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Dear business partners,

Welcome to the first issue of tradetrends for the

year 2017. We hope you experienced a smooth

close to 2016 and that the New Year has gotten

off to a successful start!

First, we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude

to Edgar E. Nordmann for his contribution to

the Georg Nordmann Holding AG, which he

has decisively shaped and led forward like no

other. After a successful career of more than

50 years, Mr Nordmann stepped down from his

management position last year. We are delighted,

however, that he will be continuing his support

of our corporate group.

We’ve set our sights high for the year ahead: not

only will we be exhibiting at various different

trade fairs, but also getting started with you

on many interesting projects within The NRC

Group’s scope of industries.

With the foundation of our own subsidiary in

Turkey, we have been able to present NRC

Group suppliers with even greater sales pro-

spects since mid-2016. We are pleased to have

been so well received by suppliers and customers

alike at the start of our partnership with new

principals such as Honeywell, KaMin, Patcham

and Total Petrochemicals.

We also see great potential in our new distribu-

tion agreement with Huntsman Pigments, under

which The NRC Group is managing the sale

of white and also colored pigments in Austria,

Germany and Switzerland.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue of trade-

trends!

Warm regards,

Dr. Gerd Bergmann & Irina Zschaler

Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH Managing Board

EDIT

ORIA

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“Edgar E. Nordmann has decisively contributed to and driven the extraordinarily positive development of the com-panies of The NRC Group throughout his professional life, and made it into what it is today,” remarked Irina Zschaler, Member of the Board of Georg Nordmann Holding AG and Managing Director of Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH. “As one of the most well-known faces of The NRC Group, he has not only led and represented the company with great personal commitment, but was and is an important pioneer, communicator and manager. His perpetual openness to any issue and his great commitment have had a lasting impact on our corporate culture. We are delighted to have him remain with us in an advisory capacity in the future.”

Back in 1963, Edgar E. Nordmann joined his family’s busi-ness Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH, becoming a Managing Partner in 1970. Under joint leadership with his brother Carsten Nordmann, the erstwhile raw rubber and cocoa import company became a global distributor, active not only as a supplier and service provider, but also as a consultant and partner to its customers and clients world-wide. Besides a head office in Hamburg, it now also has 15 European subsidiaries.

Together with Udo Müller, Edgar E. Nordmann also built ROWA GROUP Holding GmbH into an international com-pany involved in the production and compounding of plastics – as well as the production of speciality coa-tings and foaming compounds – with production sites in Germany, the USA and Asia.

Edgar E. Nordmann’s name stands for innovation and a forward-looking approach, as well as for social respon-sibility. Starting from his early days in the company, he drove the international focus of Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH and has since 1991 promoted the foundation of the subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe – a

success owing not least to his excellent contacts. Ano-ther decisive factor has been his impressive intercultural expertise, which he built up over numerous trips around the world and has always used constructively for the benefit of the group. Many young colleagues have been able to learn from him and to rely on his advice.

With his inexhaustible interest in trends, technologies and associated new possibilities, he has significantly contri-buted to the visionary development of The NRC Group’s companies – always in line with market needs. However, Edgar E. Nordmann has not only fulfilled his many roles and leading positions with great competence – thanks to his

CONTENTS

LIFE SCIENCES 2-8

COATINGS & CONSTRUCTION 2, 8-9

PLASTICS & ADDITIVES 10-11

ELASTOMERS & ADDITIVES 12-13

OLEOCHEMICALS & LUBRICANTS 14

THE NRC GROUP 14-16

Georg Nordmann Holding AG would like to announce that as of 30 September 2016 and after more than 50 years of successful work for the companies of the group, Edgar E. Nordmann has stepped down

from the board of Georg Nordmann Holding AG and the management of Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH, ROWA GROUP Holding GmbH and Enorica GmbH.

Edgar E. Nordmann steps down from operational activities and continues supporting the group

Edgar E Nordmann received a high-class thank-you at the small farewell party held to celebrate his many years of company service.

tradetrendsProduct and market information for our business partners

Continued on Page 2.

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C O A T I N G S & C O N S T R U C T I O N L I F E S C I E N C E S

Use the attached fax sheet to request further details concerning articles marked with this information symbol.

Change of leadership in Coatings & Construction division and Enorica GmbH

Jörg Hörig, 55, formerly the general manager of Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH’s Coatings & Construction divi sion, has been appointed Managing Director of Enorica GmbH as of 1 October. His successor at Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH is Heidi Hinrichs (47).

With 25 years of experience at Nord-mann, Rassmann GmbH and extensive expertise in sales, marketing, logis-tics and IT, Jörg Hörig has the ideal qualifications to develop business at Enorica GmbH. “I am very motivated about taking over the management of Enorica,” said Hörig. “For me it means being able to make profitable use of the know-how I have built up over many years, and to use synergies to expand the business.”

Heidi Hinrichs, who has also been with the company for over 25 years in a wide variety of positions at Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH in Barcelona, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, can also draw on many years of experience. She has many personal contacts in the construction, composites, coatings and adhesives industries, and as a

result has a very good reputation among customers and suppliers.

Once again, Nordmann, Rassmann has been able to profit from the expertise of its dedicated staff and find internal solutions for two positions.

Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH and Faci S.p.A agree to partnership As of 1 January, Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH now distributes Faci S.p.A. products in Germany. Faci S.p.A. is the world’s largest producer of metal stearates and plastic additives, with a total of five production sites in Europe and Asia. Its products have a range of different applications in several fields, including plastics, rubber, cosmetics, pharmaceu-ticals and construction.

Details of all Faci S.p.A.’s products and services will appear in the next issue of tradetrends.

ability to respond to employees, business partners, service providers and competitors at any time with the greatest respect and warmth, he has also created an atmosphere of trust and enduring positivity.

Continued from Page 1.

Sense Capture Mask M0056932 and M0058562, Sense Capture Protein M0061747

New masking aromas diminish protein taste

For several years now in Gemany and Switzerland, The NRC Group and flavoring supplier MANE have been working together with great success in the sale and distribution of flavoring agents for use in pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements. Recently, the French manufacturer has added new masking flavors to its portfolio that will also be distributed by The NRC Group.

These new products from MANE have a lot in them – and that in the truest sense, as the innovative masking aro-mas effectively reduce unpleasant flavors. Sense Capture Mask M0056932 and M0058562, for instance, are popularly used in food supplements to subdue the metallic taste of Distributed in Germany and Switzerland.

trace elements and sweeteners. Sense Capture Protein M0061747, however, softens the taste of plant-based pro-teins from peas and soy.

In addition to his specialist and interpersonal skills, his many honorary offices have also contributed to the success of the business: whether as the longstanding Chair of the Eastern Asiatic Association (OAV), Chair of the European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc) or his more than 30 years as Honorary General Consul of Malaysia – his great personal commitment could always be relied on.

Georg Nordmann Holding AG and the entire staff of The NRC Group, ROWA GROUP and Enorica would like to thank Edgar E. Nordmann for his successful visionary service, his model personal leadership of staff, and his entrepreneurial foresight as we welcome and look forward to his continued support.

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L I F E S C I E N C E S

HOMECRAFT® Pulse CT 1203 and 2201,VITESSENCE™ Pulse CT 1552 and 3602

Protein-booster for trendy new food products

Protein-enriched products have long ceased to be a niche-market. Available now in a lot of different shops, custo-

mers want them to be plant-based, sustain ably-produced and great-tasting as well. To boost both protein and fiber content in contemporary food pro-ducts, Ingredion is introducing four new clean-taste additives that expand the company’s portfolio of pulse protein concentrates and flours. In Germany, these innovative ingredients are being distributed by Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH.

The new products are VITESSENCE™ Pulse CT 1552 and 3602 protein concentrates as well as pulse-based flours HOMECRAFT® Pulse CT 1203 and 2201. All four clean- label additives feature a clean flavor profile which provides manufacturers with a world of different application options that are easier to formulate. These ingredients have no effect on taste but boost protein content, making them popular additions to milk products such as yogurt, pudding and cheese as well as drinks and smoothies. They are also great for enriching baked goods, pastas and snacks.

