Category
Construction

Dow makes new executive leadership appointments

Chemical giant Dow Chemical Company has made a series of executive leadership appointments, some of which will impact its plastics packaging and specialty plastics businesses.

A. Schulman expands in Asia-Pacific with Compco purchase

A. Schulman Inc., a supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, has acquired Melbourne, Australia-based plastic compound maker Compco Pty. Ltd. for US$6.7 million in cash.

Drilling will drive strong gains in U.S. plastic pipe industry: study

Demand in the U.S. for pipe is expected to rise 7.3 per cent per year to US$63.5 billion in 2018, driven by strong growth in crude oil and natural gas drilling activity, according to a new study from market research firm The Freedonia Group.

Mexichem to buy HDPE pipe maker Dura-Line for US$630 million

Mexico-based PVC pipe and specialty chemicals maker Mexichem SAB de CV is acquiring plastic pipe maker Dura-Line Corporation from private equity firm CHS Capital for US$630 million.

Clariant building masterbatch plant in Australia

Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant International Ltd. is building a new masterbatches plant in Sydney, Australia.

Belgian floor covering maker establishing U.S. headquarters

Belgium-based floor covering maker Beaulieu International Group (BIG) is establishing a U.S. headquarters in Cartersville, Ga., and will open a plant that will employ 350 in the area.

Plastics Plus now marketing Invista nylon in Canada, U.S.

Thermoplastics distributor Plastics Plus Inc is now marketing Torzen nylon 6,6 products from Invista Engineering Polymer Solutions in Canada and the U.S.

Calgary pipeline maker awarded for Australia project

Calgary-based Flexpipe Systems Inc. has received an award from the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) for a light crude oil transfer pipeline in Australia.

Westlake Chemical buys specialty PVC producer Vinnolit

Resin supplier Westlake Chemical Corporation has acquired German-based specialty PVC maker Vinnolit Holdings GmbH and its subsidiary companies for 490 million euros (Cdn$724 million).

VersaFlex boosts presence in Canada, U.S.

VersaFlex Inc, a formulator and manufacturer of polyurea protective coatings, liners and sealants, is expanding its technical sales and service operations into regionally staffed units across Canada and the U.S.

Vinyl most popular material for U.S. siding industry, but for how long?

Demand for siding for residential and nonresidential buildings in the U.S. is forecast to increase 7.1 per cent annually to 103.5 million squares in 2018, valued at US$12.1 billion.  

Invista planting deep roots in China

Chemical supplier Invista has broken ground on new hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and nylon 6,6 polymer plants in China.

Eastman buys window film maker Commonwealth Laminating & Coating

Eastman Chemical Co. has purchased window film maker Commonwealth Laminating & Coating Inc. for an undisclosed price.

Federal infrastructure projects should maximize procurement opportunities for Canadian manufacturers: CME

Industry and trade association Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is urging the federal government to level the playing field for Canadian manufacturers and maximize employment opportunities for Canadians in procurement decisions…

Teknor Apex buys compounder Viking Polymers

In a move to expand its rigid PVC compounding capabilities, materials manufacturer Teknor Apex Company has purchased custom compounder Viking Polymers LLC.

A. Schulman buys Prime Colorants

Materials maker A. Schulman Inc. has purchased Prime Colorants Incorporated, a Franklin, ten.-based manufacturer of custom colors and additive concentrates, for approximately US$15.1 million. 

BASF selling PVC modifier business to Japan’s Kaneka

Germany-based chemical maker BASF is selling its Vinuran polyvinyl chloride (PVC) modifier business to Japanese materials maker Kaneka Corporation.

New Ontario standards recognize polypropylene pipe

Polypropylene pipe has been added to the province of Ontario’s list of approved products for sanitary and storm water sewer projects.

DuPont to sell glass-laminating products business

Japan’s Kuraray Co. Ltd. will buy DuPont’s Glass Laminating Solutions/Vinyl unit, which supplies polyvinyl butyral and ionomer sheets for safety glass and vinyl acetate monomer and polyvinyl alcohol for automotive, architectural, and…

Quebec’s Novik considered for purchase by Clearview Capital

Novik Inc., a Quebec City-based manufacturer of polymer exterior siding, roof coverings and accessories, has entered into a non-binding agreement to be purchased by American private investment firm Clearview Capital LLC for $45 million.

K 2013 WRAP UP: MATERIALS

$55M automotive, construction biomaterials program launched

In a bid to cut down on the use of traditional petroleum-based polymers, Canada’s federal government is launching a biomaterials program to accelerate the development of green vehicles and buildings.

Ontario’s EM Plastic & Electric Products acquired by Laird Plastics

Plastic product distributor EM Plastic & Electric Products has been sold to materials supplier Laird Plastics, and industry veteran and former EM Plastic owner Ralph Zarboni is remaining at the helm.

Chemicals firm Huntsman buying Rockwood businesses for $1.1 billion

Chemical maker Huntsman Corp. will pay US$1.1 billion in cash to buy two businesses from Rockwood Holdings that it said will make its pigments business more competitive.

Ontario Teachers partners with equity firm to buy U.S. building products manufacturer

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has joined with U.S.-based private equity firm Ares Management LLC to acquire CPG International Inc., a Pennsylvania-based building materials manufacturer.

Huntsman to buy urethane polyols maker Oxid

In a bid to expand its polyurethane foam insulation business, chemical company Huntsman Corporation is buying specialty urethane polyols supplier Oxid LP.

Bayer MaterialScience selling polyester resins businesses to Stepan

Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS) is selling its North American polyester resins business to Northfield, Ill.-based polyester manufacturer Stepan Company.

Spending on buildings, machinery to rise in 2013: StatsCan

Investment in construction and manufacturing machinery and equipment in Canada should reach $398.2 billion in 2013, up 1.7 per cent from 2012, according to Statistics Canada.  

Mexico’s Mexichem calls off joint venture with Pemex

Mexican PVC pipe, vinyl resins and compounds manufacturer Mexichem is scrapping plans for a petrochemical joint venture with Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) due to continued delays by the state-run oil company.

BASF to build new emulsion polymers plant in Texas

Chemical company BASF has announced plans to build a new production plant for emulsion polymers in Freeport, Texas.

Spartech shuttering Stratford, Ont., compounding plant

U.S.-based Custom compounder and sheet extruder Spartech Corporation is closing its manufacturing plant in Stratford, Ont.

Sabic unveils multiwall PC sheet capacity in India

In a move to tap into India and greater Asia’s growing construction and greenhouse industries, Sabic Innovative Plastics has started up a line making multiwall polycarbonate sheet at its plant in Vadodara, India.