Contents
MATERIALS
Teknor reveals colour concentrates that provide variegated effects without special equipment 2
Ampacet introduces two antistatic agents for packaging applications 2
Struktol presents multifunctional additives to enhance recycled polypropylene 2
New Japan Chemical offers free-flowing PP clarifier in Europe 3
Hexion launches aromatic tackifiers for tyre and rubber applications 3
Luxus provides end-of-life recyclability test for polymers 4

COMPANY STRATEGIES
AkzoNobel to divest Specialty Chemicals to Carlyle Group and GIC for €10.1 billion 1, 4
Lomon Billions invests in chloride titanium dioxide pigment capacity 5
BASF undertakes US$200 million investment in US kaolin business 5
Lonza opens new research and development centre in Brazil 6
Oxea reveals partner for DOTP manufacturing venture 7
Riverdale Global’s automated colorants & additives production facility nears completion 7
Huber expands fine precipitated ATH capacity in Germany 8

FINANCIALS
Lanxess generates strong sales and earnings in 2017 boosted by Chemtura acquisition 8
Orion posts sales and income gains in 2017; plans speciality black capacity increase in Italy 9

EQUIPMENT
X-Rite introduces non-contact imaging spectrophotometer for plastics and more 10

MARKETS
Worldwide market for fillers forecast to reach 75 million tonnes/year in 2024 11
EVENTS CALENDAR 12

Contents
MATERIALS
Sukano and Omya collaboration delivers high-performance voiding agent for BOPET and BOPLA films 1
BYK presents ‘world first’ coupling agent for carbon fibre 2
Cabot unveils premium carbon black range for ultra-high-performance tyres 3
Clariant healthcare masterbatches meet 2020 USP <661.1> requirements 3
Eastman launches enhanced vulcanizing agent for tyre industry 5
Croda’s Incroslip SL slip additive gains EU food contact approval 5
A Schulman partners with 3M to develop insulating and reduced weight solutions 6

COMPANY STRATEGIES
LyondellBasell plans to acquire A Schulman in US$2.25 billion deal 6
Ampacet starts up new additive production line in Belgium 7
Nabaltec plans to extend flame retardants production in USA; posts 6% sales rise in 2017 7
Lanxess is raising Leverkusen capacity for Macrolex polymer dyes 8
Mexichem acquires Sylvin to boost additives portfolio 8
Hexion divests additives technology group 9

FINANCIALS
Clariant reports improved annual sales and profitability in 2017 9
Venator reverses losses in 4Q and full-year 2017; reports Pori progress 10
Chemours posts ‘robust’ performance in fourth quarter and full-year 2017 11
EVENTS CALENDAR 12

Contents
MATERIALS
Evonik introduces silica with high surface area for SUV and all-season tyres 1
Silvergate adds to affordable whites range in response to high TiO2 prices 2
Chongqing Polycomp offers flat glass fibre grades to boost loading in thermoplastic composites 2
Gabriel-Chemie collaboration delivers unique metallic shine for 3D printing filaments 3
Holland Colours launches frost effect for PET bottles 4

COMPANY STRATEGIES
AkzoNobel invests in further organic peroxides expansion in Mexico 5
Clariant opens new masterbatch plant in Saudi Arabia; SABIC becomes largest shareholder 5
BASF expands Singapore antioxidants plant and doubles NPG capacity in Nanjing 6
Songwon starts production of multifunctional phenolic antioxidant in India 7

FINANCIALS
Eastman posts increased full-year sales and earnings in 2017 7
Cabot reports loss despite increased sales in 1Q fiscal 2018 8

LITERATURE
Ceresana updates flame retardants market study 8

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY FEATURE
ICP-IP promotes assessment framework for sustainable flame retardant solutions 9
EVENTS CALENDAR 12

Contents
MATERIALS
Clariant unveils colour masterbatch range for water bottle caps… 2
…and revises ColorForward format for 2019 edition 2
Teknor introduces TekTuff dry colour blends for rotomoulding 3
Michelman forms partnerships with Mafic & EFT for innovation & product development 4

COMPANY STRATEGIES
Nexam Chemical purchases Plasticolor Sweden to secure masterbatch production capacity 1, 4
A Schulman boosts its French masterbatch production capacity; reports strong fiscal 1Q 2018 5
Lanxess among the bidders for AkzoNobel’s speciality chemicals unit 6
Addivant expands production capacity for Ultranox antioxidant 6
Oxea aims to become major European supplier of DOTP plasticizer 7
Clariant and Tiangang receive go-ahead to build stabilizers JV plant in China 7
Croda acquires Finnish antistatic additives company IonPhasE 8
Orion Engineered Carbons opens speciality carbon black production line in South Korea 8
Sibur begins construction of Perm DOTP production facility 9

MARKETS
Plastic antioxidants market projected to
reach US$2.11 billion by 2022 10
Organic peroxide market forecast to be
worth US$1.20 billion by 2025 11

EVENTS CALENDAR 12

Contents
MATERIALS
Multibase launches long-lasting slip additive for biaxially oriented PP films 1
Interface Polymers aims to boost global crop yields with innovative agricultural film additive 2
Jungbunzlauer presents bio-based citrate plasticizers 2
OCSiAl’s nanotube-based concentrates win JEC innovation award 3

COMPANY STRATEGIES
AkzoNobel doubles Chinese organic peroxides capacity; receives approval for separation 3
Techmer PM opens Mexican manufacturing facility 4
Lanxess agrees to purchase Solvay’s US phosphorus additives business 5
A Schulman’s Turkish masterbatch plant now in full production 6
Evonik to acquire 3M’s Accurel high-concentrates additive compounding unit 6
Ampacet starts up new colour masterbatch line in Luxembourg 7
Lonza’s new US laboratory will enhance polymer additives offering 7
Adeka Palmarole becomes Adeka Polymer Additives Europe 8

FINANCIALS
Lanxess records 25% sales increase in the third quarter of 2017 8
Croda reports 3Q 2017 results; opens formulation innovation centre 9
Nabaltec achieves stable revenue growth in 3Q 2017 10

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
San Francisco prohibits sale of furniture, children’s products treated with flame retardants 11

EVENTS CALENDAR 12