Derived from pea or faba bean, Ingredion’s VITESSENCE™ Pulse CT proteins have a protein content of 55-60% on a dry basis. Being plant-based means both ingredients have many application fields, particularly for vegetarian items.

Distributed in Germany.

The pea and lentil flours in the HOMECRAFT® Pulse CT range provide different levels of fiber, starch and protein and are therefore multipurpose in their use. Being naturally gluten-free, these flours make exciting

POLYGUM®

Expanding partnership with Polygal AG

Having established a very successful partnership in the fields of coatings and construction, Polygal AG and Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH are now extending their distribution agreement to include Nordmann, Rassmann’s

Life Sciences division.

Polygal AG is a Swiss manufacturer of raw materials and a world leader in the research and utilization of plant-based hydrocolloids for various industrial applications. Since 1 November 2016, Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH has been distributing the POLYGUM® product line in Germany, which consists of locust (or carob) bean gums and certain types of guar gum – primarily low-viscosity‚ depolymerized varieties. POLYGUM® is manufactured in Polygal’s FSSC 22000-certified plant in Spain.

In 2016, the carob pod harvest in the Mediterranean region was above average – assessed at around 10% more than a normal year. However, the market is currently overheated and prices are rising contrary to expectation; yet Polygal, with its 60 years of experience, is keeping a close eye on the market and utilizing intelligent seed-purchasing strategies to secure price advantages for its customers.

Frozen delightsLocust bean gum is especially popular with ice-cream manufacturers, as it prevents crystallization and ensures a creamy and soft mouth feel. Other possible applications include soups, sauces, dressings and desserts.

The low-viscosity guar gum is characterized by its ability to improve mouth feel as well as moisture levels, in addition to inhibiting syneresis. These properties make it a popular additive for beverages, sauces, dressings, baked goods, sausage and other meat products.

Distributed in Germany.

alternatives for customers who do not tolerate wheat, spelt, rye etc.

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10 Essential Concepts

Revealing the strength of beauty Achieving the perfect skin care concept for every type of skin – this is the goal of the innovative “10 Essential Concepts” range from manufacturing company DSM. Each of its individual products is being distributed by The NRC Group in several European countries.

Consumers worldwide pay very close attention to their options when purchasing personal care products: whether it’s moisturizing creams, lotions with anti-aging effects or pore-refining cosmetics, the properties are important. These are what create decisive competitive advantages for manufacturers. With DSM’s concepts and products in its portfolio, The NRC Group can provide the right formulation for every type of customer request.

• Pure Skin: REGU®-SCENCE, ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS,

PEPHA®-PROTECT, ALPAFLOR® NECTAPURE PF Protecting the skin from smog, smoke and other

environmental factors – that’s the primary aim of Pure Skin.

• Skin Firmness & Elasticity: SYN®-HYCAN, SYN®-COLL, REGU®-SCENCE This concept declares war on saggy skin to ensure a

firm and fresh complexion that lasts.

• Skin Perfector: ALPAFLOR® ALP®-SEBUM, REGU®-SEB, STAY®C-50,

SYN®-COLL The focus here is on providing special care for oily to

blemish-prone skin.

• Skin Radiance: ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS, ALPAFLOR® GIGAWHITE,

REGU®-SCENCE, MELFADE®

REVITALIN® PF This concept utilizes actives selected for combating age

spots, irregularities and lackluster skin that has lost its glow.

• Skin Whitening: NIACINAMIDE PC, REGU®-FADE, RADIANCE CR,

ALPHA-ARBUTIN Particularly in Asian countries, skin-lightening products

are commonly used. This DSM concept provides the right actives.

Distributed in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia and the Slovak Republic.

• Eye-Contour Care: SYN®-COLL, REGU®-AGE PF, PEPHA®-TIGHT, PEPHA®-CTIVE, SYN®-EYE The area around the eyes is one of the most sensitive,

and therefore needs special care. That’s exactly what the above products offer.

• Flawless Skin: SYN®-AKE, SYN®-TACKS, SYN-STAR™, SYN®-TC,

SYN®-COLL A visible reduction in wrinkles is an ambitious promise

only Flawless Skin can make.

• Skin Comfort: STIMU-TEX®-AS, PENTAVITIN®, SYN-UP™,

IRICALMIN® PF Sensitive skin is susceptible to irritations. To keep these

at bay, DSM has developed the Skin Comfort concept.

• Skin Hydration: PENTAVITIN®, SYN-UP™, ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS,

LACTOMIDE Despite the already countless number of products on

the market, customer demand for a reliable remedy for dry skin is still high. Skin Hydration to the rescue!

• Men’s Care: REGU®-SEB, PENTAVITIN®, IRICALMIN® Men’s skin is different from that of women’s, thus

requiring a different type of care. Our concept for Men’s Care has been fully adapted to address this and soothe, moisturize and refine skin texture and appearance.

For more information and formulation support, contact The NRC Group directly.

Zeothix® 177 Silicone Dioxide

Zeothix® 177 Silicon Dioxide for day-to-day dental care

The NRC Group’s portfolio now con-tains a high-performing raw material for dental hygiene: Huber’s Zeothix®

177 silicon dioxide. Particles of Zeothix® 177 silicon dioxide are extremely small and have a particle size distri-bution that contains a large portion of particles of a similar size to (or smaller than) the diameter of human dentinal tubules (3 µm).

Huber conducted an internal trial to test the adherence of Zeothix® 177 silicon dioxide (INCI: hydrated silica), in which a bovine tooth with exposed dentine was immersed for four minutes in a ten-percent silica slurry – consisting of 10g of Zeothix® 177 silicon dioxide and 90g of demi-neralized water. The bovine tooth section was constantly moved through the slurry during testing. The tooth was rinsed with demineralized water to conclude the test.

The comparative study confirmed that Zeothix® 177 silicon dioxide covered the surface of the tooth, as shown in Figure 2. Zeothix® 177 silicon dioxide is popularly used in toothpaste formulations for sensitive teeth. Contact your NRC representative for more information.

Figure 2: Dentinal tubules treated with Zeothix® 177 silicon dioxide magnified to 300x by a scanning electron microscope.

Figure 1: Exposed, untreated dentinal tubules magnified to 300x by a scanning electron microscope

Distributed in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

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NIACINAMIDE PC, PENTAVITIN®

A novel approach to visualizing skin hydration

Despite the innumerable moisturizers available for skin today, an effective remedy for dry skin still stands as the product most highly demanded by customers worldwide.

DSM, a long-term partner of The NRC Group, decided to address this topic and has recently published a study with exciting results.

32 women of an average age of 22.5 (±1.7 years), repre-senting three different ethnic groups. A four-week period of testing, aimed at answering the question of how moisture levels can be measured in the skin and be presented visually. These were the basic parameters of a DSM study called “CORNEOCARE™”.

For the trial, DSM generated three-dimensional models of each participant’s face using a Vectra 3D camera.

Distributed in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia and the Slovak Republic.

Moisture levels were repeatedly assessed at a total of 30 different points by means of a scale ranging from blue (well hydrated) to red (very dry). Test participants moistu-rized their skin using a lotion con-sisting of 5% NIACINAMIDE PC and 3% PENTAVITIN® over a period of four weeks. At the end of this testing period, results showed that skin across all three of the ethnic groups had experienced better moisturization: hydration levels at almost all of the assessment points were found to be in the blue range. Thus in its latest study, DSM has not only invented an innovative and precise technology with which to see hydration levels in the face, but at the same time has verified the efficacy of its own products.

The series of CORNEOCARE™ tests has been running for a long time and has already provided a number of interesting insights. One of the general findings produced by the research was that moisture levels in facial skin have a significantly more complex structure than previous-ly thought. Even within facial areas that are very close

together – such as between the eyes and cheeks – there are often distinct differences in hydration levels. Skin pigmentation has also been shown to play a decisive role; however, a connection between skin color and the preser-vation of the stratum corneum barrier and/or its capacity for repair was ruled out.

