2
8 Additives for Polymers April 2010 UK, Hungary, the Czech Republic and in Russia, and the company now ranks among the top ten masterbatch manufacturers in Europe. The group employs a work- force of almost 500 worldwide and generated a turnover of E72.5 million in the last business year, though this was adversely influenced by the economic crisis. In Germany, Gabriel-Chemie GmbH has taken over the 50% share of W. Bühler Vermögensverwaltung GmbH in Gabriel-Chemie Deutschland GmbH, and is now the sole shareholder, retroactively effective from 1 January 2010. Founded in 1977 by Walter Bühler, W. Bühler Vermögensverwaltung started a joint venture with Gabriel-Chemie in 1989 under the company name Bühler GmbH. At the same time the production of additive and colorant masterbatches commenced at the Weitnau location in Oberallgäu. In September 2003, the joint venture changed its name to Gabriel-Chemie Deutschland GmbH to show affiliation with the cor- porate group, which had grown significantly. Today, Gabriel-Chemie Deutschland GmbH employs more than 80 staff, has a production capacity of 2500 tonnes per annum and achieved a turnover of approximately E13 million during the last business year. This makes the German branch the second largest production facility of the Gabriel-Chemie Group. The Weitnau location also accommodates Competence Centres for laser marking and effect colours. The company not only operates in the German plastics industry but also in bordering countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Contact: Gabriel-Chemie GmbH, Gumpoldskirchen, Austria. Tel: +43 2252 63630 0, Web: www.gabriel-chemie.com Further price increases affect wide range of polymer additives T he escalation in costs for key raw materials continues to impact manufacturers of poly- mer additives worldwide, resulting in further price increases for products ranging from PVC modifiers to pigments. All price changes listed are subject to the terms of existing contracts. Effective from 1 March 2010, BASF (www.basf.com) increased prices in Europe, including CIS countries, for its Vinuran ® acrylic impact modifiers and processing aids by E120/ tonne and E80/tonne, respectively. These products are used in the processing of PVC for applica- tions such as window profiles, pipes, sheets and films. Dow Europe GmbH (www.dow.com) similarly implemented a price increase for all acrylic additives, MBS impact modifiers, tin stabilizers and lubricants sold to the building and construction, packaging, durables and transportation industries in Europe, effective from 15 February 2010. For all lubricants and acrylic additives prices increased by 6% and for MBS impact modifiers and tin stabilizers by 9%. And from 1 April, Korea’s Songwon Industrial (www.song- wonind.com) increased global prices for its Songnox antioxidants, Songlight and Songsorb UV stabilizers, and Songstab acid scavengers as well as of its range of aminic antioxidants by 5–15%. DuPont Titanium Technologies (www.titanium. dupont.com), the largest producer of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) worldwide, brought in price increases for all TiO 2 grades sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 1 March. Net prices in the Euro markets of Western and Central Europe and North Africa regions rose by E100/ tonne while in the US dollar markets of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa the increase was $150/tonne. From 1 April, the company raised prices in the USA and Canada by US$0.05/lb, in Latin America by $150/tonne, in the Asia-Pacific region also by $150/ tonne and in China by RMB1.5/kg. Cristal Global (www.cristalglobal.com), the world’s second-largest producer of TiO 2 , increased prices on all its anatase and rutile products sold in Latin America, including Mexico, by US$100/tonne from 1 March. From the same date, competitor Kronos Worldwide (www.kronostio2. com) implemented a price increase of E100/tonne for all TiO 2 products sold in Europe and Eastern Europe. Outside North America and Europe, prices increased by a minimum of US$100/tonne. Tronox Inc (www.tronox.com) has raised its prices by E100/tonne (or $150/tonne in US dollar mar- kets) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and by $150/ tonne in the Asia-Pacific, effective from 1 April. Also affecting pigments, the Inorganic Materials Business Unit of Evonik Industries (www.evonik. com) increased prices for carbon black pigments and pigment preparations by up to 9% depending on the product, effective for all deliveries from 1 March. Evonik is the world’s second largest producer of car- bon black pigments. STRATEGIES

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8Additives for Polymers April 2010

UK, Hungary, the Czech Republic and in Russia, and the company now ranks among the top ten masterbatch manufacturers in Europe. The group employs a work-force of almost 500 worldwide and generated a turnover of E72.5 million in the last business year, though this was adversely influenced by the economic crisis.

