US: Continental Carbon – carbon black

Continental Carbon (a wholly-ownedsubsidiary within the China SyntheticRubber group) has agreed to invest$1.66 M in upgrading pollution controlequipment at its Ponca City, OK,carbon black plant under the terms ofa consent order from the OklahomaDepartment of Environmental Quality.If, by the end of 2005, the plant fails tomeet the agreed pollution controlstandards, Continental Carbon will beliable to pay a lump-sum penalty of$56,000 plus fines accumulating atthe rate of $1000 per day.

Rubber and Plastics News, 10 Jan 2005, 34 (12), 4

US: Immix – plastics colorants

Immix LLC is a newcomer to theplastic colorants industry. Its plant atHolland, MI, with a floor area of 10,000sq ft, opened last June, making colourconcentrates for polyethylene andpolypropylene. Most of its customersare manufacturers of mouldedautomobile components. The companyplans to take on extra staff in 2005 andis considering making colourconcentrates for polystyrene,acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),polycarbonate and nylon. Its salesrevenue target for 2005 is $2-3 M.

Plastics News, 15 Dec 2004, (Website:http://www.plasticsnews.com)

US: Tri-Valley & Trans-Western –ground calcium carbonate

Alpha Minerals & Chemicals LLC hasbeen created as a 50:50 joint venturebetween Tri-Valley Corp and Trans-Western Materials LLC. Bothcompanies are based in California,Tri-Valley at Bakersfield, Trans-Western at San Diego. The mainobjective of the new joint venture willbe to reopen the Monarch mine ineastern Kern county (California) inorder to supply customers with highgrade calcium carbonate (typically 97-99% CaCO3 and GE brightness of atleast 96%. Alpha has rights to anestimated 400 M tonnes of high -grade calcium carbonate and the Kerncounty deposit is of unknown depth.

The demand for high-qualitycalcium carbonate is said to be risingat an average rate of 7%/y inCalifornia. Tri-Valley, through SelectResources (a wholly-owned

subsidiary), will fund up to $2.5 M inloans to establish Alpha’s operations,while Trans-Western will providemineral rights, customer letters ofintent, permits, facilities andequipment contacts already in hand.

Alpha Minerals will be the thirdlargest calcium carbonate producer inCalifornia and the seventh largest inthe US. Dr Henry J Sandri has beenappointed to supervise the newcalcium carbonate project. He willrelocate to the Bakersfield office inorder to closely supervise the project.

Press releases from: Tri-Valley Corp, 5555 BusinessPark South (Suite 200), Bakersfield, CA 93309, USA.Tel: +1 661 864 0500. Fax: +1 661 864 0600. E-mail:info@tri-valleycorp.com. Website: http://www.tri-valleycorp.com (10 & 14 Dec 2005).

COMPANIESCornelius to sell Radiant Colorfluorescent pigments in UK & Eire

With effect from 1 April 2005,Cornelius Group plc will become theexclusive UK and Ireland distributorsof fluorescent pigments from theRadiant Color range, available in bothdry and dispersed forms for use inplastics, paints, inks and other sectors.Radiant Color and its US-based sistercompany, DayGlo Color, are leadersin the world market for fluorescentpigments and dispersions. Announcingthe appointment, Mr Luud Dumoulin(Commercial Director for RadiantColor) said: “Cornelius possessesboth experience and expertise of ourindustry, as well as being anestablished distributor across a numberof widespread market sectors. It wasthis experience and expertise of theindustry that made Cornelius thenatural choice to distribute ourfluorescent pigments across the UKand Ireland.” Mr Steve Tuffley(Divisional Director for Cornelius)said: “We’re positive about the newexciting opportunities that will arise forboth Radiant Color and Cornelius as aresult of this exclusive partnership.”

Press release from: Cornelius Group plc, Tel: +44(0)1279 714300. Website: http://www.cornelius.co.uk(9 Feb 2005)

Evro Resurs to expand its natural foodcolorants business beyond Russia

Evro Resurs (of Saint Petersburg) isthe largest Russian producer of

natural food colorants, producingextracts from plants such as Curcumalonga, Aztec marigolds, Bixa orellanaand Capsicum annuum. Evro Resursis keen to move into internationalmarkets and the initial focus of itscampaign will be on colorants for icecream, yoghurt and other dairyproducts.

Pischevye Ingridienty, 11 Nov 2004, 2004 (2), 68-69(in Russian)

Microfine & Fordamin merge to createMinelco Specialities

Minelco Specialities has been createdby the merger of Microfine MineralsLtd and Fordamin Co. The newcompany has taken on operatingresponsibility for six production sitesin the UK. Its product range includes:Fordadol dolomite, Fordacal calciumcarbonate, Fordatal fine-ground talc,Microcarb chalk whiting, Micaluxlamellar mineral and Microbarbarytes.

Paint and Resin Times, Aug 2004, (4), 4

Noveon appoints Morell and Majemacas distributors

Majemac Enterprises Inc willdistribute colour dispersions producedby Noveon Hilton Davis in Florida.Noveon has also appointed S PMorell & Co to sell its colorants andpigments.

Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI), Aug 2004, 20 (8), 21

Rockwood buys Hamburger

Rockwood Pigments has acquiredHamburger Color (of Pennsylvania)for an undisclosed sum. Hamburgerhas been one of the foremostcompanies in North America indeveloping the use of iron oxidepigments and liquid iron oxide coloursuspensions for the cement andconcrete industries. Rockwood is theworld’s second largest supplier of ironoxide pigments, with plants in the US,Germany, Italy and China. Thecompany states that Hamburger’splant at King of Prussia, PA will serveas its key eastern US-based liquidsproduction facility, helping it to bettersupply the concrete and landscapesectors with additional products.

European Paint and Resin News, Oct 2004, 42 (10), 7

FEBRUARY 2005 7

F O C U S O N P I G M E N T S