Search

The article reports on the announcement by several paper chemical suppliers of price increases and/or surcharges, amid higher energy, freight and raw material costs in 2006. Nalco says it has increased paper sizing chemical prices by 20% and silicone-based products by 10% in the Americas and Europe, effective on January 1, 2006. Akzo Nobel's Eka Chemicals says it will also increase certain paper chemical prices in Europe.

Reports on an increase in demand for paper chemicals during the last few months of 2005. Growth of prices of paper chemicals in September 2005; Success of chemical companies to pass increases in raw material and energy costs to customers; Rebound of sales of Eka Chemicals in the third quarter of the year.

Focuses on the European paper chemicals industry which experienced some consolidation in 1997 as a result of a drop in the demand for paper and pulp in 1995 and 1996. Trend in the market as reported by the Confederation of European Paper Industries; Countries which experienced the strongest increase in paper production in Europe; Sales growth in Eka Chemicals and Degussa. INSET: Legislators push for environmental improvements.

The article discusses a project by the Eka Chemicals subsidiary of coatings company AkzoNobel to build a pulp and paper chemicals facility in Imperatriz, Brazil.

The article presents updates on the paper chemical sector. Akzo Nobel's Eka Chemicals opened a new facility at Guangzhou, China last November that will serve the Chinese paper industry. Hercules acquired the 40% remaining interest in Shanghai Hercules Chemicals Co., a paper chemicals joint venture, last year from its partner Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical for an undisclosed sum.

Reports the restructuring of the paper chemicals operations of Eka Chemicals in North America in November 2003. Closure of its coating additives facility at Albany, Oregon; Purpose of the restructuring move; Regional business units of Eka.

The article reports that Akzo Nobel NV's pulp and paper chemicals business, Eka Chemicals AB, has opened a new site in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, south-eastern China. The facility represents the latest milestone in Akzo's growth strategy for the rapidly expanding Chinese paper industry. Goteberg, Sweden-based Eka Chemicals is a global leader in bleaching technology and paper chemistry.

The article reports that Akzo Nobel’s pulp and paper chemicals business Eka Chemicals AB has invested about $67 million in a deal with a Brazilian papermaker. The company has signed a 15-year agreement to supply, store and handle chemicals for a novel eucalyptus-based pulp mill being constructed in Tres Lagoas by Votorantim Celulose e Papel SA.

Details the acquisition of the paper chemicals business of Dongsung Chemical Industrial company by Eka Chemicals, subsidiary of Akzo Nobel company. Properties included in the acquisition deal; Annual sales of the acquired business; Production units operated by Eka.

Unveils the plans of Eka Chemicals to build a colloidal silicas production plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Capital investment for the project; Significance of the plant.

The article offers news briefs on the chemical specialties industry. RPM International says its Carboline subsidiary has acquired some intumescent fireproofing assets from Nu-Chem of Saint Louis, Missouri and that its Tremco Group subsidiary has purchased green roof systems producer Permaquik of Mississauga, Ontario. Aqualon Co. will build a hydroxyethyl-cellulose manufacturing plant in Nanjing, China. Eka Chemicals Co. has opened a new paper chemical facility in Guangzhou, China that will serve the Chinese paper industry.

Presents news briefs in the speciality chemical industry as of October 2005. Legal action faced by Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Nutritionals regarding its marketing claims for Splenda brand sucralose; Commencement of Eka Chemicals' pulp and paper chemical operations in Brazil.

Focuses on the plan of Eka Chemicals to appeal a paper process patent case against Nalco Chemical. Information on the case; Ruling on Eka's initial injunction bid against Nalco; Details on the paper process of Eka.

The article presents updates on companies in the specialty sector. It offers information on the partnership of Rohm & Haas with Weihai Jinhong Polymer to form Jinhong Rohm and Haas Chemicals. The Hain Celestial Group has agreed to acquire Avalon Natural Products and its natural and organic personal care brands from North Castle Partners. Akzo Nobel's Eka Chemicals has decided to increase prices on all wet strength additives for the European paper chemical industry.

The article reports that a resin manufacturer in the Netherlands reduced maintenance costs by 10 to 20 percent throughout its plant after installing a plant-automation system that ferrets out and helps fix problems on the lines. Eka Chamicals of Maastricht makes resins used by the rubber, pulp, and paper industries. The production process requires melting and reacting resins at high temperatures. The company recently installed PlantWeb from Emerson Process Management of St. Louis. Since the system's implementation, unplanned plant shutdowns have decreased by 10 percent, said Peter Montforts of Eka.

Reports on the plan of Eka Chemicals, the pulp and paper division of Akzo Nobel, to build a chemical plant in Brazil. Location of the plant; Amount of investment Eka Chemicals will put for the building of the plant; Information on a deal made by the company as of Augsut 20, 2003.

Presents an update on the chemical industry as of April 16, 2003. Worth of the agchem lines acquired by BASF from Bayer; Reorganization of the pulp and paper chemicals operations of Eka Chemicals; Acquisition of Laporte Performance Chemicals by Cognis.

Presents information on Eka Chemicals' increase in its sodium chlorate prices. Reason for the increase; Effect of the strengthening in the pulp and paper industry; Comments from other companies.

The article reports that sodium chlorate producers are seeking price increases in the U.S. and Canada for the third quarter of 2006. Akzo Nobel's Eka Chemicals led the increase, which was followed by Canexus and Kemira in the U.S. Demand in the two countries is expected to firm in the coming months as pulp mills resume production, producers say, but demand in the medium to long term could shrink as continued cost pressures could prompt pulp mill shutdowns.

Reports on the growth of pulp production and sodium chlorate demand in North America due to increased export demand in the last quarter of 2003 and first quarter of 2004. Impact of the increased demand on chlorate suppliers and producers; Comment from Drew Cochrane, director at Eka Chemicals, on chlorate demand in North America; Effect of the increasing pulp production in Latin America on the cost of pulp production in the U.S.