Expansion of the charging infrastructure for electromobility

EVBox Group to use polycarbonate from Covestro from mass-balanced biowaste

Further reduction of the carbon footprint in sight

The expansion of electromobility is progressing, and the need for charging stations is growing accordingly. The European Green Deal fixes a target of one million public charging points to be available by 2025. They will be needed to power the 13 million electric cars then expected on European roads.

Covestro is driving the transition to electromobility with innovative material solutions and has been cooperating for more than ten years with EVBox Group, a leading Dutch full-service provider for electric car charging. By using Makrolon® RE, the ISCC PLUS-certified mass-balanced polycarbonate, both companies aim to achieve an even more sustainable solution.

The objective is to set a new standard for charging infrastructure: while electric vehicles no longer require fossil fuels for power, both partners are now looking to conserve resources for charging stations as well and equip them with more sustainable materials. Joint developments are just beginning, but ISCC PLUS-certified Makrolon® RE has already cleared one important hurdle: it meets the technical requirements of charging station manufacturers.

Keeping an eye on the life cycle

“It is important to us to think about the entire life cycle of charging stations right from their development and design,” explains Wijnand Diemer, Senior Director, Product Management at EVBox Group. “These include circular materials as source materials, a modular design that facilitates repairs, and last but not least, the remanufacturing of components and entire charging stations. We are pleased to have Covestro as a competent and trustworthy partner for this.”

A partner that will soon support EVBox with even more sustainable materials. Makrolon® RE series plastics come from recycled waste and residues. Like the standard products, they are recyclable, and also durable. Some products are even carbon-neutral from cradle to factory gate, thanks to the introduction of raw materials derived from mass-balanced biowaste and residues, and renewable energy into the production process. This should significantly reduce their carbon footprint compared with standard types.

Dr. Niklas Meine from Marketing Electrical & Electronics in the Engineering Plastics segment, EMEA, at Covestro, adds: “In order to meet the technical requirements, special material properties are essential. These include impact resistance, color fastness, and surface quality as characteristic features that polycarbonates have to meet in very different climatic regions, including outdoors. The key factor here is durability. Our Makrolon® RE series offers outstanding technical properties based on alternative raw materials, thus allowing for significant CO2 emission savings as early as in the production of charging stations.”

Koketa begins sampling garments made with Acteev® antimicrobial technology

The prestigious Peruvian brand famous for its luxurious intimate wear is including US-made Acteev® in leggings and undergarments

HOUSTON – November 30, 2021 – Koketa, a brand of premium womenswear based in Peru, has begun sampling leggings, undergarments and workout wear featuring Acteev® Protect fabric. Produced by U.S. manufacturer Ascend Performance Materials, Acteev incorporates the odor-fighting and mildew-destroying antimicrobial benefits of zinc ions embedded into the matrix of superior nylon yarns and fabrics.

“When it comes to what’s closest to your most vulnerable skin, being safe and sanitary is a top priority,” said Juan Daniel Del Carpio, commercial director for Koketa. “The Koketa woman wants beauty, comfort and protection, and a partnership with Acteev makes it easier than ever for us to deliver all three.”

Koketa garments with Acteev feature Koketa’s signature innovative styles, including unique knit patterns, on-trend colors and flattering silhouettes. The Acteev fabric is buttery-soft and breathable yet long-lasting and resistant to pilling.

Additionally, clothing made with Acteev is resistant to unwanted odors, keeping garments as fresh after 100 washes as they are on day one. The active ingredient – labeled safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – targets the bacteria and microbes that can cause odor, mildew and discoloration.

“Zinc is nature’s safeguard,” said Juan Toro, global principal business development leader for Acteev in the Americas. “It is a mineral needed for human health, and we have harnessed its power to protect the garments in a natural, sustainable way.”

Retailers interested in carrying the Koketa line made with Acteev can find more information at koketa.com.

More information on Acteev can be found at acteev.com.

XSYS to implement price increase across nyloflex product range

 During 2021, the rise in costs has reached unprecedented levels, affecting all businesses and their suppliers throughout the printing industry. Until now, XSYS has been able to secure the supply of key raw materials and access to supply networks by absorbing this cost inflation through various cost-reduction initiatives and projects, as well as technology improvements and other efficiency gains.

