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stability for PP products and is said to be ideally suited for thin-walled applications. In tests, low concentrations of ADK Stab NA-71 have demonstrated very low haze in injection moulded PP parts, the company reports. Adeka claims that it offers an optimum balance of stiffness, clarity and flexural modulus when used in random co-polymers, and is also ideal-ly suited for optimum performance with poly-mers produced with high-productivity metal-locene catalysts. The new additive is suitable for film and packaging applications, with food approvals for all major regions worldwide.

Adeka Palmarole was established in 2000 as the European arm of Japanese additives manufac-turer Asahi Denka Kogyo, which changed its name to Adeka Corp in May 2006.

Contact: Adeka Palmarole, Espace 103, 103 rue de Strasbourg, 68300 Saint-Louis, France; tel: +33-3-8989-7350; fax: +33-3-8989-9101; URL: www.adeka-palmarole.com

Columbian acquires carbon black plant in China Columbian Chemicals (Weifang) Holdings has completed the acquisition of Shandong Haihua Carbon Black Chemical Co, Ltd located in Weifang, China. This acquisition represents Columbian’s first entry into the Chinese carbon black market.black market.

The Weifang plant, which was originally built in 2003 with a capacity of 20 000 tonnes, consists of one tread line. The company will immediately begin expanding the facility with its state-of-the-art technology, including energy recovery and improvements in the environmen-tal systems. The capacity will be increased to 60 000 tonnes after the addition of a carcass line. These improvement efforts will be led by Jong-Bum Park who has been named president and general manager of the Weifang Plant. Park has served as Columbian’s senior VP of market-ing and sales for Asia and has been with the company for eight years.

Contact: Columbian Chemicals Co, 1800 West Oak Commons Court, Marietta, GA 30062-2253, USA; tel: +1-770-792-9400; URL: www.columbianchemicals.com

Akzo Nobel moving HQ to Akzo Nobel moving HQ to AmsterdamAkzo Nobel has announced plans to move its corporate headquarters from Arnhem to Amsterdam. The relocation to the Dutch capi-tal is expected to take place in July and will involve approximately 100 people, including the board of management and employees working in departments that directly support the board. Initially, they will be housed in rented office space in the Zuidas area of Amsterdam, close to Schiphol Airport and one of the Netherlands’ fastest-growing international commerce centres, while a new, dedicated HQ building is designed while a new, dedicated HQ building is designed and built in the nearby Beethoven project.

According to Akzo Nobel’s chairman Hans Wijers, moving to Amsterdam will significantly improve international accessibility to the corporate HQ and international accessibility to the corporate HQ and help to drive the company’s future success. “We must be closer to the international community in which we operate, because proximity to our key stakeholders is crucial. We are a global company, so it is only right that the board of management is based in a centre of international commerce,” he says. With the separation of the pharma activi-ties on track [ADPOties on track [ADPOties on track [ , January 2007], relocating to Amsterdam is also symbolic of the company’s new future as a focused coatings and chemicals company, Wijers adds.

Approximately 400 employees who also work Approximately 400 employees who also work for the corporate organization will continue to be based in Arnhem, where Akzo Nobel will retain its shared service centre. Another 400 peo-ple – including Technology & Engineering and ple – including Technology & Engineering and Research Centre personnel – who are not part of the corporate set-up, will also remain at the Arnhem site.

Contact: Akzo Nobel NV, Velperweg 76, 6824 BM Contact: Akzo Nobel NV, Velperweg 76, 6824 BM Arnhem, The Netherlands; tel: +31-26-3664433; fax: +31-26-3663250; URL: www.akzonobel.com

Round up of the latest pricing changesIn Europe, Arkema’s Functional Additives Business Unit (www.arkema.com) has intro-duced a 7% price increase for its Thermolite®Business Unit (www.arkema.com) has intro-

®Business Unit (www.arkema.com) has intro-

tin stabilizer product line and a 4% price

March 2007 Additives for Polymers

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increase for its Clearstrength®® MBS impact modifier line as a result of a continuous increase in raw material and energy costs during 2006.

TIMCAL Graphite & Carbon (www.timcal.com) has raised prices for conductive carbon blacks produced in Willebroek, Belgium from blacks produced in Willebroek, Belgium from 1 January 2007. The increases, which are attrib-uted to the growing costs of energy, raw materi-als and transportation, will vary according to individual grades and markets.

In North America, Ferro Corp’s Organic Specialties Group (www.ferro.com) has increased the price for all fused grades of cal-cium stearate and aqueous calcium stearate dispersions by US$0.05/lb, as contracts allow. The increase became effective with shipments from 15 January 2007. The company says that the increase is due primarily to the escalation of raw materials costs.

Elsewhere, Holliday Pigments (www.holliday-pigments.com) has announced a price increase pigments.com) has announced a price increase of up to 30% across all its pigment prod-uct ranges in the Latin America region from February 2007. The company cites rising energy and manufacturing costs as well as new environ-mental regulations that have constrained capac-ity, as the key reasons behind the increase.

Rhein Chemie starts up new rubber additives plant in IndiaIn January 2007, Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH of Mannheim, Germany, launched production of Rhenogran®of Mannheim, Germany, launched production of

®of Mannheim, Germany, launched production of

masterbatch additives for rubber at its new plant in Madurai, India. The new facility is located at the Southern Indian production site of parent company Lanxess, with teams from Rhein Chemie and Lanxess India working in close collaboration during construction.

With this plant – its second Rhenogran unit to be commissioned in Asia in the space of a year [see ADPO, May 2006] – the company is responding to increased demand. More and more frequently, Indian tyre manufacturers and other rubber processors are making use of poly-mer-bound chemicals (i.e. masterbatches), as this enables them to improve product quality, processing, cost-effectiveness, health protection processing, cost-effectiveness, health protection

and environmental protection, Rhein Chemie says. In the Rhenogran product line, the active ingredients – mostly at a concentration of 80% – are carried in a universally compatible binding system that can be used in almost all rubbers.

Contact: Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Düsseldorfer Strasse 23 – 27, 68219 Mannheim, Germany; tel: +49-621-8907-455; fax: +49-621-8907-8455; URL: www.rheinchemie.com

FINANCIALS

Albemarle reports record 4Q income and annual salesAlbemarle Corp reported record fourth-quarter Albemarle Corp reported record fourth-quarter 2006 net income of US$63.0 million, up 96% from $32.2 million for 4Q 2005, due to strong performance in each of its three business seg-ments. The earnings figure for 4Q 2006 includes $5.4 million of non-recurring tax benefit due principally to changes in foreign tax rates and principally to changes in foreign tax rates and the resulting reduction of deferred tax balances. The company reported 4Q 2006 net sales total-ling $585 million compared to $588 million in 4Q 2005. Record net sales for 2006 were $2.4 billion, up $261 million or 12% from $2.1 billion for 2005. Including special items, net income for 2006 was $143.0 million up 24% from $114.9 million in 2005.

Describing the fourth quarter results as “ter-rific”, Albemarle president and CEO Mark C. Rohr says they reflect the company’s focus on technology, innovation and customer service. “I believe 2006 provides a solid platform for us to further grow Albemarle in a way that delivers value for our customers and our shareholders throughout 2007 and beyond,” he adds.

The Polymer Additives segment recorded net 4Q sales of $229.3 million for 2006, a 15% increase versus $199.9 million in 4Q 2005. Net sales improved in the brominated and mineral flame retardant portfolios and in the stabilizers and curatives business due primarily to both vol-ume and pricing improvements, Albemarle says. Including special items, the segment’s quarterly income improved 81% to $38.3 million, with increased volumes and higher pricing, partially