Pidilite acquires Huntsman Group’s Indian subsidiary for INR2,100 crore

Pidilite Industries Ltd has signed a definitive agreement with Huntsman Group (USA) to acquire 100 percent stake in one of its subsidiaries in India, Huntsman Advanced Materials Solutions Private Ltd (HAMSPL). The company’s board approved this at its meeting on 28 October. This is for a cash consideration of approximately INR2,100 crore, excluding customary working capital and other adjustments, subject to certain preconditions being met prior to the closing of the transaction.

HAMSPL manufactures and sells adhesives, sealants and other products under well-known brands such as Araldite, Araldite Karpenter and Araseal in India. In 2019, the company’s business revenue was approximately INR400 Cr. In addition to the Indian Sub-Continent business, the acquisition includes a Trademark licence for Middle East, Africa and ASEAN countries, said Pidilite in a statement.

Under the deal, Huntsman will receive approximately 90 percent of the cash consideration at closing and balance approximately 10 percent under an earnout within 18 months if the business achieves sales revenue in line with 2019.

“Araldite is an iconic brand and a market leader in Epoxy Adhesives in India. We are thankful for all the support extended by the Huntsman group and we are confident that our association will remain strong going forward as well,” said Apurva Parekh, Executive Director, Pidilite Industries Limited.

“With this acquisition, Araldite will add to the already very strong portfolio of Pidilite’s adhesive and sealant brands and will complement our retail portfolio,” said Bharat Puri, Managing Director, Pidilite Industries.

Bostik launches KIZEN™ for consumer goods packaging in MEA region

Bostik has announced the launch of KIZEN™ for consumer goods packaging in the MEA region. A leading global adhesive manufacturer in applications such as cardboard manufacturing and converting, flexible lamination and labels, Bostik is a recognised expert in food and consumer goods packaging.

With KIZEN™, it’s next generation hot melt adhesive range for cardboard box and case sealing, Bostik offers comfort to consumer goods manufacturers, and confirms their ambition to set new standards in packaging adhesives, said the company.

“A look at the existing hot melt adhesive landscape from the industrial user’s perspective was the actual trigger for the KIZEN™ R&D programme,” said Pascal Peroni, Global Market Director – Consumer Goods & Paper, Advanced Packaging. “Customers made it clear and simple: they need a glue that closes boxes in a faster, cleaner way, that allows full line automation, and that is compatible with their current equipment.”

Bostik researchers benefitted from established synergies with Arkema. They have leveraged the group’s unique expertise in polymers to develop the next generation of hot melt adhesives for cardboard packaging. KIZEN™ is a water-white hot melt adhesive, in the form of round and flat pellets. Fed into the packaging line’s melting equipment either manually or with a vacuum system, thanks to its free flowing properties, the adhesive will generate clean adhesive beads and dots for reliable box closing, while allowing reduction in adhesive consumption, according to the statement.

Using KIZEN™, equipment stays clean and running, avoiding the carbonization effect which can result in fumes and bad odours, costly nozzle clogging, and ultimately packaging line stops. The adhesive can be used on all equipment and does not require specific investment or heavy conversion, said Bostik. KIZEN™ is a full product range addressing all the specific constraints of consumer goods packaging: from deep-freeze environments to hot climates, very high-speed processes, the bonding of cardboard materials that are very difficult to adhere to, as well as low adhesive-melting temperatures for energy saving. There is a KIZEN™ for each industrial need.

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Use the smart hot melt adhesive consumption calculator from Bostik to get a first saving estimation in your cardboard bonding application: https://www.bostik.com/uk/hotmelt-savings-calculator

Henkel launches EPIX technology platform in Europe

Henkel introduced its EPIX technology platform in the European market. Consumer demand for alternative materials in everyday single-use items is growing. Functionality plays a key role here, as these materials, such as paper, are expected to have the same performance as their conventional counterparts. After its successful launch in the United States, Henkel Adhesive Technologies announced it is now bringing to the European market its new product technology platform that helps make paper a viable alternative to plastics and other single-use materials.

EPIX comprises a portfolio of materials and chemistries that enhance paper by expanding its functionality to give paper products added properties such as barrier protection, thermal insulation and impact resistance. EPIX technology can enhance the paper experience for paper cups, containers and eCommerce packaging, as per the press release.