In Germany, Gabriel-Chemie GmbH has taken over the 50% share of W. Bühler Vermögensverwaltung GmbH in Gabriel-Chemie Deutschland GmbH, and is now the sole shareholder, retroactively effective from 1 January 2010. Founded in 1977 by Walter Bühler, W. Bühler Vermögensverwaltung started a joint venture with Gabriel-Chemie in 1989 under the company name Bühler GmbH. At the same time the production of additive and colorant masterbatches commenced at the Weitnau location in Oberallgäu. In September 2003, the joint venture changed its name to Gabriel-Chemie Deutschland GmbH to show affiliation with the cor-porate group, which had grown significantly. Today, Gabriel-Chemie Deutschland GmbH employs more than 80 staff, has a production capacity of 2500 tonnes per annum and achieved a turnover of approximately E13 million during the last business year. This makes the German branch the second largest production facility of the Gabriel-Chemie Group. The Weitnau location also accommodates Competence Centres for laser marking and effect colours. The company not only operates in the German plastics industry but also in bordering countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Contact: Gabriel-Chemie GmbH, Gumpoldskirchen, Austria.

Tel: +43 2252 63630 0, Web: www.gabriel-chemie.com

Further price increases affect wide range of polymer additives

The escalation in costs for key raw materials continues to impact manufacturers of poly-

mer additives worldwide, resulting in further price increases for products ranging from PVC modifiers to pigments. All price changes listed are subject to the terms of existing contracts.

Effective from 1 March 2010, BASF (www.basf.com) increased prices in Europe, including CIS countries, for

its Vinuran® acrylic impact modifiers and processing aids by E120/ tonne and E80/tonne, respectively. These products are used in the processing of PVC for applica-tions such as window profiles, pipes, sheets and films.

Dow Europe GmbH (www.dow.com) similarly implemented a price increase for all acrylic additives, MBS impact modifiers, tin stabilizers and lubricants sold to the building and construction, packaging, durables and transportation industries in Europe, effective from 15 February 2010. For all lubricants and acrylic additives prices increased by 6% and for MBS impact modifiers and tin stabilizers by 9%. And from 1 April, Korea’s Songwon Industrial (www.song-wonind.com) increased global prices for its Songnox antioxidants, Songlight and Songsorb UV stabilizers, and Songstab acid scavengers as well as of its range of aminic antioxidants by 5–15%.

DuPont Titanium Technologies (www.titanium.dupont.com), the largest producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) worldwide, brought in price increases for all TiO2 grades sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 1 March. Net prices in the Euro markets of Western and Central Europe and North Africa regions rose by E100/tonne while in the US dollar markets of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa the increase was $150/tonne. From 1 April, the company raised prices in the USA and Canada by US$0.05/lb, in Latin America by $150/tonne, in the Asia-Pacific region also by $150/tonne and in China by RMB1.5/kg.

Cristal Global (www.cristalglobal.com), the world’s second-largest producer of TiO2, increased prices on all its anatase and rutile products sold in Latin America, including Mexico, by US$100/tonne from 1 March. From the same date, competitor Kronos Worldwide (www.kronostio2.com) implemented a price increase of E100/tonne for all TiO2 products sold in Europe and Eastern Europe. Outside North America and Europe, prices increased by a minimum of US$100/tonne. Tronox Inc (www.tronox.com) has raised its prices by E100/tonne (or $150/tonne in US dollar mar-kets) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and by $150/tonne in the Asia-Pacific, effective from 1 April.

Also affecting pigments, the Inorganic Materials Business Unit of Evonik Industries (www.evonik.com) increased prices for carbon black pigments and pigment preparations by up to 9% depending on the product, effective for all deliveries from 1 March. Evonik is the world’s second largest producer of car-bon black pigments.