Prior to treatment

Following treatment with NIACINAMIDE PC & PENTAVITIN®

EPIDERMOSIL®

A fresh and youthful complexion

Fewer wrinkles! That’s the promise of Monaco-based EXSYMOL, a company that has been partnering with The NRC Group

for a number of years. New studies of the manufacturer’s active ingredients for cosmetics have shown results that are extremely promising.

EPIDERMOSIL® (INCI: Silanetriol (and) Hyaluronic acid) is a silanol that is stabilized with a short-chain hyaluronic acid. The compound boosts collagen production in the skin, while at the same time stimulating cell regeneration and preserving the skin’s moisture. Because of these proper-ties, EPIDERMOSIL® is often used in anti-aging formula-tions as well as in body-firming lotions.

Distributed in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Before After

Reduction of wrinkles: -36% / Depth: -30%

During a clinical trial, 35 women aged 40 to 59 moisturized their faces twice daily with a five-percent EPIDERMOSIL® solution. After the scheduled 28-day period, there were marked and noticeable differences: wrinkle depth had been reduced by 30% and there were 36% fewer visible

wrinkles. What’s more, each of the test subjects inde-pendently reported noticing significant general improvement to their facial skin even after the testing period had been completed.

Ethnic Group I Ethnic Group II Ethnic Group III

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Distributed in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Advantages Merquat™

2001Polymer

Merquat™2003PR

Polymer

Merquat™295

Polymer

Merquat™3330PR

Polymer

Reduced breakage • • • • • • • • • •

Strengthens hair • • • • • • • • • •

Heat protection • • • • • • • •

Anti-frizz effect • • • • • • • •

Conditioning • • • • • • •

Soft feel when dry • • • • • • • • •

Compatibility with anionic materials • • • • • • •

SEPAWA 2016: Where innovation meets tried-and-true classics

Again for the 63rd time, this year’s SEPAWA Congress enticed experts on detergents, cleansing and personal care products fields to meet in Fulda. Staff members from The NRC Group, too, were on site from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to present their latest product highlights and innovations.

Interest in the SEPAWA Congress continues unabated, and the 2016 edition again set a new record in the number of visitors: 2,516 professionals from 42 different nations were there to obtain information about current trends and inno-vative products while interacting with a total of 230 exhi-bitors. This year, the primary focus of the event was on anti-pollution developments.

Mutual success The NRC Group’s teams of experts from Germany, Austria and Switzerland worked hand in hand at their booth to introduce inquisitive congress visitors to NRC’s new pro-ducts and services. As it does every year, the SEPAWA Congress served as a good platform for discussing new projects, trends and the latest legal developments. The

From left: Steven Sander, Oliver Koopmann, Viktoria Klassen, Iris Strodtholz, Dr. Stefanie Freye, Constanze Wilkes

NRC Group’s annual reception party at its booth also was a successful get-together that attracted a number of customers.

Megatrends at a glanceViktoria Klassen, an application scientist from Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH, was able to enthuse a large audience of people with an exciting presentation entitled “Concepts for Actives – Where Innovation Meets Tried-and-True Classics”. As part of the “Forum for Innovations”, Klassen spoke about three current megatrends in the personal care industry: cell energy, anti-pollution and skin resi-lience. In her presentation, Klassen described consumer behavior with regard to ongoing and short-lived trends and how they can be addressed by high-tech as well as natural cos metics. The solution: combining tried-and-true

classics from the active ingre-dients business with innovative new developments! More details about skin resilience as well as two sample formulations can be found on the next page of this issue.

This year marked the final appearance of the SEPAWA Congress in Fulda, as it will be moving to Berlin in 2017. The NRC Group will also have a stand there from 18 to 20 October and is already looking forward to welcoming a great number of visitors.

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More and more women are taking advantage of straightening irons to create sleek hairstyles, but not without consequence. Regular straightening comes

with a downside: the risk of hair damage. This is where the products in Lubrizol’s MERQUAT™ range can help, as they dramatically reduce the likelihood of hair breakage. The NRC Group distributes MERQUAT™ products in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

MERQUAT™ 295 Polymer (INCI: Polyquaternium-22), MERQUAT™ 2001 Polymer (INCI: Polyquater-nium-47), MERQUAT™ 2003PR Polymer (INCI: Polyquaternium-53) and MERQUAT™ 3330PR Polymer (INCI: Polyquaternium-39) are all synthetic polyquats that are used in shampoos, conditioners and heat protection products for hair. Their effectiveness has been proven in a study conducted at and by Lubrizol, in which European brown hair was treated with the four MERQUAT™ products prior to the straightening process. Compared to untreated hair, the results clearly showed that the risk of hair breakage following straightening was significantly lower with the synthetic polyquats.

A quick glance at the formulations presented.

MERQUAT™ 295 Polymer, MERQUAT™ 2001 Polymer, MERQUAT™ 2003PR Polymer, MERQUAT™ 3330PR Polymer

The pleasure of straight, non-brittle hair

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Night Spa

Phase INCI Trade name Supplier w/w %

A Caprylyl Methicone SilsoftTM 034 NRC (Momentive) 1.00

A Cocoyl Adipic Acid/ Trimethylolpropane Copoplymer SchercemolTM CATC NRC (Lubrizol) 4.00

A Cetearyl Alcohol Nafol® 1618H NRC (Sasol) 2.00

A Squalane Phytosqualan® NRC (Sophim) 4.00

ASoybean Glycerides (and) Butyrospermum Parkii Unsaponifiables

Lipex L'SensTM NRC (AAK) 3.00

A Glyceryl Stearate Citrate Akoline LCTM NRC (AAK) 3.00

B Aqua dem. Water Ad. 100

B Xanthan Gum XG FFCS-PC NRC (JBL) 0.50

B Erythritol Erylite® NRC (JBL) 3.00

B Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Akoline SLTM NRC (AAK) 0.35

CGlycoproteins (and) Glutamic Acid (and) Valine (and) Threonine

Revitalin® PF NRC (DSM) 2.00

CBenzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide

Syn-UpTM NRC (DSM) 1.00

C Preservative

C Parfum Seychelles NRC (TechnicoFlor) 0.50

D Shea Butter Ethyl Esters Lipex SheaLightTM NRC (AAK) 1.00

D Carbomer Carbopol® Ultrez 30 Lubrizol 0.20

E Sodium Hydroxide/Citric Acid Sodium Hydroxide/ Citric Acid q.s.

(Natural) Night-Spa

Skin resilience – strengthening the skin’s resistance

The key to the skin resilience trend lies in normalizing the thickness of the stratum corneum and regulating moisture levels, as well as in reducing skin irritation. Furthermore, the skin begins to produce less collagen and elastin with age. This causes it to lose tone and become noticeably thinner and more uneven.

To counteract these changes, specialists from The NRC Group have developed a formulation called “Night Spa” with which to accelerate epidermal cell turnover and thereby restore the normal thickness of the stratum corneum. Night Spa also hydrates the skin sufficiently and clears up irritations such as redness and scaling.

The new and patented SYN-UP™ (INCI: Benzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate) is an innovative dipeptide which makes the skin barrier more resistant by inhibiting urokinase and plasmin. Revitalin® PF (INCI: Glycoproteins (and) Glutamic Acid (and) Valine (and) Threonine) is just as fundamental, as it increases the skin’s level of energy (i.e. boosting ATP production) and accelerates surface skin cell renewal. Lipex® Omega 3/6, too, (INCI: Vegetable Oil (and) Camelina Sativa Seed Oil) is a highly effective combination of classic Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that plays an important role: besides normalizing the amount of fatty acids in the skin, it also minimizes the risk of developing skin irritations.

The active ingredient concept comes in two varieties: either a high-tech or natural version. For more informa tion, contact The NRC Group’s expert advisors.

All the information contained herein, as well as the technical advice, has been based on practical experience and thorough examinations. However, it represents non-binding recommendations only. We therefore strongly recommend that users should carry out their own tests before putting cosmetic formulations to their intended use. This applies in particular to sample formulations, which are merely intended as a starting point for developing own applications and for which we therefore extend no warranty. The sole responsibility for assessing whether conflicting property rights of third parties (e.g. patents) exist in any of the countries concerned lies with the user; in this regard, too, we do not extend any warranty for sample formulations or sub-formulations. The sale of our products is governed by our General Terms & Conditions.

