Companies Technical Thermoplastics PC/PMMA

South African extrusion plant now in operation

“Plexiglas” PMMA specified for glazing in air rescue helicopter / High safety and visibility at low weight

Specialty materials earnings down 47% in Q2 / Forecast for 2013 revised downward

Poor market conditions in Europe hit operating profit and sales in Q2 2013 / High performance materials see improving performance over first two quarters

Bayer MaterialScience: Polycarbonate industry in China still developing / Capacity expansion in Shanghai in 2015 / Automotive glazing meets Chinese market needs / Michelle Jou, head of Commercial Operations PC in Asia, talks to PIE

European slowdown hits sales and profits / US automotive sector provides boost to Altuglas / Earnings fall in high-performance materials

South Korean polycarbonate now available in Europe

PMMA process licensed to Thailand's PCC

IPO through alternate route / Shares launched in Frankfurt and Luxembourg

Markus Steilemann appointed new head of Bayer MaterialScience's Polycarbonates business unit

New polymer development centre in Korea / Focus on high-tech applications for polycarbonate

Acquisition of two EPS producers in Greece and Turkey

Distributing Teijin PC and PC/ABS blends in Europe

Agreement with NatureWorks to develop high-performance bio-based alloys

Nine month profits fall on weak demand and fire at Marl site

Joint venture with Mitsui building new specialty bisphenols facility in Germany / Output to go towards meeting rising demand for “Apec” PC copolymers

New eco-efficient 120,000 t/y MMA plant to be located on the Gulf of Mexico / Start-up in 2015

Sales rise by 15% to EUR 1.72 bn in Q2 2012 / Operating profit near to record level in 2011 / EBITDA target close to EUR 1 bn for full year

Russian petrochemical group plans new MMA plant in Samara / Mitsubishi contracted for licence / Downstream PMMA facility to be built simultaneously

“Lupilon” flame-retardant PC grades for LED and lenses

Polycarbonate capacity expansion in Yeosu on stream / Consumer electronics and automotive applications

Swiss activities of PC sheet extrusion groups merge as Koscon International / Operations in other countries not affected

Rabigh II petrochemicals expansion in Saudi Arabia approved / Investment cost estimated at USD 7 bn / Start-up expected in 2016

Extruded PMMA sheet joint venture created in South Africa

Bayer MaterialScience's relocation to Shanghai has been successful / “No intention whatsoever” to close any European facilities / PC capacity expansion in Shanghai on track / Michael Koenig, head of Polycarbonate business unit, talks to PIE