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PPG, Arkema Step Up Resins Presence

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

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Global resins production is on the front burner at major coatings manufacturers, as Arkema creates a new Coatings Resins unit and PPG Industries launches its first resins plant in China.

Arkema Builds New Unit

Arkema, France’s leading chemicals producer, has combined the assets of its existing Arkema Emulsion Systems with those just acquired from Total Specialty Chemicals to form Arkema Coating Resins.

With more than 20 coating production facilities, six R&D labs, and multiple sales and management offices, Arkema Coating Resins is now one of the largest producers of raw materials for coating formulators in the world.

Arkema

Among Arkema’s businesses is Kynar fluoropolymers, which includes roof coating Aquatec.

Arkema finalized the acquisition of coatings assets from Total on July 1. The €550 million deal (about $796 million US) includes the coatings resins (paints, adhesives, etc.) of Cray Valley (Europe, Asia, South Africa) and Cook Composite Polymers (United States), as well as the photocure resins of Sartomer (Europe, United States, Asia).

With 1,650 employees, the new business offers chemistries for almost every coating and related industry application, including industrial finishes, powder coatings, construction products, traffic paints, sealants, adhesives, architectural paints, inks and graphic arts products.

‘Chemistry, Expertise and Supply’

“Everything we do is based around the needs of the formulators,” said Richard Jenkins, the newly appointed global group president for Arkema Coating Resins. “This new business unit gives us the scope —in terms of technology, product lines and manufacturing sites—along with the global presence to meet those needs in ways few suppliers can.

“Arkema Coating Resins will provide the chemistry, expertise and reliable global supply our customers need to remain competitive and meet the challenges of the industry today.”

The new business offers many different product lines, including water- and solvent-based alkyds, polyester resins, powder coating resins, high solid acrylic polyols, additives and one of the industry’s widest range of waterborne emulsions, including 100% acrylic, styrene acrylic, vinyl acrylic and ethylene modified polymers.

Based in Cary, NC, Arkema Coating Resins will be part of a family of Arkema businesses that serve the coatings industry, including Coatex rheology modifiers, Acrylic Monomers, Kynar fluoropolymers, and Sartomer photocure resins.

PPG Launches Chinese Resin Plant

PPG Industries, the world’s second-largest paint and coatings company, has begun operations at its first resin production plant in China.

With initial production capacity of 27,000 metric tons per year (nearly 30,000 tons US), the plant at Zhangjiagang Yangtze International Chemical Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province, will supply advanced resin products to PPG coatings plants and other customers in the region.

PPG Industries

PPG first invested in China in the 1980s. The company sells a range of products in the region, including paints, coatings, and aerospace materials.

The new plant will produce finished electrodeposition resins for use in the manufacture of automotive and industrial electrocoat products. It spans 60,000 square meters and incorporates low-VOC coatings, low-emissivity glass and other “green” building materials by PPG.

Construction began in October 2009, and the plant opened June 16. PPG says it wants the facility to be “a model of sustainability in the region.”

“Start-up of the Zhangjiagang plant marks another important milestone in PPG’s history of doing business in China,” said Charles E. Bunch, PPG chairman and CEO.

“This resins plant will help PPG to better serve China and other countries in the Asia/Pacific region, reinforcing our leading position in the regional paint and coatings industry as well as our focus on growth in these rapidly developing economies.”

Added PPG senior vice president Viktor R. Sekmakas: “China and the entire Asia/Pacific region are areas of great importance to PPG’s global growth strategy.

“The Zhangjiagang facility will supply regional PPG coatings plants with key raw materials of consistent quality, more quickly and at lower costs than was previously possible. It will help to streamline PPG’s Asia/Pacific operations and increase our commitment to providing customers here with high-quality products and reliable service.”