The best of both worlds: The NRC Group’s experts have developed a new active ingredients concept for a nighttime moisturizer that addresses the new megatrend of skin resilience – while being both classic and innovative at the same time.

Natural Night Spa

Phase INCI Trade name Supplier w/w %

ASoybean Glycerides (and) Butyrospermum Parkii Unsaponifiables

Lipex L'SensTM NRC (AAK) 3.00

A Isostearyl Hydroxystearate SchercemolTM SHS NRC (Lubrizol) 2.00

A Squalane Phytosqualan® NRC (Sophim) 5.00

A Canola Oil Lipex Bassol CTM NRC (AAK) 3.00

A Glyceryl Stearate Citrate Akoline LCTM NRC (AAK) 3.00

A Cetearyl Alcohol Nafol® 1618H NRC (Sasol) 2.00

A Vegetable Oil (and) Camelina Sativa Oil Lipex Omega 3/6TM NRC (AAK) 1.00

A Silica ValvanceTM Touch 210 NRC (DSM) 1.00

B Aqua Dem. Water Ad. 100

B Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Akoline SLTM NRC (AAK) 0.35

B Erythritol Erylite® NRC (JBL) 3.00

B Xanthan Gum XG FFCS-PC NRC (JBL) 0.40

C Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract Regu®-Scence NRC (DSM) 1.00

C Saccharide Isomerate Pentavitin® NRC (DSM) 1.00

C Preservative q.s.

C Parfum Vanille NatflorTM NRC (TechnicoFlor) 0.30

E Sodium Hydroxide/Citric Acid Sodium Hydroxide/ Citric Acid q.s.

NEW FROM OUR L A B O R A T O R Y

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L I F E S C I E N C E S C O A T I N G S & C O N S T R U C T I O N

SunSHINE® Mystic Black

Creating a look of mysteryThe NRC Group has something new in its portfolio: SunSHINE® Mystic Black from

SunChemicals. The pigment is not just a simple black, but also shimmers in a sophisticated and mysterious way.

SunSHINE® Mystic Black is a jet-black effect pigment with that certain something else: the shade has a rich, deep shine and radiance akin to the shimmer of a freshwater pearl. For this reason, the pigment makes an outstanding choice for dramatic cos-metic products such as mascaras, eyeliners and eye shadows as well as lipsticks. SunSHINE® Mystic Black is based on synthetic mica, has a soft feel on the skin and – compared to natural mica – ensures a higher level of color intensity.

Distributed in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Bio-Terge® AS 40-HA, Esterquats, Lathanol® LAL Coarse, Stepan Mild® LSB

All clear: transparent fabric softeners with Stepan’s ester quats

Transparent liquids symbolize purity and cleanliness. As of now, fabric softeners can also be formulated as transparent products that convey these associations to consumers – and for this purpose

The NRC Group’s portfolio contains the innovative ester quats from Stepan. At the same time, these products are being used to substitute CLP products in hair conditioners.

BTAC (behetrimonium chloride) and CTAC (cetrimonium chloride) are used to make a variety of conditioners. As these compounds can only be used in limited amounts, however, and are also classified under CLP, an alternative is in demand. The NRC Group has the answer: ester quats from Stepan. Their use is not restricted and at the same time they offer superior qualities to BTAC and CTAC, e.g. in hair conditioners (see image). Combined with the mild

Distributed in Austria, Croatia, Germany and Slovenia.

Expanded production: In Stalybridge (UK), Stepan has recently put a new production line into opera-tion. The ester quats are to be manufactured there as well as at the production facilities in France. By expanding in this way, Stepan is increasing its pro-duction capacity significantly – making itself even better able to keep up with levels of demand.

tensides from Stepan – Bio-Terge® AS 40-HA, Lathanol® LAL Coarse or Stepan Mild® LSB – loss of hair color can also be reduced.

Beyond hair conditioners, the ester quats can also be used in fabric softener formulations. These usually have a cloudy appearance, despite the existing consumer preference for clear liquids; however, the experts at Stepan have now

achieved a breakthrough in this respect. With a new and innovative ester quat – as well as a freshly-developed basic formulation – Stepan has a clear fabric softener solution that can fulfill the same high quality standards as conventional products.

The NRC Group is now distributing Stepan’s ester quats to manufacturers, allowing them to formulate their own clear fabric softeners and more effectively serve customer needs.

Rinsability

Detangling on wet hair

Wet combing

Dry combing

Absence of static

Hair feel

Shine

Manageability

Body

Wet hair feel

0

0.33

1

1

0.67

Stepantex PA 85-G

BTAC

STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE MADE TOGETHER.

Come see us at the ECS 2017

4 – 6 April in Nuremberg Hall 4, Stand 4-640

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C O A T I N G S & C O N S T R U C T I O N

Close to customers at MKVS meet-up At Munich’s 41st Adhesives and Finishing Symposium (MKVS) from 17-19 October 2016, around 250 participants from 18 countries gathered in the conference center of the Sheraton Munich Arabellapark Hotel. The NRC Group was also on-site with its portable exhibition stand. As is its tradition, the symposium focused on both product

and machinery manufacturers as well as formulators, operators and end consumers in the adhesives, printing and converting industries.

“After we and our portable exhibition stand were so well-received in both 2014 and 2015, we again wanted to take advantage of this outstanding platform to inform the industry’s decision-makers about our comprehensive range of raw materials and additives – and to establish new contacts as well,” commented Dirk Köpke, Senior Technical Sales and Product Manager of NRC’s adhesive raw materials. “On top of proven high-quality products

such as styrol block copolymers and water-white resins, new highlights were also shown. These included our extensive portfolio of rheology modifiers and Honeywell’s functional COHESA emulsions for modifying water-based adhesives. The NRC Group’s presence at the event provi-ded a good starting point for our suppliers, too. As part of a talk, for instance, KRATON introduced some new types of products.”

Together with the Hinterwaldner Consulting team, event organizers Stephan Hinterwaldner (MBA) and Dr. Michael Gerstenberger again presented an interesting and cutting-edge program as part of a successful event with ample opportunity for networking. A few of the highlights from the 28 engaging lecture topics which addressed this year’s focus area of hot melt adhesives include:

• “Packaging adhesives have reached consumers: how consumer issues drive innovation in raw materials” – Eastman Chemical

• “Hot melt adhesives based on styrol block copolymers satisfy the needs of the adhesives market” – Kraton Polymers

• “The influence of stabilizers on the adhesion behavior of hot melt adhesives” – BASF

• “New propylene-based high-performance polymers for hot melt adhesives ” – ExxonMobil

• “New APAO with optimized properties: Vestoplast®” – Evonik Resource Efficiency

• “Customized resins: the structure and characteristics of hydrocarbon resins” – Rütgers Novares

• “Protein-based coatings – current solutions and challen-ges”: Fraunhofer IVV

• “Developing attaching, degassing and conveyor systems for coating technology” – FMP Technology

• “Characterizing the creep behavior of hot melt adhesives using rotational rheometry” – Malvern Instruments

In addition to the very impressive and informative plenary address given by ChemQuest (“The top tier in hot melt adhe-sives: reactive hot melt adhesives”) and Treofan’s keynote “Protection from mineral oils in paper and film packaging”, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg’s lecture also met with great interest among participants. This was entitled “Odorous impurities in everyday products using flavor research methods”.

The 42nd MKVS will be taking place in Munich from 23-25 October 2017 and have “Glueing – Converting – Printing” as its central focus. The official call for papers has already been issued at: www.mkvs.de.

SILRES® MPF 52 E

Solvent-free binders for heat-resistant coatingsUp until recently, it has been necessary to use relatively large amounts of solvents to manu-facture heatstable liquid coatings. For around three years now, however, The NRC Group

and partner WACKER have been offering a completely aromatic-free, water-based silicon resin emulsion that allows the coatings industry to significantly reduce its use of solvents in the making of heat-stable coatings.