The platform allows the brands to protect their paper-based packages from water, and grease intrusion by providing better barrier protection. EPIX makes paper a viable alternative to plastic for popular disposable, on-the-go products such as paper straws, paper cups and food trays.

The technology also enables paper to provide thermal insulation as in the case of takeaway beverage cups. It helps double-walled cups to provide greater temperature resistance for hot or cold beverages.

EPIX technology aids in improving paper mailers to deliver flexible, form-fitting and lower profile packaging options. This technology has already been launched with a major eCommerce player in North America and EPIX mailers are certified as recyclable by How2Recycle in the U.S. and OPRL in the UK.

“We are committed to advancing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to a circular economy, and we see the opportunity to make a true impact in the growing markets of eCommerce deliveries and convenience packaging,” said Tilo Quink, Head of Packaging Adhesives at Henkel. “We understand consumers’ desire for functional paper products that are a reliable alternative to traditional materials and are looking forward to introducing this to the European market.”

ASC announces winners of the 2020 Innovation Awards

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) held its 4th annual Innovation Awards at the ASC 2020 Fall Virtual Convention November 4-6, 2020. The Innovation awards recognises the top three innovations from the adhesive and sealant industry. Independent judges reviewed the following categories and weightings as part of their review process: Science and Innovation (30%); Applicability & Impact (10%); Impact of the Technology Relative to the State of the Art (30%); Qualifications, Experience and Capabilities (20%); Significant Milestone (10%).

ASC judges reviewed submittal packages and the following were declared winners of the 2020 awards:

The primary award was presented to Brian K. Rearick, Ph.D. Research Manager – Global Application Research Lab at PPG. The Development from PPG was entitled “High Strength, Highly Ductile Structural Adhesive PR 2930,” which is a solution for a structural adhesive technology with an unprecedented combination of strength and elongation in response to U.S. Army requests for disruptive adhesives capable of meeting armor technology needs.

The 1st Runner Up went to H.B. Fuller with a development called “HBF -Ködispace 4SG, The superior warm edge spacer system reactive thermoplastic spacer (TPS) for use in insulating glass.”

The 2nd runner up went to Wacker for a development titled “GENIOSIL XB 502 Silane-Modified Polymers for High-Performance Adhesives for use with strong bonding adhesives.”

“We were pleased with the quality of the 30+ submittals for the 4th annual programme in which we recognised unique developments for our industry,” indicated Steve Duren, ASC Managing Director, and lead for developing the Innovation Awards. “We will improve and sharpen our programme for 2021. Thank you to all that submitted in 2020 and the ASC Membership Committee for developing the programme. Congratulations to H.B. Fuller and Wacker as runners up and PPG as our 1st place winner for the 2020 best innovations.”

Wacker announces investment in new production line for silicone specialties at Nünchritz site

The Munich-based chemical company Wacker announced that it will begin construction on a new production line for silane-terminated polymers at its site in Nünchritz, Germany, this year. Such hybrid polymers are used as binders for formulating high-quality adhesives and sealants, liquid waterproofing systems and environmentally friendly wood-flooring adhesives, among other applications. The investment budgeted for the construction project is in the mid double-digit million range. The production line will go onstream in 2022. The company intends to significantly expand its production capacities for hybrid polymers and to further strengthen its focus on specialty chemical products with this investment. As per the press release, the company’s hybrid-polymer business has experienced robust growth and Wacker is now among the largest manufacturers of silane-terminated binders for adhesives and sealants.

“Given the obvious rise in demand for such products, expanding our production capacity for hybrid polymers was a logical decision,” said Executive Board member Auguste Willems. The location for the capacity expansion is said to have been selected on the basis of market access, availability of critical raw materials and production technology aspects. “We have the space for a fully integrated production line in Nünchritz, which we could even expand, should the need arise,” noted Willems.

Hybrid polymers rank among the most important growth fields for Wacker Silicones at present. “Our innovative alpha-technology based silanes are used in the manufacturing process,” said Robert Gnann who heads the company’s silicones business division. “Hybrid polymers have a unique property profile. That’s why they are used for formulating particularly high-quality and high-performance adhesives and sealants. WACKER has established a unique selling point worldwide with its alpha-silane technology.”

