Reifenhäuser, a seven-subsidiary global extrusion lines provider closed the 2011/2012 financial year with record results, generating total sales of over EUR 450 million.

Comprising of Reifenhäuser Extrusion, Reifenhäuser Kiefel Extrusion, Reifenhäuser Reicofil, Reiloy Metall, Reimotec Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, and Polyrema , the group's sales signalled an improved record result compared to the previous financial year.

All business areas of the Reifenhäuser group could report a two-digit growth, despite the still slack markets, especially in Europe. This success was mainly due to a significantly increasing demand for extrusion machinery from Asia and South America.

The Reifenhäuser group is planning further growth for the new financial year.

Ulrich Reifenhäuser, board member of Reifenhäuser, explains: “After a rather weak spring, we are experiencing now a clear revival of the market. we can still see great potential in the BRICS countries – not least because of a growing hygiene market in these regions.“

US private equity firm Carlyle Group has paid US$4.9 billion to acquire DuPont Performance Coatings.

German chemicals firm BASF has set up a new research laboratory for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) in the US.

German automotive products supplier Mann + Hummel GmbH is expanding in China by acquiring Bengbu Haoye, a manufacturer of filters for the automotive industry.

US-based Emerald Kalama Chemical is building a facility to manufacture environmentally friendly materials in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at the plant it acquired from DSM in 2010.

Mitsui Chemicals of Tokyo has established a company for functional polymeric materials in Shanghai’s Jinshan district.

Five years after Huntsman Polyurethanes teamed up with renewable resource-based polyol producer Alberdingk Boley to co-develop PU solutions for the coatings market.

Solvay Advanced Polymers is upping capacity for its Spire polyetheretherketone (PAEK) by 70% at its Panoli, India, plant.

In lieu of a growing lighter vehicles trend, Lanxess opens its first US$20 million worth production plant for high-tech plastics plant in Gasronia in the U.S. state of North Carolina, to help meet the increasing demand for premium, lightweight plastics.