Protecting items exposed to high temperatures during use calls for special heat-stable coatings. Yet these create a significant amount of emissions, putting the coatings industry under severe pressure to reduce the amount of

solvents in its products – e.g. through the use of water-based systems.

With SILRES® MPF 52 E, an eco-friendly binder for heat- resistant liquid coatings that is produced free of aroma-tics has become available for the first time. Formulations for liquid coatings in which the silicone resin emulsion is incorporated as the sole binder achieve good technical characteristics similar to high-temperature coatings made with conventional, solvent-based silicone resin binders.

Despite SILRES® MPF 52 E’s solids content of 60-63%, it has a thin viscosity and is therefore easy to process into coatings in the usual way – as long as there is not too much shear force exerted on the binder.

Coating manufacturers that use SILRES® MPF 52 E can position themselves as forerunners of an eco-friendly technology and in this way obtain competitive advantage.

Coatings formulated with the new aromatic-free silicone resin emulsion SILRES® MPF 52 E adhere well to metallic surfaces and are characterized by good chemical and abrasion resistance.

Distributed in Germany.

What’s more, SILRES® MPF 52 E is suitable as either an additive or co-binder in polymer-based coating formula-tions. Initial studies show that formulations that include the new silicone resin in some instances have significantly better properties than comparable coatings.

With SILRES® MPF 52 E, chemical company WACKER

began offering the first aromatic-free silicone resin emulsion for

heat-resistant protective coatings.

(Fot

os: W

acke

r Che

mie

AG)

®

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P L A S T I C S & A D D I T I V E S

LET IT GROW: The NRC Group at the K 2016 For The NRC Group, the K 2016 was a complete success. Apart from making an abundance of new contacts and engaging in stimulating discussions, several new contracts were also signed.

With 3,285 exhibitors from over 160 countries and more than 230,000 visitors, the K 2016 fair set new records and strengthened its reputation as the most important indus-try meeting for plastics and rubber worldwide. The NRC Group was also represented there, exhibiting together with partners Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri, Heroflon, Calumet, Nyacol and Perstorp. Using the motto “LET IT GROW”, The NRC Group presented itself as an innovative growth partner and made good on that promise directly on site: there in the Düsseldorf exhibi-tion center, foundations were laid for some promising new

partnerships. Dr. Gerd Bergmann (Managing Director of Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH) and Mahomed Maiter (Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing) formally signed a new distribu tion agreement at the Huntsman Pigments booth, and other contracts were finalized with Faci S.p.A. and Polytechs. There was reason to celebrate for Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH’s subsidiaries in France and Turkey, too: sales activities were expanded with JLS and TOTAL.

Successful networkingThe party hosted at The NRC Group’s booth on the first evening of the K show drew a number of customers and

Official signing ceremony concluding the new distribution agreement with Huntsman Pigments. From left: O. Pyrlik, C. Schur, G. Bergmann (all from The NRC Group); M. Maiter, D. Chamberlin, C. Sinn (all from Huntsman Pigments).

suppliers who then could socialize over cold drinks and international specialty dishes in an informal atmosphere. At the fair, staff members of The NRC Group were also given the chance to get to know one another better. In addition to the product managers from Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH in Germany, there were also several colleagues present from other NRC Group subsidiaries – e.g. those in France, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

“In over 600 documented discussions, we spoke with almost all of our existing suppliers and many of our custo-mers, while also establishing a great deal of new contacts. We’re already looking forward to the K 2019,” summa-rized Dr. Oliver Pyrlik, General Manager of the Plastics & Additives division.

Extending the long-standing partnership with JLS for another five years.From left: O. Pyrlik (The NRC Group), X. Qiu (Hangzhou JLS Flame Retardants Chemical Co., Ltd.)

The NRC Group’s staff received a lot of positive feedback for their innovative exhibition stand and the new motto “LET IT GROW”.

ALTIRIS® 550 and ALTIRIS® 800

Preventing the heating and warping effects of solar radiation in plastics

Since 1 October 2016, The NRC Group has been distributing Huntsman’s ALTIRIS® range of infrared-reflecting pigments.

Huntsman provides heat build-up (HBU) pigments by the name of ALTIRIS® that are in high demand – particularly for outdoor applications – because of their ability to reflect infrared radiation. These distinctive, highly functional titanium dioxides prevent the heating and warping effects caused by solar radiation.

From cables to films to PVC window profiles, ALTIRIS® products are suitable for use in a variety of applications and can be combined with masterbatches of different colors in order to substantially improve the reflection of infrared radiation. ALTIRIS® 800’s extremely low opacity, for instance, makes it the perfect choice for darker and more vibrant colors. By contrast, ALTIRIS® 550’s slightly higher impermeability to light is ideal for medium shades.

The NRC Group’s advisors will be pleased to help select the right product for any individual application.

Distributed in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

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P L A S T I C S & A D D I T I V E S

Recycling and protecting the environment are currently important topics in the plastics industry, and TOTAL is setting a good example by now offering innovative products that partly consist of recycled materials. Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH is pleased to show its support by distributing these new products in Germany.

TOTAL has brought onto the market a new range of natural-colored, high-density polyethylenes (HDPE) that contain a large proportion of post-consumer recycled materials (PCR). rPE 6306 has 50% PCR, while around 25% is incorporated into rPE 6407. Above all, these new products have one target group in focus: the packaging industry. Ecological packaging is becoming more and more important in this field, particularly for high-quality consumer goods. rPE 6407 and rPE 6306 are used for instance in blow-molded and high-performance containers for household and industrial fluids.

The composition and manufacture of these new products are precisely geared towards minimizing their ecological Distributed in Germany.

footprint. Their recycled contents are made up of post- consumer household waste that was collected in western European countries. Following recycling via selected partner companies, TOTAL carries out final and thorough decontamination procedures at its plant in Antwerp. The result: absolutely odor-free polymers that are then compounded with high-performance HDPE. Specifically designed as booster polymers, these types of HDPE are produced to compensate for possible defects in performance and consistency of the PCR. The resulting materials can in fact largely outperform the characteristics of virgin materials in their key aspects.

Also new: HDPE as well as PP copolymers with a minimum of 85% PCR content in gray, black or natural color: rPE 6506 and rPE 6455 with 85% rHDPE.

Where heterophasic copolymers are concerned, TOTAL also puts emphasis on recycled materials: TOTAL rPPC10GR, rPPC15GR, rPPC20GR, rPPC35BL, rPPC35GR and rPPC70GR each consist of more than 85% PCR. For further information, please contact the product experts at Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH.

rPE 6306, rPE 6407, rPE 6506, rPE 6455, rPPC10GR, rPPC15GR, rPPC20GR, rPPC35BL, rPPC35GR, rPPC70GR

Good for the environment, thanks to recycled materials

rPE 6407

Property Method Unit Typical value (*)

Density ISO 1183 kg/m³ 961

Melt flow rate(190 °C/2.16 kg) ISO 1133/D g/10 min 0.4

Melt flow rate(190 °C/21.6 kg) ISO 1133/G g/10 min 30

ESCR Antarox 100 % ASTM D 1693B h > 70

rPE 6306

Property Method Unit Typical value (*)

Density ISO 1183 kg/m³ 955

Melt flow rate(190 °C/2.16 kg) ISO 1133/D g/10 min 0.3

Melt flow rate(190 °C/21.6 kg)

ISO 1133/G g/10 min 30

MFR ASTM D 1693B h > 300

Characteristics as exemplified by rPE 6407 and rPE 6306

(*) Data not intended to be used for specification purposes

CLEAN-X

Spic-and-span – purging compounds that make it easy

A major success for Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH! As of 1 January, the Hanseatic distributor is now carrying the renowned CLEAN-X product line from Polytechs.

The CLEAN-X product series is a line of purging compounds that are necessary for the chemical and mechanical clean-up of extrusion lines – e.g. during changes of color. The crucial advantage? Users save themselves the dismant-ling of their lines. There are three types of compounds available: CLEAN LDPE (for polyethylene with low density), CLEAN HDPE (for high-density polyethylene) and CLEAN PP (for polypropylene).

“CLEAN-X is a well-known brand name that is highly regarded among experts. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to further expand our cooperation with such a distinguished partner,” remarked Dr. Oliver Pyrlik, General Manager of Plastics & Additives at Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH.

