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Polymers

Asahi Kasei opens plastics sales office in Mexico

Asahi Kasei Plastics is commemorating its 12-year anniversary with the opening of a new sales office in Mexico, in which it hopes to further expand the company’s global presence. Asahi Kasei Plastics says it is expanding worldwide with new facilities, distributorships and license agreements.

Conserve energy for fired heaters

SK Innovation Co. Ltd.: Yoon, H.

Advanced ceramic fiber veneer insulation reduces heat losses and is more resilient

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

Linde debuts hydrogen for fuel-cell vehiclesThe Linde Group’s hydrogen (H2) for fuel-cell vehicles—a byproduct of biodiesel production at Linde’s pilot plant in Leuna, Germany—rece..

Momentive hikes global urethane additives capacity

Momentive Performance Materials said it recently completed a series of capacity expansions on urethane additives in China, India, Brazil and Belgium. In China, the company said it completed an expansion that enables increased urethane additive finished goods capacity at its Nantong plant facility.

US plastic resin production, sales down from 2011

US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same month in 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group. Sales and captive use were down 8.8% from April 2011.

Dow wins $2bn in damages from failed Kuwait JV

The International Court of Arbitration awarded damages to Dow of $2.16 billion, not including interest and costs. Kuwait ruled in December 2008, at the peak of the global recession, that the Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait (PIC) should withdraw from the planned olefins and polyethylene venture.

Georgia Gulf, Segetis to collaborate on bio-based polyvinyl chloride in US

Georgia Gulf has agreed to collaborate with Segetis to offer a new flexible vinyl compound based on Javelin technology bio-plasticizers from Segetis. This is the second collaboration to develop bio-based flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds announced in 2012 by Georgia Gulf, the company noted.

Cytec aims to sell coating resins business this year

Cytec Industries has begun a formal sale process for its coating resins business, the US-based specialty materials company said on Monday. Cytec does not intend to give further updates on the sale process until a transaction is announced, which is estimated to occur later in 2012.

Fluor finishes China polysilicon plant for LDK Solar

Fluor Corp. has completed construction for LDK Solar’s polysilicon plant in Xinyu City, China, one of the largest such production facility in the world. Fluor said it continues to provide debottlenecking services at the plant and is implementing new technologies to increase production.

Albemarle to shutter phosphorous product lines

Albemarle said Thursday that it plans to exit its existing phosphorous flame retardants business, citing a need to restructure its business portfolio and address underperforming assets. Production at both facilities will cease upon completion of customer contracts, according to the company.