As we enter 2022, cost inflation is continuing to be passed on by suppliers and the impact is coming from several directions:
Double-digit price increases are being levied by raw material and feedstock suppliers.
 Energy prices have soared resulting in a significant rise in XSYS production costs, as well as increased costs from suppliers.
 Transport and freight costs to customers have increased and continue to do so, which is also having an impact on the cost of supply for raw materials.

There are currently no signs that this inflation will start retracting soon. As a result, XSYS will be mitigating the impact by putting into effect a price increase of 6% across the nylon flex product range on 1 st February 2022.

“Our priority remains, as always, to offer a constant and reliable supply of products to our customers, irrespective of the current market conditions.

We will naturally maintain full support with technical service and quality products during this challenging period to ensure that our customers can continue to service their customers,” said Friedrich von Rechteren, Global Commercial VP at XSYS. “In addition, XSYS will invest in more projects and high-efficiency drives designed to counter the inflation where possible.”

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New SABIC study on rear quarter windows underscores LEXAN resin’s value for integration, styling and aerodynamics

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, today announced the results of a recent design study on automotive rear quarter windows that explored the distinct advantages of LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) resins for creating differentiated styling, consolidating components, integrating functions and enhancing aerodynamics. These concepts reveal multiple new opportunities to significantly expand design freedom, control costs and reduce weight by replacing traditional glass with transparent, impact-resistant LEXAN resins. The detailed study, conducted by SABIC designers and engineers, builds on the company’s deep, decades-long history in automotive glazing technology. In addition to rear quarter windows, the SABIC team produced stylish design concepts for rear side windows. The data is available to support the feasibility of these designs, all of which can use well-established processing methods and secondary operations.

“As industry trends such as vehicle electrification continue to evolve, SABIC is seeing major new opportunities for our materials to radically change automotive styling, while simultaneously addressing the longstanding challenges of weight-out, cost-out and sustainability,” said Abdullah Al-Otaibi, general manager, ETP,
Market Solutions, SABIC. “The latest concepts from our study aim to inspire exciting new window designs that address these needs by combining beautiful aesthetics with practical performance and established processing methods. SABIC’s LEXAN resins have a proven track record in automotive glazing applications, and we continue to work with our customers to proactively deliver cutting-edge ideas and innovations that can benefit OEMs, tier suppliers and consumers alike.”

Wraparounds, Panel Swaps, Integrated Lighting and More
Many of the new SABIC concepts feature LEXAN resin used in curved wraparounds that seamlessly flow into other portions of the vehicle, while integrating rear lighting, door latches, D-pillar trim and even sunroofs. Integrations and complex curvatures like these typically cannot be achieved with glass. Part and function integrations can enhance aerodynamics to improve fuel economy and electric vehicle (EV) battery efficiency and range. They also create a highly streamlined look for the vehicle.

One rear quarter window concept (1A) integrates an airflow separator feature for increased aerodynamic efficiency and incorporates styling strokes to add visual appeal. Another concept (1D) integrates a backlit EV charge level indicator within the window. Alternatively, the rear quarter window could integrate a different or more distinctive type of indicator or an animated welcome light display.

In another case (1F), SABIC created a rear quarter window with an expressive 3D curvature that smoothly wraps around the D-pillar, into the sunroof and down the back side. This concept combines the window with the taillights. A variation (1H) on this rear quarter window design features a raised panel covering the D-pillar area. This window enhancement can be created in the same color as the body to establish a floating-pillar effect, and can even be swapped by the consumer for a different panel if a special color or effect is desired. The new SABIC study also includes innovative design concepts for the rear side window. For example, one unique design (2D) features a window and a door latch that are mated to a trim insert in the D-pillar. The result is a sleek, aerodynamic design.