Distributed in Germany.

“We see important buyer markets in the fields of extru sion, films production and injection molding. CLEAN-X helps our customers save on costs, better utilize machines and

ensure a high degree of product purity,” added Nico R. Vossers, head of the Thermoplastics department at Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH.

Located in France’s Cany-Barville, Polytechs specializes in refinement and compounding processes and its products have enjoyed over 30 years of global success.

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E L A S T O M E R S & A D D I T I V E S

DAI-EL G-962, G-964

DAI-EL fluoroelastomers – new terpolymers with low fluorine content

DAIKIN Industries, Ltd. is one of The NRC Group most important strategic partners.

Its existing portfolio of DAI-EL fluoroelastomers is the result of a long-term vision for a broad range of products with which to satisfy the highest possible demands for thermal and chemical resistance.

DAIKIN offers both bisphenol and peroxide-cured copoly-mers and terpolymers as well as a line of specialities. With increasing demands on materials, DAI-EL fluoroelastomers are suitable for use in a wide variety of automotive and industrial applications. They are also fundamental to the rubber industry.

Peroxide-cured terpolymers commonly have fluorine content of between 69 and 71%. What then is special about the two latest product developments? With 67% each, DAI-EL G-962 and DAI-EL G-964 both contain lower levels of fluorine with correspondingly good low-temperature pro-perties.

This makes the two products ideal for bridging the gap between the usual peroxide-cured copolymers and ter-polymers.

Distributed in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia,

Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Available upon request in other countries.

Technical comparison with rival materials (extract):

MDI

Complete MDI portfolio: BorsodChem places trust in The NRC Group

Where distribution in Germany and Switzerland is concerned,

BorsodChem has put its complete trust in The NRC Group, which is now carrying the company’s attractive MDI portfolio in full.

Apart from basic and specialty chemicals, TDI and PVC resins, the globally-operating manufacturing company Wanhua-BorsodChem also produces MDI. Thanks to their superior quality, MDI products are in high demand and already in use in a number of different industries. Par-ticularly in construction, but also in the automobile, furniture, shoe, refridgeration and chemical industries, there is a great variety among customers. Wanhua-BorsodChem’s current sales focus with regard to MDI is above all on Europe and Asia.

The Wanhua Industrial Group is the world‘s biggest manufacturer of MDI, producing 2,100 kilotons annually. At BorsodChem’s facility in Hungary, around 300 kilotons of MDI are produced for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, making the firm one of the leading manufacturers here in Europe. Distributed in Germany and Switzerland.

Prior to now, The NRC Group primarily saw to the distri-bution of BordsodChem’s standard MDI grades – and with remarkable success. As a result of such excellent growth, both firms came to agree that the entire range of MDI products and speciality chemicals would be incorporated into The NRC Group’s distribution portfolio.

Given the comprehensive selection of complex MDI pro-ducts, customers are advised to contact The NRC Group’s experts for further information. At any time, the team’s know-how and support are just a phone call away.

Characteristic properties DAI-EL G-962 DAI-EL G-964

Fluorine content (%) 67 67

ML1+10 (121 °C) 27 48

Temperature of retraction – TR10 (°C) -20 -20

Tensile strength (MPa) 22 25

Elongation (%) 260 300

Compression set (72 hours at 200 °C) 19 23

DAI-EL G-962 Rival Material A DAI-EL G-964 Rival Material B

Mooney viscosity ML1+10 (121 °C) 25.1 19.8 46.8 47.5

Curing properties (minimum)

T10 1.43 1.60 1.41 1.40

T90 6.91 7.85 6.93 7.30

Rheovulkameter (mm3/s)

70 °C 44.5 45.1 46.1 28.0

100 °C 325.3 304.1 252.6 126.0

Hardness (Shore A) 71 72 69 70

Tensile strength (MPa) 16.4 14.7 17.3 15.7

100 % Modulus (MPa) 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.0

Elongation (%) 328 354 368 411

Tear resistance (N/mm) 3.5 4.1 4.3 5.3

Compression set (%) (22 hours at 200 °C, 50 % deformation) 40 59 41 47

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MOLTOPREN® S

A colorful variety of reactive dyes Making good things even better! ISL-Chemie GmbH & Co. KG has relaunched their tried-and-true reactive dyes for high-quality polyether and polyester foams. Again now as before, Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH is distributing these products in Germany.

MOLTOPREN® S are low-viscosity dyes that make a con-vincing alternative to conventional liquid reactive dyes by offering outstanding intensity and brillance. They are incorporated into the polyurethane foam matrix by way

Distributed in Germany.

of hydroxyl functional groups and are perfectly suitable for use in liquid CO2 foaming systems. Rigid foams and block foams with homogeneous structures can also be produced – and even with better quality when using high

amounts of MOLTOPREN® S. Working them into elastomers is another option.

MOLTOPREN® S is available in the basic RGB colors and can also be mixed. Furthermore, it complies with the consumer goods ordinance for block foam/skin contact, EN 71-3 toy safety standards and Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

E L A S T O M E R S & A D D I T I V E S

Product Key featuresGlass transition temperature TR10 (°C)

Operating temperature (°C) Cure type

Mechanical properties

Tensile strength (MPa)

Elongation (%)

Hardness (Shore A)

Compression set (%)

Base

pol

ymer

DAI-EL GA-15 Favorable low- temperature properties -20 -15 to +200 Peroxide 12 130 72 -

DAI-EL GA-105 Especially pure for semi-conductor applications -2 -2 to +200 Peroxide 20 130 80 -

DAI-EL GA-500 Favorable high- temperature properties -3 0 to +300

Special measures needed (provided by DAIKIN)

19 200 70 -

Read

y-m

ade

com

poun

d

DAI-EL GA-05 Compound based on DAI-EL GA-15, transparent -21 -15 to +200

Ready-to-use blends

4.6 250 52 71 (70 hours at 200 °C)

DAI-EL GA-55 Compound based on DAI-EL GA-15, black -19 -15 to +200 12.1 120 77 25

(70 hours at 230 °C)

DAI-EL GA-65 Compound based on DAI-EL GA-15, white -19 -15 to +200 9.8 160 68 25

(70 hours at 230 °C)

DAI-EL GA-5508002 Compound based on DAI-EL GA-500 -5 0 to +300 18.6 200 74 64

(500 hours at 300 °C)

DAI-EL Perfluorelastomers (FFKM)

A new variety of possibilities from an extended range of products

DAIKIN Industries, Ltd. has expanded its existing range of ready-made FFKM compounds to make its pure FFKM base polymers available on the market. The NRC

Group has been a distribution partner to the Japanese firm for over 40 years.

The option of obtaining pure FFKM base polymers is part of a new direction for DAIKIN, which now allows customers to develop their own individually-customized compounds.

Perfluorelastomers (FFKM) – copolymers from tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and perfluoromethylvinyl-ether (PMVE) – contain no hydrogen atoms and thus demonstrate especially good thermal and chemical stability. The combination of TFE together with PMVE results in an elastomer, however, as the PMVE disrupts the otherwise rigid TFE chain and creates flexibility.

Vulcanized FFKM materials have mechanical properties analogous to those of fluoroelastomers (FKM) but in turn demonstrate similar chemical resistance to that of perfluorinated plastics, depending on the compound formulation.

Distributed in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Available upon request in other countries.

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O L E O C H E M I C A L S & L U B R I C A N T S T H E N R C G R O U P

Akzo Nobel opened the seminar with a presenta tion about interna-tional hair and styling trends, dis-cussing the top claims now being made with regard to hair styling products: long-lasting, brightening/illuminating, botanical/herbal, vita-min and male. The custo mers also were updated on global launches of new styling products and formula-tion ideas. Following the presentation on trends, Akzo Nobel provided technical training on the subject of different hair styling polymers and how to use these to create different textures.

