Materials

Basf Group’s sales in the first quarter of 2020 increased by 7% compared with the prior-year quarter to 16.8 billion euros. This was mainly driven by a 4% increase in volumes. Income from operations (Ebit) before special items was 1.6 billion euros, down by 6% compared with the first quarter of 2019. The decline in Ebit before...

Covestro has met its Ebitda guidance for the first quarter of 2020 in a business environment strongly impacted by the coronavirus. Core volumes decreased by 4.1% compared to the prior-year quarter. This is mainly the result of significantly weaker demand in China due to coronavirus-related interruptions of production at...

AMI announced that its Composites in Rail conference, due to take place in Berlin on June 3-4, has now been postponed October 8-9, 2020. The event will still take place in Berlin, but the uncertainty created by the coronavirus led to the decision to delay it. “Following consultation with speakers, exhibitors and attendees we’ve made the difficult…

Today, the Covid-19 pandemic is deeply disrupting not only the European economy but the entire society. The social and economic impacts caused by it require immediate actions and will have medium and long-term consequences. As EuPC, the association representing the European plastics converters, remarks, plastic products which protect are...

While high-quality thermoplastic elastomers from Kraiburg TPE are used in many everyday applications such as toothbrushes, razors, automotive components, and others, they have also become indispensable in numerous areas of systemic importance. The current corona pandemic is an increasing challenge for both healthcare and social systems in…

Security Matters and Basf signed a binding joint development agreement to develop solutions for plastics traceability and circularity. Plastics, with unique characteristics and when used properly, contribute to a more sustainable and resource efficient future. However, to move towards a circular economy, more plastic waste needs to be recovered...

Covestro has been actively executing its crisis management plans in response to the global spread of the coronavirus pandemic and adjusting business operations according to local developments. The Board of Management has taken early and decisive actions to adapt the company to the current conditions, to protect the health of all Covestro...

The Lexan Cliniwall AC6200 non-chlorinated and non-brominated opaque sheet launched by Sabic aims to provide a hygienic, sanitary solution for interior surfaces to several industries around the world. The launch comes as the rising need for infection prevention and sanitation control across the world continues to increase. Sabic full integration…

At least 6.6 million tonnes/year, or 26%, of Europe’s ethylene production capacity is threatened by oil refineries running at reduced rates or ceasing production, according to new analysis by Icis. The ethylene is produced by crackers attached to refineries hit by collapsing demand for...

The global leader in the specialty chemicals market Perstorp has started the large-scale production of hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant for the Swedish healthcare sector - at cost price. With a capacity of over 2 million liters a month, the aim is to solve the current lack of disinfectants at a national level...

In an open letter sent to the European Commission, EuPC advocates for a postponement of the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive in view of the current Covid-19 crisis in Europe. Single-use plastics are not easily substitutable and offer unique advantages when it comes to ensuring hygiene, safety as well as preservation from...

The coronavirus pandemic is currently affecting the whole world. The health crisis is developing unpredictably every day, leading to longer lockdowns throughout Europe and reinforced travel restrictions all over the world. Unfortunately, this uncertain context makes it impossible to hold JEC World as planned, from May 12 to 14, 2020...

Covestro is strengthening its commitment to containing the global coronavirus pandemic with in-kind and money donations. Thus, the company provides raw materials for the production of products such as medical devices, safety goggles for medical staff and hospital mattresses. These are supplied to health and care facilities in the vicinity of the...

Radici Plastics Suzhou, a RadiciGroup company specializing in engineering polymer production and based in Jiangsu Province in China, has joined a fund-raising drive promoted by the Italian community in Shanghai to send Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo over 20,000 masks and other medical devices. This equipment...

The board of directors of Basf Italia has appointed Lorenzo Bottinelli as the new CEO and vice president of the Italian branch of the German multinational. Bottinelli takes over from Andreas Riehemann, who has been at the helm of the Italian company since 2016. Born in 1973, Bottinelli is a chemist with a Master's degree in Business Administration…

PlasticFinder is always there, even now.

The global science-based company, DSM, the global leader in the chemical industry, Sabic, and the leading producer of sustainable raw materials, UPM Biofuels, announced a partnership that will help to reduce the environmental footprint of Dyneema, the world’s strongest fibre. The collaboration will see Dyneema transition to bio-based feedstock...

Due to the growing concerns around the coronavirus and travel restrictions to Italy, VinylPlus has made a strategic decision to change the dates of the VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2020. The new dates will be October 14-15, 2020.  The city stays the same - Florence...

Basf generated sales of 59.3 billion euros in the 2019 business year; the slight decline in sales compared with the previous year resulted from lower volumes and prices. Income from operations (Ebit) before special items was 4.5 billion euros, down by 1.7 billion euros from the prior-year level as a result of lower contributions from the...

The Eni's chemicals company Versalis has joined the Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) to actively contribute achieving the ambitious European target of using 10 million tonnes of recycled plastic in new products by 2025. The aim of the Alliance, promoted by the European Commission, with numerous member...