US-based styrenics producer Styrolution is licensing the production of its acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and high-heat acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (HH ABS) to Chinese firm Plastic World (PW) that will produce it for the Chinese market at its Shenzhen plant, with an initial capacity of 4,500 tonnes/year.

Styrolution has had a presence in China for many years, with PW as its partner for colour compounding of Styrolution’s styrenic polymers, ABS and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), for the Chinese market since 2002. Under this new agreement, PW’s Shenzhen plant will commence production of ASA, ABS and HH ABS according to the specifications and conditions set out by Styrolution. The additional capacity at PW’s Shenzhen plant will complement Styrolution’s existing production capacity in the region in South Korea and Thailand.

The company markets ASA under the Luran S brand, while ABS and HH ABS are marketed under the Terluran, Terluran HH, Novodur and Lustran brands.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, Styrolution has started up its Luran S plant located in Ulsan. The new plant has a capacity of 43,000 tonnes/year, complementing current ASA capacity in Europe and the US, enabling Styrolution to cater to customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Luran S features thermal stability, chemical resistance and resistance to weathering, ageing and yellowing, making it suitable for outdoor applications in various industries including automotive, electrical & electronics, building & construction as well as sports & leisure.

US firm Huntsman Corp. has acquired the remaining stake of Huntsman NMG, its Russian PU joint venture with NMG, the manufacturer of PU in Russia and other areas of the former Soviet Union.

Shanghai Sinopec Mitsui Elastomers, a 50:50 joint-venture between Chinese firm Sinopec and Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals, will build an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPT) production plant in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

Swiss speciality chemicals group Clariant is acquiring the remaining 40% share of a joint venture between Alvigo and Chemie.

Belgian firm Solvay has started up its EUR21 million speciality polymers compounding plant at Changshu, targeting the electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial applications markets.

German automotive Tier 1 supplier Faurecia has opened a major R&D centre in Pune, India. Employing 800 automotive engineers, the facility will serve interior systems, automotive seating and automotive exteriors.

US international aerospace and industrial manufacturing and service provider Barnes Group will acquire privately held hot runner maker Synventive Molding Solutions for US$335 million.

US firms Bermis has tied up with Norwegian Thin Film Electronics to develop the Bemis Intelligent Packaging Platform for the commercial development of functional sensor labels manufactured from new and emerging printed electronic technology made from Thin Film’s propriety read/writable printed memory and programme logic

Not only did German robot maker Krauss-Maffei Automation celebrate its 30th anniversary since its foundation, it also marked it with its 1,000th robot delivery from the “robot wharf” of its branch in Schwerin.