After lunch, the attendees were invited into the lab. In a session supervised by Dr. Kristina Neimert Carne from Kemi-Intressen, participants themselves were able to develop up to eight different styling products with different textures. A sensory session followed the lab session and ended the creative day. During the sensory session, participants learned about the subjective testing of styling products using hair tresses and mannequin heads. All eight formulations were enthusiastically tested and discussed. Kemi-Intressen received very positive feedback after the workshop, which was called “very inspiring and instructive” by one of the customers in particular. Attendees also left the company with a lot of new ideas with respect to styling. “The combination of a theoretical seminar with practical sessions in the lab seemed to be very much appreciated by the customers,” concluded Annelie Eknäs Ekdahl, a technical sales and product manager from Kemi-Intressen.

Kemi-Intressen AB and Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry invited selected customers to attend a seminar/workshop entitled “No more bad hair days” on

October 20th. The focus of the day was how to use different polymers from Akzo Nobel to develop styling products with different textures and hold. Hair-styling formulation experts from both Sweden and Finland attended the workshop.

No bad hair days with Kemi-Intressen and Akzo Nobel c60, m47

c100, m60

prochem AG is now in a posi tion to offer the most frequently used excipients contained in conventional formulations for solid dosage forms all from a single source. These also meet the high-est standards of purity, particle size distribution and certification.

The two Comprecel® and Disolcel® product lines are in special demand as sources of raw materials for the manufacture of tablets. Comprecel® can be used as either a binding or a diluting agent in tablets and capsules. As functional ingredients, the products in the Disolcel® range ensure superior tablet disintegration properties. At the same time, they provide for the optimal bioavailability of active ingredients.

Products in the Neocel® range are used as emulsifiers and suspension additives in applications such as syrups and nasal sprays.

For several years now, The NRC Group has been working together with Mingtai Chemical Co., Ltd., one of the world’s leading manu-facturers of microcrystalline cellulose. Recently, their business has been expanded to Switzerland as of March 2017.

Comprecel®, Disolcel®, Neocel®

The NRC Group expands coopertion with Mingtai Chemical to include Switzerland

Distributed in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

New leaders in the Oleochemicals and Lubricants departmentsNordmann, Rassmann GmbH is pleased to announce the following changes to its Oleochemicals & Lubricants division: as of 1 September 2016, Claudia Schoke (50) is leading the Oleochemicals department and Andreas Martin (48) is the new Head of Lubricants.

Claudia Schoke has gained extensive expertise from close to 30 years of employment at Nordmann, Rassmann, during which she has held a variety of different positions. A trained wholesale and export spe-cialist, Ms Schoke started her career in 1989 as a junior trader in the Natural Rubber department; later, she switched to the Chemicals division and began working as a sales manager. In the mid-1990s, she then took over the management of the company’s oleochemicals and lubricants distribution. Now, following the launch and expansion of the fatty acid ester and process oil business in The NRC Group, she’ll be turning her attention to the development of Nordmann, Rassmann’s fatty acids distribution in Europe. “Oleochemicals have always been a part of what I do. And with our new part -ner Evyap Sabun Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., we’re finally able to offer purely vegetable-based fatty acids across Europe. These round out our existing portfolio of animal-based fatty acids, primary and tertiary fatty amines, stearates and diverse ethoxylates perfectly,” says Schoke.

Andreas Martin can also look back on many years of experience. With a degree in business administration, Martin began his career in 1993 as a sales manager of

Lubricant additives

Brazilian pioneer on the road to success

For more than 40 years, The NRC Group has served as a reliable

partner to Brazil-based Miracema-Nuodex by distributing the South American company’s additives in Europe.

Founded in 1954 in São Paolo (Brazil) as Indústrias Químicas Rodolfo Rohr S.A., today Miracema-Nuodex is one of the top providers of additives for industrial lubricants. From the very beginning of its history, the pioneer became the exclusive supplier of several interna tio nal oil-production companies.

The manufacturer’s innovative power remains evident today: in its laboratories, Miracema-Nuodex is doing re-search on new raw materials, additives and much more. Versatile in use, the products of the Brazilian company have many applications, e.g. for improving the capabilities of high-performance lubricants. The lubricant additives that The NRC Group has been distributing in Europe for over 40 years are also highly versatile. These are added to lubricating greases, for instance, or hydraulic or metal-working fluids in order to optimize their performance poten-tial. At the same time they ensure a longer service life for lubricants, an extension of change intervals in the case of hydraulic oils and increased productivity in metal-working processes. More information about the Miracema-Nuodex products carried in The NRC Group’s portfolio will follow in issue 2/2017 of tradetrends.

Distributed in Europe.

polyurethane/elastomer systems at Lanxess affiliate Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH. In his time there, he came to hold various positions in sales, marketing and product management. Then as of 2012, he became Head of Global Product Management of the firm’s Lubricants Additives line. “Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH is giving me the opportunity to broaden my expertise and effectively contribute the international experience I have in the lubricants industry towards the further expansion of my division’s business,” Martin remarked. Fatty acid esters and lubricants ad-ditives are, in addition to base and process oils, also among the products handled by the Heidelberg native.

“Apart from leading the sales team, the main ob-jectives of his role will be providing service to long-standing customers and partners as well as bolstering sales activities – and not least of all the portfolio,” added Patrick Knüppel, General Manager of the Oleo-chemicals & Lubricants division.

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T H E N R C G R O U P

What is special about your country and its people, and what cultural aspects play a major role in your country?

Within a total geographical area of 41,285 square kilome-ters, Switzerland is just over half the size of the German state of Bavaria but brings together four major linguistic regions – German (63.5%), French (20.4%), Italian (6%) and Romansh (0.5%), as well as others (8.9%). This high degree of cultural diversity makes the Swiss stand out as a distinct community. For a federal state to function under such conditions, however, its people need to share cer-tain values and an understanding for the respective needs of people in the other parts of the country. Switzerland’s direct democracy and culture of consensus are two of these shared values. The Swiss are used to being informed about changes to taxes, levies, investments or legislature and to voting regularly on such developments. The fact that the country’s people take an active part in decision-making processes makes it easier to accept decisions, even when the outcome of a vote occasionally doesn’t conform to what an individual person actually voted for.

What does work mean to you?The most interesting part of the job of distributing industrial raw materials is solving a vast variety of different problems together with our customers on a daily basis. This ranges from tailoring formulations in order to improve the proper-ties of a special paint, to supporting a customer who is looking for the right starter culture with which to produce Greek yogurt with an authentic consistency, only to then encounter an inquiry for biodegradable exfoliating particles geared towards reducing the polymer pollution to our oceans. All of these facets make my work vary greatly every day. And from time to time I am given the feeling of having contributed something meaningful to our society.

What do you do when you’re not at workI like to spend my free time outdoors. In the autumn I’m a keen mushroom-picker. Also, a few years ago I discovered diving – however tricky a sport it is to practice in Switzer-land. So it’s a good thing I also like to travel – for instance

to the Philippines, where there are many gorgeous dive spots.

What are the dominant industries in your country?

When people talk about Switzerland, almost everybody thinks first of the clock industry, mechanical engineering, tourism or the food processing industry. But our country does much more than chocolate and cheese!

With its leading businesses, Switzerland’s pharmaceutical and life sciences industries have achieved global impor-tance. Furthermore, and due to its outstanding univer sities, Switzerland is an important research base not only in Europe but also from a global perspective.

What can you tell us about the history and development of your country?

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, Switzerland was not a rich country. Natural resources are scarce, like in Germany, and the mountainous landscape makes agricul-ture difficult in large parts of Switzerland. Thus, the Swiss have always been challenged to use their inventiveness and innovative ideas to bring about progressive develop-ments. Today, and for the sixth year in a row, Switzerland is at the top of the Global Innovation Index (GII). The GII is a ranking compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), INSEAD and Cornell University. Switzerland is one of the most innovative countries in the world and not only in proportion to its small size!

What challenges do you see for the future of your country?

Due to low birth rates, Switzerland is now and more than ever a country of immigrants. That creates new challenges. We are often perceived as an “island” in the middle of Europe, and we would very much like to preserve our auto-nomy as a sovereign state as well as our native culture. However, we are optimistic about the future and believe that good solutions will continue to be found for Switzerland’s relationship with the rest of the European Union.

What characterizes your organization in particular?

