Dow expands silicone surfactants range for rigid polyurethane foam market

Dow, the world's petrochemical major, has announced new product extension of VORASURF silicone surfactants to support the growing demand for enhanced energy efficiency and sustainable solutions in the rigid polyurethane foam market, with a specific focus on spray and construction applications, according to SpecialChem.

“With the latest additions to our VORASURF portfolio, we continue to deliver innovative technologies addressing key market trends for rigid polyurethane foams, improving energy efficiency and delivering a more sustainable solution to our customers,” said Dylan Delapa, global market segment leader for Dow polyurethane additives.

“By combining our leading manufacturing integration and global presence, with a deep understanding of the industry, Dow silicone polyethers for spray and construction applications provide the key performance benefits our customers desire,” added Delapa.

Dow has collaborated with the polyurethane industry for decades, offering formulators a wide portfolio of solutions, including silicone performance additives, surfactants, and release agents. Formulators around the world also have access to technical support and innovation capabilities to tailor Dow’s advanced, customizable polyurethane additives to address specific performance, sustainability, and profitability objectives.

As MRC informed previously, in October 2021, Dow and Haldor Topsoe partnered to promote the circular economy. About 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced every year on a global scale. The partnership between Dow and Topsoe marks a new initiative to efficiently convert waste plastics to circular plastics, keeping them out of the environment and responsibly reclaiming their value. Plans include Dow to proceed with the design and engineering for a 10,000 ton per year market development unit using Haldor Topsoe’s PureStepTM technology to purify pyrolysis oil feedstock derived from waste plastics for use in circular products.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 1,494.280 tonnes, up by 21% year on year. Deliveries of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whreas.shipments of PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Dow combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company, with a purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the world through our materials science expertise and collaboration with our partners. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer care. Dow operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately USD39 bn in 2020.
MRC

MRC) -- Overall production of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) did not exceed 169,700 tonnes in the first two months of 2022, which virtually corresponds to the last year's figure. At the same time, three producers reduced slightly their output, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

February production of unmixed PVC in Russia exceeded 82,600 tonnes from 87,100 tonnes a month earlier, all Russian producers kept a high level of capacity utilisation. Total PVC production in Russia reached 169,700 tonnes in January - February 2022 against 169,200 tonnes a year earlier, three producers increased the volume of polymer production, and only one reduced output.

The structure of PVC production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.


RusVinyl produced slightly over 28,700 tonnes of PVC in February, with emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) accounting for 2,400 tonnes, compared to 30,700 tonnes a month earlier. Total SPVC production at RusVinyl increased to 59,300 tonnes in the first two months of this year, compared to 57,300 tonnes in the same period in 2021.

SayanskKhimPlast produced slightly less than 25,700 tonnes of suspension PVC (SPVC), compared to 27,700 tonnes in January. Output of SPVC at SayanskKhimPlast reached 53,000 tonnes in the first two months of 2021, up by 1% year on year.

Baskhir Soda Company produced about 21,600 tonnes of SPVC in February, against 21,300 tonnes a month earlier. Total SPVC production at
Baskhir Soda Company reached 42,800 tonnes in the first two months of this year, compared to 45,200 tonnes in the same period in 2021.

Kaustik Volgograd produced slightly less than 6,700 tonnes of suspension PVC (SPVC), compared to 7,500 tonnes in January. Total SPVC production at Kaustik Volgograd increased to 14,200 tonnes in the first two months of this year, compared to 13,700 tonnes in the same period in 2021.

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Sobeys Inc. has partnered with Ignite Atlantic, Divert NS, and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to launch a national “Plastic Waste Challenge” to find commercially viable and sustainable alternatives o replace hard-to-recycle packaging, said Canplastics.

According to Sobeys, the objective of the challenge is to find an alternative product for non-recyclable fish and meat packaging. The winner of the challenge will have an opportunity to engage in discussions with Sobeys regarding a potential pilot in Nova Scotia.

From now until May, Sobeys will be working with challenge applicants across Canada to identify a potential partner for a sustainable packaging solution to pilot in some of their stores. The challenge applicant will also receive a $25,000 cash prize from Sobeys along with additional supports associated with launching the pilot, and prizes from the other partners.

As per MRC, Berry Global is relying on several ways to make plastic packaging easier to recycle. Consumer brand owners now rank recyclability as a criterion for their packaging, a shift from previous years, said Rob Flores, vice president of sustainability, Berry Global. Berry itself has committed to having all of its fast-moving consumer packaging meet this goal by 2025.

As it was reported before, Berry Global Group, Inc. (Evansville, Indiana) says it will break ground in September on a new polypropylene (PP) recycling facility in Leamington, United Kingdom, that it says will produce food-grade materials with a target purity standard of 99.9%. The new facility will be housed in a purpose-built, net-zero carbon, centrally located 13,000-square-meter, or 139,931-square-foot facility, offsetting CO2 emissions with local tree planting.
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Cornerstone Building Brands Inc., said to be the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, is being acquired by affiliates of private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately USD5.8 bn, said Canplastics.

“We believe this transaction provides substantial value for our shareholders while also accelerating Cornerstone Building Brands’ aspiration to become a premier exterior building solutions company,” said Cornerstone president and CEO Rose Lee.

Cornerstone was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Cary, N.C., and produces vinyl windows, vinyl siding, stone veneer, metal roofing, metal wall systems, and metal accessories.

The proposed transaction, which will result in Cornerstone becoming a private company, is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2022.

We remind,Cornerstone Building Brands Inc. is acquiring Spokane Valley, Wash.-based vinyl window and door manufacturer Cascade Windows for USD245 mln.

Also, Cornerstone Building Brands Inc. acquired Prime Window Systems LLC for an undisclosed amount. Headquartered in Denver, Colo., Prime Window manufactures vinyl window and door products for the residential new construction and repair and remodel markets.

CD&R is headquartered in New York City. Cornerstone produces vinyl windows, vinyl siding, stone veneer, metal roofing, metal wall systems, and metal accessories.
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Canadian automotive parts maker Magna International Inc. said it was halting its operations in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, said Canplastics.

As reported by The Canadian Press and other news agencies, the Aurora, Ont.-based company said it is “deeply concerned with the very unfortunate situation in Ukraine." Magna has six plants in Russia and about 2,500 employees.

Although it doesn’t have facilities in Ukraine, the company said thousands of Ukrainians work in its global operations, along with Russians it says share the same values of “human rights, diversity and inclusion."

Magna also says it is making a significant donation to the United Nations Refugee Agency and will match employee contributions.

As MRC informed earlier, Magna International Inc. will build a second paint shop 75 kilometers away in Maribor/Hoce, Slovenia. Aurora, Ont.-based Magna will spend approximately USD100 million on the new facility.

In 2010, Magna International Inc. officially opened a new production plant in Russia. The new 15,000-square-meter plant is located in the city of Kaluga and will specialize in plastic auto parts for local manufacturers, as well as foreign auto producers which operate in Russia through local subsidiaries. Customers include Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault and Peugeot.
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