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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.

Alcan cosmetics division buying Tubapak
MOSCOW (July 25, 2:30 p.m. EDT) -- Alcan Packaging’s global cosmetics division is expanding its reach into Russia with a deal to purchase the Tubapak cosmetic tubes manufacturing facility in that country.

JM Eagle donates pipe for Millennium Villages
LOS ANGELES (July 23, 4:20 p.m. EDT) -- Pipe-making giant JM Eagle has teamed up with Columbia University’s Earth Institute to bring sanitary, potable water to villages in the African nation of Senegal.

Röchling Sustaplast leaving Pa. site for N.C.
GASTONIA, N.C. (July 17, 3 p.m. EDT) -- Röchling Sustaplast will relocate from Exton, Pa., to a facility in Gastonia, near the headquarters of its sister firm, Röchling Engineered Plastics LP. Röchling Sustaplast makes stock shapes from engineering plastics.

Mergers, acquisitions up, but buyers picky
AKRON, OHIO (July 14, 10:50 a.m. EDT) -- Financial uncertainty has triggered a slowdown in global mergers and acquisitions, but a surprising number of plastics processor deals are happening and more will be announced before year’s end, industry watchers said.

Vinyl Institute stepping out on its own

Bocchi

ARLINGTON, VA. (July 11, 12:05 p.m. EDT) -- The Vinyl Institute is reorganizing itself as an independent trade organization to promote and defend vinyl aggressively. VI, a longtime affiliate of the American Chemistry Council, needs to establish a stronger identity, Greg Bocchi, who took over as president and chief executive officer of the Arlington-based association two months ago, said July 9.

Maker of EcoHangers raises $10 million
NEW YORK (July 2, 2:45 p.m. EDT) -- Hanger Network Inc. has raised $10 million in a second fund-raising round to expand distribution of its EcoHangers made of plastic and paper. The 5-year-old firm claims to have grown 500 percent since 2005.

Norandex buy boosts position in South
MACEDONIA,OHIO (June 25, 7 p.m. EDT) -- Norandex Building Materials Distribution of Macedonia, Ohio, said it has acquired Area Vinyl Siding Distributors LLC, which serves the Baton Rouge, La., area.

Russian PVC-products complex considered
DZERZHINSK, RUSSIA (June 24, 5:55 p.m. EDT) -- RusVinyl Ltd. said it is in talks with regional authorities about the creation of a major industrial park for processing PVC into products such as pipe and window profiles in Dzerzhinsk.

CCL investing $25 million in Asian expansions
TORONTO (June 23, 12:45 p.m. EDT) -- Canadian packaging supplier CCL Industries Inc. plans to build four new plants, in China, India, Thailand and Vietnam, and will expand facilities in China and Japan.

European plastics turning to timber
VENICE, ITALY (June 23, 10:45 a.m. EDT) -- For pontoon operators and Venetian homeowners, marine borers cause a yearly problem in the canal-filled streets of Venice. To remedy this, two companies have introduced wood-plastic products to replace the age-old timber-made poles that make up many of the boats and homes. These innovative replacements are just one example of the growing European wood composites market.

ADS launching corrugated PP sewer pipe
HILLIARD, OHIO (June 23, 10:35 a.m. EDT) -- With a track record of success as piping material in Europe, polypropylene is expected to be a winner in the North American sanitary sewer and drainage markets as the continent’s largest corrugated pipe maker launches a new PP product. Hilliard-based Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. announce that it will launch a triple-wall corrugated PP pipe in spring 2009.

Program to monitor nation’s pipe system
BLACKSBURG, VA. (June 23, 10:05 a.m. EDT) -- Virginia Tech University researchers are working to create an Internet-based geospatial database of the United States’ pipes that would help utilities and municipalities better monitor and maintain underground infrastructure. The cities of Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Seattle are acting as pilot cities for the project.

New methods shore up window profiles
PARIS (June 23, 10 a.m. EDT) -- PVC window frames exceed user demands in many respects, especially in cost and durability, but the relatively low stiffness and rigidity has proved to be a drawback. However, window makers continue to explore alternatives, with the goals of reducing cost and opening the way to more demanding commercial applications.

Canada wood composite use low
TORONTO (June 23, 9:35 a.m. EDT) -- With nearly every economic indicator stacked against it, wood-plastic composite decking continues to gain traction in North America, but with Canada lagging behind the U.S. Resin prices have shot up nearly 50 percent and, combined with comparatively low pressure-treated lumber prices, have continued to strain the Canadian market.

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