We are a team of individualists. Each person brings his/her own expertise and strengths to the table, and we help and support each other in order to respond quickly, reliably and competently to requests. The cooperation and communica-tion within The NRC Group is particularly important for our ability to offer our customers high-level service quality and technical competence.

The primary aim of this column is to highlight the multinational character of The NRC Group. At the same time, it should also allow the reader to look “backstage” and discover who is behind The NRC Group, what makes our subsidiaries tick, what culture like is in the different countries we operate in, and how each of the markets work. The life of The NRC Group depends on the people behind it, and we are pleased to introduce you to some of them today. We began this series in our last issue by introducing our Austrian subsidiary. This time we‘d like to continue with Switzerland and Dr. Marco Pickel.

A product training event for companies within The NRC Group was held at the Prayon headquarters in Engis, Belgium from 17-19 October.

Prayon conducts product training for companies in the The NRC Group

Prayon is a world leader in the production of phosphates used in the food industry as well as many other technical applica-tions. Prayon itself organized the training, which was attended by colleagues from Nordmann, Rass-mann subsidiaries in Hungary, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. The training was focused on phosphates and their food and technical applications, serving to create a deeper understanding of phosphates and explain the complex applications of these materials, mainly with regard to food production. Participants raised the question of using phosphates in the production of cold meat products, processed cheese, and bakery items. In addition to the theoretical part, there was also a practical workshop in the company’s laboratory. The training ended with a discussion relating to new products for 2017 and 2018.

New suppliers for the Turkish subsidiary

Nordmann, Rassmann Turkey Dis Ticaret A.S. became operational in May 2016 and since then has already acquired a number of new suppliers.

The most recent subsidiary to join the The NRC Group has already established itself well in the market and signed distribution agreements with several suppliers. This means that for the coatings industry, Nordmann, Rassmann Turkey Dis Ticaret A.S. is distributing products from KaMin (kaolin clay) and Patcham (wetting and dispersing agents; flow, leveling and slip agents; defoamers and rheology modifiers), in addition to NRC’s own brand of Norblack carbon blacks. In the Plastics & Additives division, specialty chemicals from Honeywell (A-C waxes), Total Petrochemicals (PS), Weidong (halogenated flame retardants), Sojitz (PP) and Wistema (near-prime polymers) have all been added to the Turkish distributor’s product range. These firms all enjoy excellent reputations in Turkey, where Managing Director Rüstü Barkay looks with optimism toward the commercial year ahead. Being a member of major associations such as BOSAD (for the coatings industry) and Pagev (for the plastics industry) is another positive advantage for Nordmann, Rassmann Turkey Dis Ticaret A.S.

SWITZERLAND

Population: 8.5 millionCurrency: CHFGDP per capita: € 77,811

Dr. Marco PickelManaging Director Country: SwitzerlandCompany name: prochem AGMember of The NRC Group since: 2007Number of staff: 13

Current average costs in SwitzerlandA liter of milk: € 1.10A cup of coffee: € 4A sandwich: € 5A public transport ticket in Zurich: € 2.50A liter of gas: € 1.21A kilogram of beef: € 25

The people behind The NRC Group

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in-cosmetics London, 4-6 April ExCeL, Stand R70

European Coatings Show Nuremberg, 4-6 April Hall 4, Stand 4-640

Composites Europe Stuttgart, 19-21 September

Fakuma Friedrichshafen, 17-21 OctoberStand B5-5212

CPhI worldwide Frankfurt, 24-26 October Hall 10.2, Stand D50

Fi Europe Frankfurt, 19-21 November Hall 11.1, Stand D14

The NRC Group: Fairs & Events 2017

At the event, papers were presented by partners Plantaflor, Jiffy, Prayon Ibérica, Floor Van Schaik and Rhizopon – all of which were said to be “excel-lent” by attending customers.

A buffet lunch was served in the company’s beautiful garden, enjoyed by everybody in good company – and for-tunately on a lovely sunny day as well!

After lunch, visitors were taken on a tour of Neoquímica’s facilities, where they were able to see the company’s storage area and its diverse range of products.

Presently, Neoquímica is already busy planning the third annual edition of Farmer’s Day, to be held on 22 September, 2017 in Northern Portugal. This year‘s

On 23 September 2016, Neoquímica’s second annual edition of “Farmer’s Day” was held on its company premises in Carregado.

2nd FARMER’S DAY

program will include visiting the production sites of Neoquímica‘s customers, following suggestions made in 2016.

Christmas card competition: creativity wins out

In the summer of 2016, the children aged 4 through 12 of The NRC Group’s staff members were invited to enter a draw-ing competition. “Christmas” was the theme, and The NRC Group’s managing board recently selected and awarded prizes to the creators of three wonderful designs. The winning picture now appears on the front of The NRC Group’s Christmas card, which was sent out to business partners all over the world. The back of the card was embellished with the pictures that took second and third place. The NRC Group’s managing board would now like to warmly congratulate our first, second and third place winners Joelle Relling, Jonna Röhrs and Lara Natividade.

3rd place winner:

Name: Lara Natividade

From: Portugal

Age: 7

Height: 130 cm

Relation to The NRC Group: father works as

a financial and administrative assistant at

Neoquímica S.A.

Hobbies: soccer and rhythmic gymnastics, playing

hide and seek, riding bikes

Favorite food: grilled salmon

Favorite song: “Não papo grupos” by David Carreira

Dream profession: teacher

If I had superpowers, I would … end war

Relation to The NRC Group: father is Frederik Röhrs, Business Manager of the Synthetic Rubber department in Nordmann, Rassmann’s Elastomers & Additives divisionHobbies: drawing and painting pictures, crafting, reading Favorite food: pasta with tomato sauceFavorite music: all kinds of different children’s songsDream profession: veterinarian or riding instructorIf I had superpowers, I would … ...rescue all the world’s animals.

Relation to The NRC Group: mother is Odile Glaesz-

Relling, who works in Inside Sales & Logistics at

Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH

Hobbies: hip-hop dancing, performing in musicals and

meeting up with friends

Favorite food: chili con carne

Favorite band: Silbermond

Dream profession: primary school teacher

If I had superpowers, I would …

...love to fly and be invisible.

2nd place winner: Name: Jonna RöhrsFrom: GermanyAge: 6Height: 120 cm

1st place winner:

Name: Joelle Relling

From: Germany

Age: 12

Height: 170 cm

Images from fotolia: p. 1, header image © graphicsdeluxe, Distribution © Beboy; p. 2, MANE © cirquedesprit; p. 3, Polygal AG © Oran Tantapakul; p. 4, Huber © ipag; p. 5, Exsymol © luckybusiness; p. 6, Lubrizol © bykobrin-photo; p. 7, NRC © blackday; p. 8, SunChemicals © PUNTO STUDIO FOTO AG, Stepan © Karramba Production; p. 11, TOTAL © bygimmy, Polytechs © foto-fabrika; p. 13, DAIKIN © frog; p. 14, Mingtai Chemical Co., Ltd. © psdesign1

Austria www.nrc.at · Bulgaria www.nrc.bg · Czech Republic www.nrc-czech.cz · France www.copcimetamine.com · Germany www.nrc.de · Hungary www.nrc-hungaria.hu · Italy www.jointec.it · Poland www.nrc.pl Portugal www.neoquimica.pt · Romania www.nrc.ro · Serbia www.nrc.rs · Slovakia www.nrc-slovakia.sk · Slovenia www.nrc.si · Sweden www.kemiintressen.com · Switzerland www.prochem.ch · Turkey www.nr-turkey.com.tr

The NRC GroupNordmann, Rassmann GmbHPostfach 11 08 93 · 20408 HamburgKajen 2 · 20459 Hamburg · GermanyPhone: +49 (40) 36 87-0 Fax: +49 (40) 36 87 249info@nrc.de · www.nrc.de

Publisher: Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH Editing: Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH L. Wilber, V. Kreutzer, Dr. G. Bergmann Menyesch Public Relations S. Wierz, F. Mohring, A. MenyeschLayout: Winneberger & Haacker GbR, Studio für Kommunikationsdesign