2013
| news
Ascend commissions its new compounding line
Ascend Performance Materials announced at K 2013 that it has started up a new PA 66 compounding line alongside its resin production plant in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The new line increases the
company’s North American in-house compounding capacity by 30,000 tonnes/year and it is the first to be installed at the Pensacola site. Ascend’s existing compounding facility has a capacity of approximately 20,000 tonnes/year and is located at Foley, Alabama. It has toll compounding agree- ments in Europe and Asia. Ascend produces PA 66
from a propylene feedstock, rather than the usual butadi- ene route, which it says will allow it to benefit from the growth in shale gas extraction in North America. The new compounding line is being used to increase production of the company’s Vydyne compounds. It will focus on producing glass-filled
FRX starts up new FR facility
FRX Polymers used K 2013 to announce the start-up of its first full-scale plant for the production of its halogen-free flame-retard- ant polymers. The plant in Antwerp, Belgium, will manufacture Nofia polyphosponates. The non-migrating flame
Ascend has increased capacity for its Vydyne PA 66 compounds
grades, while Foley will produce specialist compounds, such as flame-retardant and impact-resistant grades. Scott Rook, vice president of engineering plastics at Ascend, said that the company plans to launch “more than a dozen” new PA 66 grades in 2013/2104. One recent new product is Vydyne R530HR, which offers high hydraulic and thermal stability for auto engine cooling systems.
Other new compounds launched at K included an impact- and weather-resistant grade for cable tie manufactur- ers, plus a high-viscosity grade with an optimised balance of process efficiency and aesthetics for film packaging. Ascend is the former
Monsanto/Solutia integrated nylon business that was acquired by SK Capital Partners in 2009. ❙
www.ascendmaterials.com
retardants are melt processable and transpar- ent. They offer high melt flow and good melt strength, enabling them to be used as additives or as standalone inherently flame-retardant polymers. Marc Lebel, president and CEO of FRX, said: “The opening of the new plant strengthens our ability to supply global markets... and establishes production capabilities to meet increased demand for environmentally friendly alternatives to bromine- based FR products.” ❙
www.frxpolymers.com
Baerlocher continues additives investments
Baerlocher was highlighting its on-going investments in PVC additives at K 2013. These include a new stabilizers production plant in Turkey, a new laboratory in the US and a new feedstock facility in Brazil. The new 40,000 tonnes/year
PVC stabilizer plant at Ashikar in Turkey is due to start production at the end of next year (see last month’s issue for details). Speaking at K
18
2013, Baerlocher’s CEO Arne Schulle, described the investment as a “strategic milestone” for the company. In addition, Baerlocher
announced at the show that it will install a new laboratory in the USA. This facility will support the American industry with the development of customized additive systems. The company has also
started up a new 35,000 tonne/ COMPOUNDING WORLD | November 2013
year stearic acid production plant in Americana, Brazil. It said that this investment will ensure the supply of fatty acids to the Latin American markets as well as meeting in-house requirements for the produc- tion of PVC stabilizers and metallic stearates. ❙
www.baerlocher.com
Arne Schulle: expanding overseas presence
www.compoundingworld.com
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