Plastics News - Materials

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Materials

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Analysts: Cross-border deals up in second half
AKRON, OHIO (July 25, 5:45 p.m. EDT) -- International players are big on the mergers and acquisitions scene this year — and in certain plastics sectors, that’s likely to pick up, in part spurred by the weak U.S. dollar, several analysts said.

Plastic bag bans, taxes gain ground
ARLINGTON, VA. (July 25, 3:45 p.m.) -- Plastic bag tax initiatives in Los Angeles, Seattle and in the California Legislature are threatening to trigger fees that effectively would ban plastic carryout bags at large retailers.

Dooley: Industry must build broad coalition

Dooley

ARLINGTON, VA. (July 25, 3:20 p.m. EDT) -- Cal Dooley hasn’t set an agenda for what he will do when he replaces Jack Gerard Sept. 8 as head of the American Chemistry Council. But Dooley — known as a consensus builder in Congress and as head of the Grocery Manufacturers Association — does have a clear sense of the critical issues facing the chemical industry and thoughts on how to manage them.

Processors besieged by resin price hikes
AKRON, OHIO (July 24, 6:15 p.m. EDT) -- Years from now, when North American processors look back on the summer of 2008, it won’t be with kindness. And if they happen to discuss it, they’ll ask their grandchildren to leave the room first.

NYC bag recycling law takes effect Wednesday
NEW YORK (July 22, 10:20 p.m. EDT) -- Stores across New York City worked to comply with a new law requiring chains and large stores to offer plastic bag recycling by the July 23 deadline.

Biopolymers market lures Thailand´s Rama

Temprom

BANGKOK (July 22, 6:35 p.m. EDT) -- Thai processor N.R. Rama Co. Ltd. is investing in the bio-based plastics market through subsidiary Bio Green World Co. Ltd. Rama, an injection molder, has invested $903,000 in new equipment, including a blown film extrusion line, and land for a factory in Chon Buri, Thailand, that it plans to build in a year, according to executive coordinator Benjaporn Temprom.

Global P.E.T. worker killed in bale breaker
PERRIS, CALIF. (July 22, 10:55 a.m. EDT) -- A 41-year-old employee of Global P.E.T. Inc. died July 18 at the company’s plastics recycling plant in Perris when he fell into a bale breaker. The incident is under investigation, a company official said July 21.

Nanocomposites help toughen up TPUs

Martin

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA (July 21, 11:35 a.m. EDT) -- University of Queensland researchers have discovered how to use nanotechnology to make thermoplastic polyurethane stronger while retaining its flexibility. Now they are moving to test the marketability of the process in products as diverse as golf balls, wound dressings and conveyor belts.

4 die in crane collapse at LyondellBasell plant
HOUSTON (July 19, 3:35 p.m. EDT) -- Four contract employees were killed July 18 when a crane collapsed at a refinery operated by LyondellBasell Industries in Houston.

Rubbermaid raising prices, cutting lineup
SANDY SPRINGS, GA. (July 18, 4:10 p.m. EDT) -- Newell Rubbermaid Inc. announced July 15 that it will enact a quarterly price adjustment mechanism beginning Jan. 1 — with increases as high as 22 percent — in the latest move by a major plastics processor to cope with high resin costs.

Sinopec, Sabic boost investment in China JV
TIANJIN, CHINA (July 17, 6:20 p.m. EDT) -- Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic) and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) are expanding their investment in and capacity of their 50-50 joint venture in Tianjin.

Beijing picks Biograde bags for Olympics
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (July 17, 6:10 p.m. EDT) -- Australian bioplastic manufacturer Biograde Ltd. has won a US$1.2 million contract to provide biodegradable packaging to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Mexichem purchases geotextiles unit in Peru
MEXICO CITY (July 17, 5:40 p.m. EDT) -- PVC and specialty chemicals maker Mexichem SAB de CV has acquired the geotextiles operation of Lima, Peru-based Comindustrias del Perú.

ACC’s Russell: Challenges keep growing

Russell

PALM DESERT, CALIF. (July 17, 5:35 p.m. EDT) -- Since Steve Russell took over as managing director of the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council, the group has dealt with more than 400 pieces of anti-plastics legislation. He said the group has made progress in being more aggressive and promoting the benefits of plastics. Still, he knows there is a lot more to do.

Metallocenes still making strides
GALVESTON, TEXAS (July 16, 5:30 p.m. EDT) -- A slow economy isn’t stopping Houston firms ExxonMobil Chemical Co. and Total Petrochemicals USA Inc. from stepping up their efforts in metallocene polyolefins.