Clear Advantages over Glass
Although glass has dominated the automotive glazing sector for years, due mainly to its low cost for simple curved components, disruptors such as EVs are prompting the industry to re-imagine vehicle design. In the process, traditional materials like glass have come under scrutiny and are increasingly being replaced by safer, lighter, higher performing engineered plastics. SABIC’s PC glazing offers exceptional advantages over glass, beginning with significantly lighter weight. With PC, designers gain the freedom to create curved forms, sharp angles and other configurations that cannot be achieved with glass. Proven technologies such as 2K and 3K injection molding can be used to produce these shapes. SABIC has invested in the development of a 3K injection molded sunroof to build competencies in molding large transparent and semi-transparent parts.

Polycarbonate is also much easier to recycle than glass, which faces roadblocks due to its high transportation costs, potential for contaminating single-stream recycled content with broken fragments, and shrinking end markets for the material, particularly automotive. SABIC is interested in pursuing supply chain collaboration with industry partners to explore the chemical upcycling of PC materials used in rear quarter windows and rear side windows.

Postponed: Technology Days 2022 will take place in June!

• New date: June 22th to 25th, 2022
• Increased safety: Event postponed from spring to summer
• Successful concept: practice, theory and personal contacts

Lossburg, 30/11/2021
Safety first: For this reason, Arburg has postponed the date for the Technology Days 2022 from March to June. The unique industry event for which thousands of visitors from all over the world normally come to Lossburg will take place from 22th to 25th June 2022 in the form of a presence event with the proven successful concept. This includes not only the unique mixture of practice and theory but, first of all, personal contacts.

“With regard to the currently unforeseeable further development of the pandemic, we consider it adviseable that the next year’s Technology Days will not take place as planned from 16th to 19th March. We will therefore postpone the event to 22th to 25th June 2022“, says Dr. Christoph Schumacher, Arburg’s Director Marketing. “This decision was made to provide the highest level of safety to our visitors and employees with regard to health protection and in order to facilitate the planning.”

A highlight in our industrial sector for more than two decades Since 1999, the Technology Days have been one of the largest and most important inhouse events in the world of plastics. They fulfil highest demands, have an excellent reputation and are characterized not only by the wide diversity of subjects and the depth of information but also by their physical event and live character.

Clariant completes sale of its Pigments business

Clariant, a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company, today completed the sale of its Pigments business to a consortium of Heubach Group (“Heubach”) and SK Capital Partners (“SK Capital”). As announced upon signing of the transaction, the base enterprise value of the sale amounts to CHF 805 million subject to closing accounts adjustments and before a potential earn-out payment of CHF 50 million which is subject to the business’ 2021 financial performance.

Clariant rolled over approximately CHF 115 million to retain a 20 % stake in the new holding company, alongside Heubach and SK Capital. This combined business is a global pigments player with approximately 3 000 employees generating approximately EUR 1 billion in annual sales with strong service and production capabilities across the globe.

This roll-over allows Clariant to further benefit from the improving profitability of the Pigments business, participate in future growth opportunities and realize synergies via the combination with Heubach’s Pigments business.

Clariant’s net cash inflow after roll-over and initial debt adjustments, but before closing account adjustments, tax, transaction cost and a potential earn-out payment amounts to approximately CHF 615 million. Clariant intends to use the proceeds of the divestment to invest into growth projects within the core Business Areas, execute the strategy along sustainability and innovation, fund the performance improvement programs as well as strengthen Clariant’s balance sheet to reach and defend a solid investment rating.

“The Pigments divestment concludes Clariant’s transformation into a high-value specialty chemical company, allows us to invest in profitable growth in our most attractive segments and to address the increasing demand for more sustainable products,” said Conrad Keijzer, Chief Executive Officer of Clariant. “We are convinced that the Heubach and SK Capital consortium is the best owner of the Pigment activities and I wish our former colleagues all the best in their new environment. Clariant looks forward to participating in the group’s further development as a shareholder.”

https://www.clariant.com/

Suresh Kalra succeeds Ashwani Bhardwaj as Managing Director of hubergroup India & Head of RBU Asia

Dear ladies and genlemen,

hubergroup today announced that Ashwani Bhardwaj has decided to retire from the company effective January 30, 2022. Mr Bhardwaj had joined the company in 1995 as Regional Head of Sales and held various positions before becoming Managing Director in 2007. He was instrumental in the integration of the Indian company into hubergroup. Under his leadership, hubergroup India (formerly Hindustan Inks and Micro Inks) has developed to a key cornerstone of hubergroup.

hubergroup is delighted to appoint Suresh Kalra as Managing Director and Head of RBU (Regional Business Unit) Asia effective January 1, 2022. Suresh Kalra joined the company as Executive Director in September 2021 after a rigorous selection process with a defined succession plan and has been inducted into the Board of Directors already.

