carbonate plant at the ShengdaIndustrial Park in Xianyang (Shaanxiprovince). Previous reports hadindicated Shandong province as thelocation of this plant. (See ‘Focus onPigments’, Jul 2007, 5).
The new lines employ thecompany’s advanced cost-efficientmembrane diffusion technology, whichis claimed to reduce production costsby 5-7%, compared with thetraditional ultra-gravity technology.Membrane diffusion technology alsoenables the production of betterquality carbonate particles, whichopens up a broader range of marketapplications. The two new lines havea combined capacity of 40,000tonnes/y, bringing total capacity atXianyang to 100,000 tonnes/y. Thecompany’s total capacity is now130,000 tonnes/y. A further 60,000tonnes/y of capacity will be addedbefore the end of 2007.
In 2Q 2007, ShengdaTech sold28,029 tonnes of nanoparticulatecalcium carbonate, generating $10.8M in sales revenue. Of this total, salesto rubber and tyre manufacturersaccounted for 51.4%, sales tomanufacturers of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) accounted for 34.4%. Sales toother end-use sectors, includinglatex/emulsions, adhesives, paintsand printing inks accounted for theremaining 14.2%.
Press Release from: ShengdaTech Inc, Taian QingchunEntrepreneurial Development Zone, Taian City,Shandong 271000, China. Tel: +86 538 856 0668.Website: http://www.shengdatechinc.com (17 Jul 2007)
Germany: Tronox – TiO2
In March 2007, Tronox – the world’sthird largest TiO2 pigment supplier –signalled that it was open to offers forits last sulfate-route TiO2 pigmentplant, with a capacity of 107,000tonnes/y at Krefeld-Uerdingen. Theoriginal deadline was end-June, butthis waived in order to allow time forthe submission of “last-minute bids.”Apollo, which has already agreed tobuy Huntsman – the world’s fourthlargest TiO2 supplier – was believedto be considering a bid for Tronox.However, on 25 September Tronoxdeclared that it would be holding on tothe Uerdingen plant after all becauseit had not received bids that“accurately reflected the long-termvalue of this worldclass facility.”
TiO2 Worldwide Update, Jul/Oct 2007, 15 (4/5), 17
Japan: Ishihara – TiO2
Following a review of chlorine supplyarrangements for its 68,000 tonnes/ychloride-route TiO2 pigment plant,Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (ISK) hasdecided to establish its own chloralkalifacility at the Yokkaichi complex in Mieprefecture. The plant should becommissioned in March 2008, withproduction to be increased to full-scale by August 2008. At that time, itshould be producing 27,000 tonnes/yof chlorine and 30,000 tonnes/y ofcaustic soda. ISK states that thismove will enable the company tomake annual savings of “severalhundred million Yen” as a result ofinsulating it from the current supplytightness and rising prices in theJapanese chlorine market.
Japan Chemical Week, 20 Sep 2007, 48 (2433), 1-3
Poland: PolyOne – plasticsmasterbatch
On 27 September, PolyOne officiallydedicated its new colouredmasterbatch plant at Kutno (nearLodz). PolyOne states that the plant isclose to the main Berlin-to-Moscowtransport route and is well located forserving customers in Eastern Europe.The company intends to installfacilities at Kutno for other PolyOneproducts in due course.
Press Release from: PolyOne Corp, Ohio, USA.Website: http://www.polyone.com (27 Sep 2007)
Spain: Ferro – ceramic colorants
Ferro Corp, one of the world’s leadingsuppliers of ceramic raw materials,officially commissioned its new 20,000tonnes/y ceramic colorants plant atCastellon in southern Spain on 25September. The new facility has afootprint of 12,000 square metres,including quality control and technicalsupport laboratory facilities, as well asthe production plant itself.
Press Release from: Ferro Corp, 1000 LakesideAvenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 1147, USA. Website:http://www.ferro.com (25 Sep 2007)
Thailand: Tokai – carbon black
Tokai Carbon is again consideringadding a seventh production line at itsSriracha carbon black plant, whichwould raise capacity from 110,000tonnes/y to 150,000 tonnes/y. Tokai
first indicated that it might spend Yen 2-3 bn to add a 40,000 tonnes/yline about two years ago. (See ‘Focuson Pigments’, Sep 2005, 6).
Japan Chemical Week, 20 Sep 2007, 48 (2433), 8
Thailand: Toyo Ink – plasticscompounds & colorants
Toyo Ink has released specificcapacity data in respect of its projectat the Wellgrow Industrial Estate onthe eastern outskirts of Bangkok. (See‘Focus on Pigments’, Sep 2007, 5).Initial capacity here will be 25,000tonnes/y of plastic colorants andcompounds. This includes 10,000tonnes/y of polypropylene compoundsdesigned for use in automotiveapplications. The colorants unitshould be ready to commenceproduction early next year.
Japan Chemical Week, 27 Sep 2007, 48 (2434), 8
COMPANIESAxyntis created to run formerOrgasynth colorants business
Argos-Soditic has completed the“management buy-in” transaction,whereby the chemical businesses ofthe Orgasynth group have beenestablished as a separate entity,named Axyntis. Mr David Simonnet(Chief Executive) and Mr PierreBeaugrand (Chief Operating Officer)also participated in this transactionand they have become significantshareholders in Axyntis. (See also‘Focus on Pigments’, Aug 2007, 7).
Argos-Soditic is an independentprivate equity fund, created in 1989. Itspecialises in assisting managementbuy-outs and buy-ins for small andmedium-sized companies in France,Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal.Axyntis has annual sales revenues ofthe order of €80 M and a totalworkforce of 339, organised in fivedivisions. These are: Orgapharm (ofPithiviers), Centipharm (of Grasse),Synthexim (of Calais) and All’Chem(of Montluçon), which specialise in theproduction of fine chemicals,intermediates and active ingredientsfor the pharmaceutical and electronicindustries; plus Steiner (of St Marcel),which makes dyes and pigments forthe petroleum, paper, textile and
DECEMBER 2007 5
F O C U S O N P I G M E N T S
