Evonik

Earnings decline in 2014 on lower selling prices / Q4 turnaround brings optimism for 2015 / Performance polymers hit by weak economic environment

Introducing “Vestodur X9426” PBT for optical fibre jackets and wire bundles

Investment in Finnish nanophotonics company / Minority share acquired in syndicate with venture capital firm

Lauren Kjeldsen appointed head of PU additives business unit

Two new crosslinking activators lines start up in Wesseling / Solar and automotive applications

PIE speaks to ECPI's sector group manager Stéphane Content about the European plasticisers market / Media wrongly group all phthalates together as harmful / Sustainability a key focus / REACH implementation should be balanced and pragmatic

Higher prices for PMMA moulding compounds

Dutch chemical group may spin off or sell plastics business / Acrylonitrile and caprolactam in view

New PMMA moulding compound for automotive glazing

Global volumes to rise by 4.4% per year to 2020 / Strong automotive demand for butadiene rubber and ABS / Asian players dominating / Grand View Research report

Structural foam for aircraft components / Lighter and cost effective / Tests with Airbus over past two years

New plant for “Rohacell” structural foam in Shanghai / Start-up in Q4 2015

Higher prices for “Plexiglas” and “Deglas” semi-finished products

RAPID project experiences a revival / Toyo bags contract for ethylene cracker

Lower selling prices force down operating profit in H1 2014 despite higher volumes / Q2 sees small improvement in speciality materials segment

Carbon black producer goes public in US / Incorporation in Luxembourg

PA 12 capacity at Marl expanded / Strategic holding for standalone businesses

Bayer, balloons and games people play

Chinaplas exclusive: Solutions to sustainable urbanisation / PMMA, composites demand led by automotive / PA 12 consumption dominated by automotive and oil & gas / Streamlining operations as part of administrative excellence programme

Engineering thermoplastics consumption recovers slightly in 2013 / Gains driven by ABS and PMMA / Import volumes of PC, PA and SAN down / Asian producers increasingly step into the fold / Low local capacity utilisation rates / Plastinfo report

New plant for structural foam started up at Darmstadt / 50% capacity increase

Sustainability as key theme at this year's plastics mega-event in Shanghai / Organisers expect almost 3,000 exhibitors / “Green Forum” co-organised by PIE / Last call for registrations for exclusive readers' trip to China

Dutch expansion of PA 6.6 capacity planned / European market high priority / Increased sustainability through more efficient production processes

New super absorbers plant on track to start up in Q4 / Mechanical certification completed

Rebranding the former Quinn Plastics / Broad portfolio of transparent and translucent sheet / Margins suffer following price decline for semi-finished products