June 2002 Additives for Polymers

Contact: Honeywell Chemical Specialties, Wunstorfer Str. 40, Seelze, D-30918, Germany," tel: +49-5137-999-425; fax: +49-5137-999- 104; URL: www:honeywellppc.com

Correction

It has come to our attention that the item 'Bayer extends flame-retardant offerings' (Additives for Polymers, May 2002, p. 2) contained incorrect address details. The correct contact details are:

Bayer AG, D-51368 Leverkusen, Germany; fax: +49-221-9902-160 We apologise sincerely to Bayer AG and to our readers for any inconvenience caused by this error.

C O M P A N Y S T R A T E G I E S

Atofina buys remaining interests in Metablen additives Through its additives group, Atofina is acquir- ing the remaining 50% interests in Metco North America, Inc and Metablen Company BV (the Netherlands) from Mitsubishi Rayon Co, Ltd, its former joint venture partner. The deal closed on 26 April.

According to Bruno Savanne, Worldwide Business Manager for Metablen, "the new own- ership allows Atofina Additives Group to fully integrate Metco North America and the Metablen Company BV into its organization". The new arrangement also opens new markets previously unavailable to Atofina. Under the provisions of the sale, products previously sold by the joint ventures under the Metablen ® trade- mark can now be sold by Atofina Additives Group worldwide. Atofina Additives Group can continue to use the Metablen trademark till the end of 2002, subject to specified limitations. Atofina will announce new trade names for the product lines soon.

The products sold from both joint ventures are MBS (methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene) impact modifiers for packaging and engineering resins, as well as acrylic processing aids, large- ly for PVC applications.

Contact." Atofina Chemicals Inc, 2000 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3222, USA; tel: +1-215-419-7000; fax: +1-215-419-7591; URL: www.atofinachemicals.com

Huntsman Tioxide to acquire AECI share of South African TiO 2 operation Huntsman Tioxide and AECI have reached agree- ment in principle for Huntsman to acquire AECI's 40% minority holding in the 40 000 tonne per year Tioxide South Africa titanium dioxide pigment operation. The expected price is approximately US$7.5 million and the transaction is due to be completed by the end of June this year.

Doug Coombs, president and CEO of Huntsman Tioxide says the deal is a natural move for the company. "As majority shareholder we manage the plant and the sales from it, so this will mean no change on a day to day basis", Coombs com- ments. "Huntsman remains highly committed to the TiO 2 business and having full ownership of Tioxide South Africa will enhance our ability to fulfil our global objectives", he adds.

In addition to South Africa, Huntsman Tioxide has titanium dioxide pigment manufacturing operations in Malaysia, France, Spain, Italy and the UK, and a joint venture in the USA.

Contact: Huntsman Tioxide Europe Ltd, Tees Road, Hartlepool, TS25 2DD UK," tel." +44- 1642-545454;fax: +44-1642-545538

Great Lakes raises price for flame retardant With effect from 1 May 2002, Great Lakes Chemical Corp is increasing the price of its Firemaster 2100 ® flame retardant globally by US$0.10/lb or US$0.22/kg, where contracts allow. Firemaster 2100 is a general-purpose, non-diphenyl oxide based brominated flame retardant. This price increase follows close on the heels of a similar rise in price for the com- pany's antimony trioxide flame retardant prod- ucts, announced in April (see Additives for Polymers, May 2002, p. 4).

According to Great Lakes, Firemaster 2100 is a high-purity product offering excellent

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Additives for Polymers June 2002

thermal and UV stability in challenging flame-retardant applications that require good processing stability, consistent colour reten- tion and resistance to weathering. It is said to be an efficient option for a wide variety of polymers including elastomers, styrenics, polyolefins and engineering polymers, as well as applications such as adhesives, sealants and textiles.

Contact: Great Lakes Chemical Corp, PO Box 2200, 1 Great Lakes Boulevard, West Lafayette, Indianapolis, IN 47906-5394, USA; tel: +1- 765-497-6100; fax: +1-765-497-6316; URL: www. great lakes, com

Chrostiki agrees distribution deal with Portugal's Quiminova Greek masterbatch producer Chrostiki sa has named Quiminova Lda as the distributor for its masterbatches and compounds for Portugal's plastics industry. According to Chrostiki, the cooperation is expected to result in a turnover of ~200 000 in 2002. In addition, Chrostiki may distribute the products of the Portuguese com- pany on the Greek market.

Quiminova Lda imports and trades a wide range of raw materials and equipment for the plastics, rubber and chemical industries in Portugal. The company also produces special colour com- pounds for engineering plastics. Quiminova is based in Lisbon with branch offices and ware- houses serving the whole country. According to the company, its wide distribution network has resulted in the development of an advanced computerized system of integrated management control and internal communication, which allows constant and fast tracking of stock, prices and credit control for its clients.

Established in 1959, Chrostiki also manufac- tures and exports dry colour blends for the col- oration of plastics and printing inks, in addition to its masterbatch and compound operations. The company reports that exports comprise a major part of its activities, with customers in 18 countries.

Contact." Chrostiki as, 15-17 Zinonos Street, 194-00 Koropi, Greece; tel: +30-10-662-4692;

fax: +30-10-662-3873; URL: www.chrostiki.gr

Quiminova Lda, 33 Rua Aprigio Mafra, 1700- 051 Lisbon, Portugal; tel: +35-121-7933-545;

fax: +35-121-7934-332

Holland Colours installs production unit in Japan Holland Colours has increased the global pro- duction capacity of its Holcobatch microbead pigment preparation with the installation of a new production unit in Japan. The company says the pigments produced on this unit are mainly supplied for the colouring of extruded PVC products, such as pipes, profiles and sheets. The unit can supply small (50 kg) orders as well as medium and large ones.

Holland Colours Japan becomes the seventh location within the Holland Colours group pro- ducing Holcobatch. The existing manufacturing locations are in the Netherlands, the USA, Hungary, Indonesia, UK and Brazil.

In its most recent financial figures, for the six months ended 30 September 2001, Holland Colours reported a turnover of E31.02 million, down slightly from ~31.25 million the previous year. However, net profit was up 22% at E1.25 million.

Contact: Holland Colours NV, PO Box 720, 7300 AS Apeldoorn, The Netherlands; tel: +31- 55-366-3143; fax: +31-55-366-2981; e-mail: info@hollandcolours.com; URL: www.holland- colours, com

Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Asahi Denka Kogyo to jointly market nucleating agents Ciba Specialty Chemicals' Plastic Additives Segment and Asahi Denka Kogyo (ADK) of Japan have signed a co-marketing agreement for a nucleating agent invented and produced by ADK. Ciba and ADK will each distribute the product under their own trade name and through their own sales channels. Ciba is to market the product as IRGASTAB ® NA 11 and ADK as ADKSTAB T M NA- 11.

According to Ciba, IRGASTAB NA 11 enhances the performance of the material and helps increase productivity, both key elements

6 ©2002 Elsevier Science