UK: Holliday — ultramarine

phthalocyanine blue plant atCuddalore (Tamil Nadu) with the aimof increasing its exports to the US andEuropean markets.

Chemical Weekly, 29 Jul 2003, 48 (49), 114

Japan: Sakai Chemical – TiO2

Sakai Chemical operates a 60,000tonnes/y TiO2 plant at Onahama. Thecompany is also one of the country’sleading suppliers of denitrificationcatalysts and was the first company tooffer honeycomb catalysts fordenitrification, cleaning up stackgases from power stations and wasteincineration units. Sakai also sellsozone-destroying catalysts for use inphotocopiers and room air-cleaners.The company recently announcedthat it is stepping up its integratedproduction from TiO2 to catalysts.

Japan Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2003, 44 (2237), 8-9

Japan: Taihei & Daikin –nanoparticulate titanium apatite

Taihei Chemical Industrial Co recentlyopened a facility at Nara for theproduction of nanoparticulate“titanium apatite”. Initially TaiheiChemical will be producing 30 kilosper day of this material and all theoutput will be shipped to DaikinIndustries for use in its photocatalyticair purifier.

Japan Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2003, 44 (2236), 8

Russia: Omya – PCC

The Omya group (headquartered atOftringen, Switzerland) hasannounced that it is nearingcompletion of an 80,000 tonnes/yprecipitated calcium carbonate (PCC)plant at the Syktyvkar paper milloperated by Neusiedler (part of theMondi group). The new plant isexpected to come on-stream in 4Q2003. Its commissioning will raiseOmya’s total PCC capacity in Europeto 500,000 tonnes/y, all of which isdedicated to making PCC gradessuitable for the paper industry. Othernotable Omya PCC plants are locatedat Szolnok (Hungary), Hausmening(Austria) and Moerdijk (Netherlands).Meanwhile, Omya remains Europe’slargest supplier of ground calciumcarbonate (GCC), supplied for both

paper and non-paper industryapplications.

Pulp and Paper International, Aug 2003, 45 (8), 12

Saudi Arabia: Astra Polymers & CibaSC – plastics masterbatch

Astra Polymers plans to build aplastics masterbatch unit at itsDammam complex. Ciba SpecialityChemicals will provide themanufacturing technology and willalso market the plant’s output. AstraPolymers already operates a 15,000tonnes/y masterbatch plant in SaudiArabia, at Al-Khobar.

Chimie Hebdo, 22 Sep 2003, (227), 9 (in French)

Sweden: Akzo Nobel – Expancelexpandable hollow microspheres

Akzo Nobel is spending €5 M to raiseits capacity at Stockvik for makingExpancel expandable microspherefillers. The project should becompleted by Autumn 2004. TheStockvik site was originallyestablished by Casco Nobel and it isnow run by Akzo’s Industrial Productsdivision.

Expancel microspheres have athermoplastic polymer shell and theyare filled with a gas. Neither theidentity of the polymer nor the identityof the gas have been revealed.Heating produces a substantialincrease in the volume of themicrospheres. Expandablemicrospheres are used as lightweightfillers for rubber products (footwear,tennis balls, etc), plastic products(automotive parts, packaging, plasticlumber, extrusions and mouldings),paints and printing inks.

The Stockvik plant also makesunexpanded Expancel microspheresfor use as blowing agents in printinginks, paints, plastics and textiles.

In a new development, Akzo Nobelhas begun offering Expancelmicrospheres in masterbatch form,including the 098-MB-120 grade,which offers good heat resistance.

Chemische Rundschau, 23 Sep 2003, 56 (18), 12 (inGerman) & Plastics Additives and Compounding,Sep/Oct 2003, 5 (5), 12 & Dagens Industri, 9 Sep2003, Website: http://di.se/NoFlash.asp (in Swedish)

Thailand: Matrix – plastics masterbatch

Matrix Plastics (of Marlow, Bucks, UK)is building a facility at Rayong for the

manufacture of coloured plasticcompounds and plastic masterbatches.The facility is expected to come on-stream in early 2004.

Plastics and Rubber Asia, Aug 2003, 18 (120), 5

UK: Holliday – ultramarine

Holliday Pigments, the world’s leadingmanufacturer of ultramarine andmanganese violet pigments, recentlyachieved ISO 9001-2000 certificationin respect of its plant at Hull. Thecompany’s paper-based qualitycontrol system was replaced by anelectronic system, based on LotusNotes, allowing quick and consistentinformation updates. HollidayPigments is now aiming to achievethe international environmentalstandard ISO-14001 and theinternational health and safetystandard OHS-18001 during the next12 months.

Mr David Calvert (TechnicalManager) said: “All the seniormanagement team was involved atsome stage with the auditor (URS),but the most important people werethe workforce who demonstrated adrive and commitment. Theaccreditation certainly cementsHolliday Pigments’ market position asa quality leader and providesevidence to the company’scustomers.î

Press release from: Holliday Pigments, Morley Street,Kingston upon Hull HU8 8DN, England. Website:http://www.holliday-pigments.com (19 Aug 2003)

US: Accel – plastics colorants

Accel Color Co has justcommissioned its third productionfacility for making colour concentratesfor the plastics industry. The plant issited at Knoxville, TN and has a floorarea of 23,000 square feet. It currentlyhouses three extrusion lines, with afourth to be added during the next sixmonths. There will be 12-15employees at Knoxville by the end ofthis year. Accel employs another 80people at its plants in Napierville, IL,and Avon, OH.

As well as colour concentrates,Accel supplies additive concentratesand dry colour blends. The companyalso offers toll compounding services.

Plastics News, 15 Sep 2003, 15 (29), 20 (Website:http://www.plasticsnews.com)

4 OCTOBER 2003

F O C U S O N P I G M E N T S