Suresh Kalra has 23 years of experience in chemicals and specialities and an impressive history of driving business growth across various regions globally. He has had a successful stint with the likes of Total, Chevron, Pidilite, Valvoline & WR Grace. His earlier role before joining hubergroup was Managing Director and Vice President SI group – India, where he also served on the board of Korea & Singapore.

The management board warmly welcomes Suresh Kalra to the role and is looking forward to seeing hubergroup Asia grow in this challenging yet exciting time under his leadership.

Heiner Klokkers, Chairman of the Management Board, said: “Suresh Kalra is an accomplished leader known for his strong personal leadership and track record of driving business growth and corporate transformation. His breadth of experience in leading businesses in diverse and dynamic markets is an ideal fit with hubergroup’s strategic priorities, and we look forward to him leading hubergroup Asia in its next phase of growth.”

“I am very excited to be a part of hubergroup and I am looking forward to accelerating the momentum in our chemicals business while continuing to strengthen our position in print solutions on the Asian markets,” Suresh Kalra said. “My focus in this new position will be to leverage the company’s unique product portfolio, the strong manufacturing base in India, and the exceptional talent in executing our growth strategy.”

Ascend to build HMD plant in China’s Jiangsu province

  Ascend Performance Materials announced today it signed an investment agreement to construct a new hexamethylene diamine and specialty chemicals plant in Lianyungang, China in the Xuwei New Area Park. The new plant will be Ascend’s first chemical production facility and the largest investment the company has made outside of the United States.

The plant will produce HMD and specialty chemicals to supply Ascend’s global polyamide production and serve its regional customers. “Our growth is driven by increasing market demand and growing collaboration with our customers globally,” said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “The materials we produce are helping drive technological transformations across markets, from e-mobility to automation. Our new HMD plant positions us to continue supporting these transformations well into the future.”

Ascend, a fully integrated producer of durable engineered materials, serves a variety of sectors including automotive, paints and coatings, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, and cable ties and fasteners.
“China and Asia remain high-growth markets for us,” said Dr. Kevin Wu, Ascend’s senior vice president and managing director for Asia. “This new plant is a symbol of our growth in the region and the partnerships we have developed. We thank the Xuwei New Area Park administrators and the officials in Lianyungang for their
partnership in this project.”

Ascend signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2020 during CIIE in Shanghai with Xuwei New Area Park, witnessed by the leaders of Jiangsu Province and Lianyungang. Ascend will begin construction later this year with a plant startup targeted for the second half of 2023.

The announcement of the new site construction follows a series of acquisitions and capacity expansions to enable regional growth and continued global supply security. In 2018, Ascend made its first acquisition in Tilburg, Netherlands, followed by acquisitions in Mozzate, Italy; Suzhou, China; and Fosses, France. Ascend will also
complete an acquisition in San Jose Iturbide, Mexico and the construction of Ascend Asia Innovation Center later this year.

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Perstorp further strengthens its specialty position within resins and coatings through the acquisition of the Di-Methylolpropionic Acid business from GEO

 Perstorp has acquired GEO’s Di-Methylolpropionic Acid [DMPA business, further emphasizing its commitment as the sustainable specialty solution provider within the resins and coatings segment.

This acquisition further accentuates the company’s strategic presence in Polyurethane and Alkyds dispersions – a vital step to becoming a specialty leader in various waterborne coating markets. The acquisition significantly bolsters Perstorp’s position within the Di-Methylpropionic acid platform, allowing further investments into innovation and additional capacities over time. Perstorp’s strategy is to support its customers and wider society by driving the shift towards renewable raw materials and sustainable technologies. This acquisition serves both of these dimensions.

