July 2007 Additives for Polymers7

NEWS

America from May 2007. In other news, the com-pany’s recently introduced XAR acid-resistant ultramarine blue grade for plastics [ADPO, June 2007] has been selected for use in new seating for the Beijing stadium, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Techmer PM forms partnership with Brazil’s Mash Plásticos

US-based masterbatch specialist Techmer PM has signed a partnership agreement

with Mash Compostos Plásticos, a young Brazilian company specializing in the pro-duction of technical and colour compounds and masterbatches in a variety of polymers, including PP, polyamide, ABS and PE. This agreement is the first step toward local pro-duction in Brazil of Techmer PM’s colour and additive masterbatches for mouldings, films, nonwovens and polymeric fibres.

The new partnership will allow the South American plastics industry local access to Techmer PM patents, solutions and technology, through Mash. The two companies have com-mitted to produce Techmer products at the Mash factory, located in São Paulo. Work is underway to develop quickly the standards and testing capa-bilities necessary to ensure the quality and con-sistency of products, whether produced in Brazil or the USA. Customers with global masterbatch needs will in future have technical support and products of the expected quality, and with local service, the partners say. Both Mash and Techmer are ISO9001:2000 certified, and both are com-mitted to the continuous development of new products.

Contact: Techmer PM, 18747 Laurel Park Road, Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220, USA. Tel: +1 310 632 9211, Fax: +1 310 886 3485, Web: www.techmerpm.com

Or contact: Mash Compostos Plásticos, Avenida Marechal Tito, 6.829, Itaim Paulista, 08115-100 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Tel: +55 11 6566 8800, Web: www.mashplasticos.com.br

FINANCIALS

Refocused Akzo Nobel starts year well

Akzo Nobel has reported a strong start to the year for the refocused company.

The combined Coatings and Chemicals busi-ness posted autonomous growth of 6% in the first quarter of 2007, while operational results before incidentals of �219 million were 18% higher than the corresponding period last year. The Pharma activities, which are reported as discontinued operations following the recent decision to sell [ADPO, May 2007], also per-formed well, with first quarter operating results jumping 8%.

At �2.5 billion, quarterly revenues for Coatings and Chemicals were 1% above the 1Q 2006 figure, with autonomous growth of 6% being largely offset by a negative currency impact. The refocused com-pany posted EBITDA of �307 million, an increase of 10% compared with last year. The operating result was up 18%. Incidentals only had a minor impact during the quarter, in contrast to 1Q 2006, when the company posted significant positive incidentals.

In 1Q 2007, Chemicals revenues increased by 1% to �917 million, with volume growth of 1% and price increases of 3% being partially offset by a negative currency impact of 2%. Before inciden-tals, EBITDA amounted to �164 million, in line with last year. The EBIT margin improvement was a result of the margin management programmes in all units. For Polymer Chemicals, which includes the company’s polymer additives portfolio, earn-ings before interest and taxes were well ahead of 1Q 2006 levels due to cost savings and benefits from the margin improvement programme. Akzo Nobel’s polymer additives family includes slip & antiblock additives, antistats, processing aids, flame retardants, additive concentrates, electroconductive blacks and release agents.

Contact: Akzo Nobel NV, Velperweg 76, 6824 BM Arnhem, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 26 366 4433, Fax: +31 26 366 3250, Web: www.akzonobel.com