Silane-modified polymers enable the manufacture of environmentally friendly adhesives. “The sustainability aspect is steadily gaining traction with the formulation of adhesives and sealants as well. This is what attracts manufacturers and customers alike,” commented Gnann. “The alpha-silane technology allows us to develop customised binders for an exceptionally wide variety of adhesives and applications. Demand for these kinds of adhesives will continue to increase in the coming years.”

ASC moves World Adhesive and Sealant Conference to April 2022; Announces 2021 events

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) announced that it has moved the dates of the 10th World Adhesive and Sealant Conference (WAC), currently scheduled for April 19-21, 2021, to April 25-27, 2022. The host location remains the Hilton Chicago in downtown Chicago, IL. ASC also announced that it will host a Convention & EXPO to be scheduled for fall 2021. Dates and location will be announced soon.

“For WAC to be successful for the global adhesive and sealant community for which it is held, ASC, as host, must ensure it is scheduled at a time most suitable for its international attendees,” said ASC President Bill Allmond. “Global uncertainty about the economy and the Covid-19 health crisis remains a concern through mid-2021. Therefore, with strong support from our Asian and European partners, we decided that the responsible decision was to move WAC to 2022,” he added. More details about WAC 2022 will be announced soon.

Also, ASC announced that it will host a Convention & Expo with a technical Short Course in fall 2021. “We are optimistic that by the fourth quarter of 2021, health and economic conditions domestically will be much improved, enabling ASC to safely and successfully host virtual and in-person attendance at our Convention & EXPO,” Allmond said. “We are excited to also schedule the annual ASC Leadership Conference the same week as the Convention & EXPO, which will provide rewarding incentives for attendees of both events.”

Further details about the dates and location of the 2021 ASC Convention & EXPO and ASC Leadership Conference will be announced soon and also posted at www.ascouncil.org

EnvisionTEC, Henkel extend partnership agreement to drive next level of additive manufacturing in industrial production

EnvisionTEC and Henkel recently announced an expansion of their partnership agreement to further drive the adoption of production level 3D printing. Over the past two years the companies already have collaborated on a variety of unique applications. With the launch of EnvisionTEC’s next generation Xtreme DLP and Envision One cDLM HT printer technologies and the expansion of Henkel´s industrial grade materials portfolio, the companies said they are well-positioned to support the volume production of end-use parts.

Both companies have already engaged in printing parts for the medical and industrial sectors. Henkel’s new materials are reportedly designed to create a shift in photopolymer material chemistry and to deliver FDM functionality with the surface finish and accuracy of SLA/DLP using EnvisionTEC’s high-speed production systems. Together, the partners aim to tap into the huge potential to leverage this novel material know-how in accelerating the adoption of DLP technology in the industrial production. The combination of Henkel´s material expertise and EnvisionTEC´s printer technology enables the creation of parts that are stable over time without losing mechanical properties, becoming brittle over time, or changing colour while maintaining accuracy and surface finish, as per the statement.

EnvisionTEC’s patented continuous Digital Light Manufacturing (cDLM) High Temperature (HT) technology platform will be included to Henkel’s broad 3D printing ecosystem to leverage the company´s customer base across more than 800 industry segments. Further, the partners will also collaborate for Loctite branded formulations validated for use on the Xtreme DLP Machine. This new large format 3D printer allows for the production of large 3D parts, built at fast speeds without sacrificing surface quality and part accuracy.

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with EnvisionTEC and their innovative cDLM technology,” stated Dr. Simon Mawson, Senior Vice President and Global Head of 3D Printing at Henkel. “EnvisionTEC’s new E1 High Temp printer allows Henkel to move beyond the boundaries of viscosity limitations by enabling highly viscous or solid resins, such as Loctite 3955 FST, the first 3D photopolymer that passes vertical burn and aerospace FST standards and Loctite IND402, a single component elastomer material with high resilience and tensile strength, to be heated and printed under controlled conditions.  These new generation Loctite materials combined with EnvisionTEC E1 High Temp printers will accelerate the adoption of industrial additive manufacturing.”

“For 19 years EnvisionTEC has focused on delivering not just equipment or materials, but true solutions,” stated Al Siblani, EnvisionTEC CEO, “We are pleased that our hard work and collaboration with Henkel over the past two years has resulted in the ability to now offer practical solutions to high-volume manufacturing applications that will disrupt traditional processes while offering a solid return on investment.”

