6 MARCH 2013

F O C U S O N P O W D E R C O A T I N G S

topping protective coatings. TheUS construction chemical industryhas an estimated value of $7.7bn, according to Freedonia.Meanwhile, BASF has started upits first concrete admixturesfactory in Russia. The plant islocated at the firm’s existing sitein the Podolsk District of theMoscow Region. The Russianconcrete admixtures marketstands at about €140 M/y.BASF’s Construction Chemicalsdivision recently inaugurated itsnew Construction Center inToronto, ON, Canada. The facilitywill cater to customers in thegreater Toronto area and theCanadian marketplace. Otherrelated developments arepresented.

Original Source: Coatings World, Dec 2012,17 (12), 40-41 (Website:http://www.coatingsworld.com/) © RodmanPublishing 2012

AkzoNobel inaugurates R&D centrein India

AkzoNobel has officially openedthe India Analytical Centre (IAC)at its International ResearchCenter in Bangalore. TheBangalore R&D centre will tap thefirm’s global and local resourcesto offer analytical services tocoatings businesses in India. TheIAC will also be equipped toassess and certify raw materials,intermediates and products in thecountry.

Original Source: Coatings World, Dec 2012,17 (12), 43-44 (Website:http://www.coatingsworld.com/) © RodmanPublishing 2012

Developments by companies in theFrench pigments and paint industry

This is a mainly technical articleabout developments by companiesin the French pigments and paintindustry, including materials,equipment and waste. The woodweatherboarding market in Francehas grown by more than 80%since 2006. The building industryproduces 40 M tonnes of waste,66% of inert waste, 28% of normal

industrial waste, 5% of hazardousindustrial waste and 1% of wastepackaging. Treatment costs €2bn/y, which is 3% of the buildingsector turnover. Prospa, France,has a turnover of €10.6 M with 53employees. Its production capacityis 5000 tonnes/y with a productionlevel of 3425 tonnes/y. It uses 500raw materials and 1200formulations to make paints andcoatings, with customers such asPSA and Magneto Wheels. Themarket for industrial paints hasdecreased by about 15% and forautomobile coatings, under thebonnet, by 30%.

Original Source: Double Liaison, Dec 2012,(590), 8-14 (Website:http://www.idexpo.com) (in French) © Le Groupe ETAI 2012

Full speed ahead for US chemicalsindustry

In 2012 the focus of the worldchemicals industry was on NAmerica. This reflected a slightdownturn in growth in Asia,particularly China (althoughgrowth in the region was stillstrong) and stagnation in theEuropean economy. The USchemicals industry took off thanksto the revolution in shale gaswhich simultaneously cut energyprices and increased the potentialof energy resources. Thereduction in natural gas prices isencouraging the development ofnew projects and the relocation ofoperations. For example,Methanex is abandoning somemethanol operations in Chile andtransferring production toLouisiana. Dow and ExxonMobilboth have major projects plannedand Sasol expects to invest $5-7bn in an integrated complex.According to data from IHSChemical, operating rates atcrackers in N America went from80% capacity in 2009 to 89.9% in2011 (compared with operatingrates of 77.3% and 81.4%respectively in W Europe). In termsof increases to capacity, N Americamay come close to 75% of recentperformances in the Middle East

and China. IHS predicts that NAmerica capacities will increasefrom 33.4 M to 39.1 M tonnes/y by2017. Meanwhile downstreampetrochemicals companiesundertook some of the largestacquisitions in the sector during2012. Westlake failed in its $1.3 bnraid on Georgia Gulf but PPGacquired Akzo Nobel’s NAmerican decorative paintsbusiness for $1.05 bn and sold itscommodity chemicals to GeorgiaGulf for $2.1 bn. Eastman boughtSolutia for $4.7 bn and DuPontsold its performance coatingsdivision to Carlyle for almost $5bn. However, the US chemicalsindustry is living a paradox. TheUS is concerned about thenational debt and the financialcliff, and the chemicals industryhas announced vast restructuringprogrammes. Dow is to shed3300 jobs, DuPont 1500 and PPG2000. Meanwhile in Europe,Arkema has withdrawn a €70 Mproject in Pierre-Benite, Franceand the threat of closure hangsover 2 of Kemira’s 3 factories inFrance. Metabolic Explorer hasdecided to cut the size of itsworkforce. At the same time,there are encouraging signs inFrance. Versalis may invest €80M in its butadiene unit in Mardyckand Toray is investing €100 M+ inpolyacrylonitrile production inLacq. The Lacq Cluster Chimieproject is planning €154 Minvestments.

Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Jan 2013, (618), 1 (Website:http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (in French)© ETAI Information 2013

Valspar awarded contract tosupply coating for Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

On 14 Jan 2013 the ValsparCorporation announced that it had been selected as the majorsupplier of concrete reinforcingsteel coatings for the Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge in China.When completed in 2016, thelength of the bridge will spannearly 50 km (30 miles) and isexpected to be the world’s