us: hudson color – plastics colorants

sale, the Government stated that itwould be looking for a strategicinvestor that could provide productionskills and applied technologyknowhow, as well as financial strengthand a global sales network. (See also‘Focus on Pigments’, Feb 2000, 5).

When Degussa took control,carbon black capacity at Jaslo was20,000 tonnes/y. Degussa has justcompleted a project to doublecapacity to 40,000 tonnes/y.

European Rubber Journal, May 2004, 186 (5), 12

US: Hudson Color – plastics colorants

Hudson Color Concentrates hasincreased its capacity at Leominster,MA, from 7500 s.tons/y to 10,000s.tons/y. The company’s onlyextrusion line at Hudson, NH wastransferred to Leominster, effectivelyending production at the Hudson site,which will now be used as a sales andstorage base. Altogether, Hudson nowemploys 60 people at its four sites,making colour concentrates for thenylon, polycarbonate and engineeringpolymer sectors.

Plastics News, 17 May 2004, (Website:http://www.plasticsnews.com)

US: Spartech – plastic colorants &compounds

Spartech Corp is on the point ofopening a new product developmentcentre at its Warsaw, IN site. This willhelp to focus the company’s drive tobroaden its range of “alloy plastics,described as new proprietaryproducts, which combine advancedengineered compounds and additiveswith innovative manufacturingtechniques.” Spartech has introduced54 new “alloy plastics” since early1997 and these products accountedfor 17% of the company’s total salesrevenues of $950 M last year.

Spartech is a leading producer ofengineered thermoplastic materials,polymeric compounds, moulded andprofile products and colourconcentrates, which operates 47facilities in the US, Canada, Mexico,and Europe, with a total productioncapacity of more than 600,000s.tons/y.

Press release from: Spartech Corp, 120 South CentralAvenue, Suite 1700, Clayton, MO 63105-1705, USA(20 Apr 2004)

COMPANIESBASF to extend Colorflexx scheme toMexico and then further north

BASF introduced its Colorflexxscheme in Europe last year and it hasevidently proved popular. Under thescheme, BASF supplies uncolouredTerluran acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin direct to thecustomer, while one of its fourpartners provide specially designedcolour masterbatches. The allianceaims to deliver the appropriateresin/masterbatch package within 10days of receiving the customer’s orderand it aims to respond to calls fortechnical assistance or problem-solving within 24 hours. BASF’s fourpartners in Europe are: Albis, Clariant,Colortronic and Schulman. (See‘Focus on Pigments’, Aug 2003, 5).

Now BASF is going to introducethe Colorflexx scheme in theAmericas, starting with the Mexicanmarket. Here its partners will be:Clariant, Schulman and AvanceIndustrial SA (the local distributor forColortronic GmbH). If the schemeproves popular in Mexico, BASF willextend it to the US and Canada.

Encouraging customers to do theirown colouring benefits BASF becausemaking small batches of colouredABS is not cost-effective. For thecustomers, using the Colorflexxscheme brings about a reduction intheir resin storage costs, greaterflexibility in getting exactly the colourthey need and a reduction in theamount of time needed to get theirnew plastic products to market.

Plastics News, 13 May 2004 (Website:http://www.plasticsnews.com)

Alliance between Chroma, Riverdale &Maguire for plastics colorants

A business alliance has been formedby Chroma Corp, Riverdale ColorManufacturing Inc and MaguireProducts Inc. As a result, Chroma’sliquid colorants manufacturingoperations will be transferred toRiverdale’s Perth Amboy, NJ, site.Riverdale will provide expertise inliquid colorants; Chroma will beresponsible for designing andmanufacturing colour concentratepellets at its McHenry, IL plant;

Maguire will be in charge of technicalservices and materials handling.

Plastics News, 3 May 2004, (Website:http://www.plasticsnews.com)

Holland Colours sees 12% fall in profits

Holland Colours (of Apeldoorn)reported a 12% drop in its operatingprofits to €3.8 M for the year to end-March 2004. High feedstock costs andlower demand from the constructionsector were cited as the major reasonsfor the disappointing performance.

European Chemical News, 31 May 2004, 80 (2102), 8

Acquisitions strengthen IMCD’sposition in Central & Eastern Europe

The IMCD Group (headquartered inRotterdam) has acquired Dr RudolfStreuli AG (of Zurich), a majorregional distributor of pigments, with astrong position in the paint sector.IMCD has also acquired Com-TechPoland Ltd (of Warsaw), a distributorof pigments, with a strong position inthe Polish paint and cosmetic sectors.These latest acquisitions will increaseIMCD’s prominence in Central andEast European markets, adding to itsearlier acquisitions in the CzechRepublic, Slovakia and the Balticstates. Interorgana (of Cologne),which is also part of the IMCD group,plans to open an office in Austria tocoordinate group marketing in Centraland Eastern Europe.

Farbe und Lack, Apr 2004, 110 (4), 71 (in German)

ISP buys Hallcrest

Hallcrest Ltd (of the UK) has beenacquired by International SpecialtyProducts (ISP, of the US) for anundisclosed sum. Hallcrestmanufactures speciality pigments thatcan reversibly change colourdepending on temperature. It alsospecialises in micro-encapsulationtechnology for personal care and foodproducts. Hallcrest has five productionsites in the UK and US.

Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 19 Apr 2004, (253), 11 (inFrench)

Kober claims 28% share of Romanianmarket for paints & pigments

Kober is one of the leading pigmentsuppliers in Romania and it claims a

6 JULY 2004

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