond our current reach," said Reinier de Graaf, Eastman’s regional business director for specialty plastics in the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region.

As MRC wrote before, Albis Plastic broadened its portfolio of distribution brands for the Spanish market to include Terluran standard ABS from Styrolution. The distribution agreement covers the injection moulding grades Terluran GP 22 and Terluran GP 35 as well as the extrusion type Terluran HI 10.

Albis Plastic, the Hamburg-based company, is one of the global operating companies in the distribution and compounding of technical thermoplastics. In addition to the product portfolio of well-known plastic manufacturers, Albis offers the plastic processing industry a diverse product range of high performance plastics, compound solutions and masterbatches.
MRC