“Our strategy is to be the sustainable solutions provider within our focus segments, of which resins and coatings is one. Additives for waterborne resins and coatings technologies are a key area for future growth, and we see great potential in the market for Bis-MPA together with the acquired DMPA. This acquisition will both allow further development of our offering and enable long term investments to safeguard future availability,” says Jan Secher, President and CEO of Perstorp Group.

Bis-MPA has represented a key building block in Perstorp’s offering over the past 20-plus years. The product enables a technology shift from solvent to waterborne formulations within markets such as Polyurethane dispersions, PUDs, and waterborne Alkyds.As of January 2022, Perstorp resumes control of GEO’s DMPA business. GEO will continue to produce DMPA exclusively for Perstorp in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Perstorp and GEO are jointly committed to ensuring a smooth business transition process, focusing on security of supply and service.

CPS Performance Materials, the parent company of GEO, is a diverse specialty chemical company with businesses serving multiple end markets including pharmaceuticals, nutrition, specialty coatings and dispersants used in a broad range of applications.

“We are excited to have found a partner in Perstorp who is committed to support the growing demand for DMPA. CPS will continue to focus on building our core businesses and this transaction enables us to streamline our portfolio as we invest in a number of capacity and product expansions throughout the company,” says Jeremy Steinfink, CEO of CPS Performance Materials.

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INEOS and NEXTLOOPP Work Together To Recycle Polypropylene

•  INEOS Olefins and Polymers Europe joins the award-winning NEXTLOOPP project to deliver new grades of Polypropylene (PP) incorporating recycled content that will be food-grade certified
•    INEOS O&P Europe will bring its deep product and technical know-how and expertise to the Project Partners to ‘tailor’ new grades to exacting food standard specifications which will meet customer’s requirements.
• “The absence of food-grade recycled polypropylene means that all PP food packaging is currently made from virgin plastics. This is a large, global problem and it is something that INEOS and its partners are determined to change.”

INEOS Olefins & Polymers have today announced it has joined the NEXTLOOPP project, an exciting UK collaboration to create circular food-grade recycled polypropylene from Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) packaging.

INEOS will be at the centre of an important two-year project that will inform the building of a demonstration plant in the UK to produce 10,000 tonnes per year of food-grade recycled polypropylene.

 From its manufacturing base in Grangemouth, Scotland, and extensive product and technical expertise across its European operations, INEOS will help tailor food-grade recycled polypropylene to the precise specification of converters by blending it with virgin polypropylene to modify its mechanical and processing properties. It will also introduce processing aids to help converters to meet the exacting requirements of Brand Owners.

 The project aims to validate the food-grade recycled polypropylene manufacturing process and its commercial viability, with the aim of receiving acceptance from the UK’s Food Standard Agency (FSA) and European equivalent (EFSA).

 Graham MacLennan, Polymer Business Manager INEOS O&P UK, said, “Polypropylene is one of the most versatile plastics in the world – it is also missing from our recycling streams in food contact applications. In the UK alone we use over 210,000 tonnes of PP in our food packaging every year. It is found in pots, tubs and trays. However, the absence of food-grade recycled polypropylene means that all PP food packaging is currently made from virgin plastics. This isn’t unique to the UK but a large global issue that INEOS and its partners are determined to change.”

 This partnership signals INEOS’ clear commitment to using more recycled plastic as a raw  material. INEOS remains committed to Sustainability, to achieving Net Zero in its operations whilst making products that enable others in the supply chain to also lower their carbon footprints.

 Professor Edward Kosior, founder and CEO of Nextek Ltd and NEXTLOOPP says, “We are delighted to welcome the participation of INEOS in helping recycle PP food packaging. INEOS’ commitment to reducing the world’s reliance on virgin plastics and closing the loop on such a prolific polymer as food-grade PP will help create a more circular economy, reduce CO₂ emissions and create new materials for brand owners”

“NEXTLOOPP looks forward to achieving the goal of creating a long term solution for PP packaging, enabling all stakeholders to confidently participate in recycling and contributing to a better outcome for all.”

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https://nexloop.us/