Al-Hejailan Group and Dow to form JV to build PAA and emulsion polymers plant in KSA

Al-Hejailan Group and Dow recently announced an agreement to form a joint venture to design, build and operate a polyacrylic acid (PAA) and emulsion polymers plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al-Hejailan will hold a 75 percent stake in the JV, and Dow will have 25 percent ownership.

This partnership will enable Al-Hejailan and Dow to meet growing customer demand for coatings and water treatment applications in KSA and the broader Middle East region, as well as penetrate new markets.

With an expected capacity of 40,000 metric tons per year, the plant will be built and operated by Al-Hejailan Group in Plaschem Park. The facility will utilise Dow’s manufacturing technologies, and Dow will be responsible for the marketing of the plant’s production. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in 2021 and production is expected to come on-stream in 2023.

“At Al- Hejailan Group, we are excited about this investment, which fulfills an important milestone in our group’s overall strategy and drives towards the development of more robust and expansive downstream manufacturing capabilities in the Kingdom. It further strengthens our strategic partnership with Dow, as we work jointly to capture downstream opportunities that align with the Kingdom’s localization programme and the overall Vision 2030 programme,” said Faisal Al-Hejailan, CEO, Al-Hejailan Group. 

“This investment further reinforces Dow’s commitment to serving the region and promoting the downstream industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Howard Ungerleider, president and CFO, Dow. “This strategic partnership with Al-Hejailan builds on Dow’s long-standing presence in the Kingdom and supports the long-term growth potential we see for Dow and our partners throughout the region.”

Sika expands Dubai operations and extends production to include epoxy resins

The Swiss Sika AG announced it is further expanding its production capacity in the United Arab Emirates with the commissioning of a new manufacturing facility in Dubai. In addition to concrete admixtures, epoxy resins are now being produced locally for the target market flooring.

The site in Dubai was established in 2018 as a strategic distribution and sales centre for the region, said the company. Sika has decided to invest in the expansion of its manufacturing facilities at the Dubai site in order to increase flexibility in production, shorten delivery times, optimise cost structures, and reduce inventories. The locally produced epoxy resins are an important component of the company’s flooring solutions. These products are used to seal the surfaces of industrial floors and flooring for private homes, in order to ensure that the floor coverings are hard-wearing and resilient to mechanical and chemical exposure.

“By producing epoxy products in Dubai for the states in the Gulf Cooperation Council, we are increasing our competitiveness and specifically strengthening our position in the region’s flooring solutions market. We have clear growth targets in the Middle East, which we are systematically implementing with the expansion of our locally produced product portfolio,” said Ivo Schaedler, Regional Manager EMEA at Sika.

According to Sika, the economy of the UAE is in decline due to the effects of the Covid-19 crisis and the drop in oil price. However, thanks to extensive investments in the transport infrastructure, the construction industry is expected to recover quickly. As early as 2021, the building sector should see growth of 1.8 percent and gain further momentum in subsequent years, said the company.

New adhesive introduced for piezoceramics

Panacol is expanding its portfolio of dual-curing acrylic adhesives with the introduction of Vitralit UD 8052 F. This material was developed for piezo actuators and sensors and it possesses a particularly high tear resistance for bonding ceramics and plastics, said the company.

Vitralit UD 8052 F is a low viscosity, one-component UV curable adhesive. It is jettable, transparent, and fluoresces under UV light. Customised versions with different colours are available to facilitate improved process control. Its jet dispense capability makes high UPH (units per hour) values achievable, which is why this solution is the perfect choice for consumer electronics applications, as per the statement.

This potting compound can be cured in just a few seconds with UV light (320nm – 390nm) or visible light (405nm), according to the press release. The fluorescing adhesive allows in-line process control with short-wave light for maximum productivity. in areas that cannot be reached by light, Vitralit UD 8052 F post cures with atmospheric moisture, and thus polymerises reliably into a flexible potting and glob top compound.

Its high tear resistance after curing is said to have been optimised for bonding ceramic components to plastic, compensating for the different expansion coefficients of the bonded materials. Thus Vitralit UD 8052 F is particularly suitable as a protective coating and for applications subject to tensile and compressive stresses. As a potting compound, it features a low halogen content, it is flexible and the company says it offers protection against corrosion and other environmental influences.