STRATEGIES

Page 2: Further price increases affect wide range of polymer additives

April 2010 Additives for Polymers9

From the same date, Eastman Chemical (www.eastman.com) raised the North and Latin American off-list prices on a number of its plasticizer products by US$0.04/lb ($0.088/kg). The products affected are Eastman DOP, DOA, DOA Kosher, 168, 168-CA and TOTM plasticizers.

Momentive establishes US tyre application technology lab

Silicones and silanes producer Momentive Performance Materials USA has established

a 22 000 ft2 tyre R&D lab with state-of-the-art capabilities in Charlotte, NC, USA, through the purchase of certain assets and the sublease of lab space from Continental Tire North America. It has also hired five experienced R&D person-nel previously employed by Continental.

With the new lab, Momentive expects to substantially increase the annual number of complex compounds tested, provide more specific, relevant data, and reduce turnaround time for development samples. The company says that the lab significantly expands its strategic capa-bility for analysis of the chemical interaction of innova-tive silanes within the complex network chemistry of tyre and rubber compounds. For 60 years, Momentive has offered silanes such as Silquest and NXT for tyre manu-facture. For example, the NXT family of silanes helps silica tyre manufacturers reduce tyre rolling resistance with improved traction properties and faster compound processing, while virtually eliminating ethanol emissions.

Contact: Momentive Performance Materials, Albany, NY, USA.

Tel: +1 518 533 4600,

Web: www.momentive.com

FINANCIALS

Clariant axes further 500 jobs as sales, profits fall continues

Swiss speciality chemicals giant Clariant International reported annual sales of

CHF6.6 billion (c. E4.5 billion) for 2009, an 18% decrease in Swiss franc terms or a 14% decrease

in local currencies compared to the 2008 figure of CHF8.07 billion. The company also posted a net loss of CHF194 million in 2009, down from a net loss of CHF37 million the previous year. Clariant attributes the significant declines to continuing difficult trading conditions.

In 4Q 2009, sales of CHF1.7 billion – down 2% in Swiss francs but up 2% in local currencies – suggest an improving situation. The company reported a net loss of CHF67 million in 4Q 2009 compared to a net loss of CHF217 million for 4Q 2008.

Clariant reports that the severe economic crisis affected all businesses across all regions, as reflected in the sales per-formance for 2009. At the beginning of the year, sales were severely impacted by lower demand levels, resulting in signifi-cant capacity underutilization and a depressed gross margin in the first quarter. As the year progressed, capacity utilizations rose as sales volumes improved quarter-by-quarter, thereby reducing capacity underutilization costs, the company says. In addition, it took decisive measures to address production overcapacity. Clariant was also able to maintain sales prices at 2008 levels, while raw material prices decreased, resulting in a gross margin for the full year of 28.2%, only slightly lower than the 2008 margin of 28.7%. All divisions saw a slight recovery in demand in 2H 2009, and all contributed posi-tively to the operational income before exceptional items due to restructuring and cost-cutting measures.

Restructuring and impairment costs amounted to CHF298 million for the year, mainly related to the first phase of site closures within the global asset network optimization (GANO) programme, and a reduction in headcount to 17 536 from 20 102 at year-end 2008. In response to the poor overall financial performance in 2009, Clariant is extending the GANO programme, which will affect production sites in Muttenz, Switzerland, Resende, Brazil, and Thane, India. As a result a further 500 jobs will be lost, with around 400 of those in Switzerland. These measures will be completed between 2011 and 2013.

The Pigments & Additives Division achieved full-year sales of CHF1.46 billion, a decrease of 25% compared to 2008, and operating income (EBIT) of CHF58 million, down from CHF216 million the previous year. For 4Q 2009 the division’s sales rose 2% to CHF379 million while EBIT at CHF26 million fell 4% compared to 4Q 2008. Clariant reports that Additives sales in the fourth quarter were moderately lower compared to the prior year and flat sequentially as improved sales in waxes and polymer addi-tives were offset by lower sales of flame retardant products.

FINANCIALS