Sonoco to Acquire Conitex Sonoco Joint Venture

HARTSVILLE, S.C. — May 29, 2018 — Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 70 percent interest in the joint venture of Conitex Sonoco for approximately $133 million in cash. Conitex Sonoco is a vertically integrated, global leader in the manufacture of paper-based cones and tubes used in the textile industry. The transaction is subject to normal international regulatory reviews and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.

The Conitex Sonoco joint venture was formed in 1998 between Texpack Inc., a Spanish-based global provider of paperboard and paper-based packaging products, and Sonoco’s former North America textile cone business. In 2017, the joint venture had total sales of approximately $245 million and produced more than 300,000 tons of uncoated recycled paperboard, which was used to produce approximately 1.4 billion tubes and cones for the global spun yarn industry. The company also produces adhesives, flexible intermediate bulk containers and corrugated pallets. The joint venture has 13 manufacturing locations in 10 countries, including four paper mills and seven cone and tube converting operations as well as two other production facilities.

“The Conitex Sonoco relationship has been very successful over the past 20 years, and we see even further opportunity to grow Sonoco’s existing global paper-based tube and core business through this combination, especially in faster-growing emerging markets in Asia where we will be substantially increasing our manufacturing presence while more than doubling our current annual sales in the region,” said Rob Tiede, Sonoco president and chief executive officer.

Tiede added, “We welcome Conitex Sonoco’s nearly 1,250 employees and are excited by the prospects for further building strong relationships with our combined customers in Asia, the Americas and Europe by offering innovative packaging solutions in paperboard, textile carriers and other value-added products.”

The acquisition of Conitex Sonoco will be modestly accretive to Sonoco’s earnings in 2018. Conitex Sonoco’s Chief Operating Officer Michel Schmidlin and members of his global leadership team will remain with Sonoco, and there are no expected changes to customer relationships. When the transaction is completed, Conitex Sonoco’s financial results will be reported within Sonoco’s Paper/Industrial Converted Products segment.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Sonoco

Solvay Launches FusePly™ Composite Bonding Technology For The Aerospace Industry

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — May 15, 2018 — Solvay launches FusePly™, a breakthrough composite bonding technology, at SAMPE Long Beach, May 22-23, 2018.

Solvay developed FusePly to enable the build of reliable, bonded composite parts using conventional manufacturing processes, through the creation of covalently bonded structures thus potentially removing the need for abundant rivets and fasteners.  It addresses the manufacturing challenges faced by aircraft builders looking for improved performance, build rates and lightweighting.

FusePly offers clear step-change bonding performance and benefits to users:

  • Improved reliability: Through the creation of chemical bonds, FusePly enables part manufacturers to have increased confidence in bonded structures.
  • Higher part performance: Compared to mechanical fasteners, FusePly offers higher performance since drilling holes into fiber-reinforced structures introduces structural damage and creates stress concentrations that ultimately reduce the load capacity of the part.
  • Lightweighting: The reduction and replacement of fasteners with FusePly bonding will substantially reduce the overall weight of the aircraft.
  • Design freedom: Adhesives offer much greater design flexibility during manufacture and assembly at lower cost. FusePly can easily be integrated into existing manufacturing processes as an upgrade for traditional surface preparation methods.

Solvay will be introducing FusePly at SAMPE Long Beach 2018.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Solvay

 

 

Tarps Now® Launches New Lines Of Military Grade Tarps And Fabrics

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — May 16, 2018 — Due to increasing need for Military Grade tarps, covers and fabrics meeting the specifications of the military branches, as well as State, Federal and municipal governmental agencies,Tarps Now® is pleased to announce the release of military grade tarps and covers that are engineered to meet the specifications that includes A-A-55308, A-A-59403, A-A-59708, CCC-C-419, CCC-C-422, CCC-C-428, CCC-C-432, CCC-C-439, CCC-C-442, CCC-C-443, CCC-D-950, MIL-C-10799, MIL-C-20696, MIL-C-43006, MIL-C-43128, MIL-C-43627, MIL-C-44103, MIL-C-788, MIL-PRF-20696, A-A-59403, A-A-549403A.

In addition to the new lines meeting Military Tarp specifications, Tarps Now® is also pleased to announce the release of tarps and covers meeting the needs of the United States Forestry Service which includes: (5100-86), MIL-C-3953, MIL-C-7219, MIL-C-10799, MIL-C-12369, MIL-C-43128, MIL-C-43734, MIL-C-43734D, Class 3, MIL-C-43375, NFPA-701, SS-481, SS-482, CPAI-63, CPAI-84.

The new lines of military grade tarps and fabrics are Made in the USA and are engineered to cover sensitive equipment, create weather-resistance outdoor tents, and secure and protect large items during transportation. These high-quality military grade tarps and covers are flexible, waterproof and flame retardant, as well as resistant to tearing, abrasions and resistant to Ultra-Violet light damage. For applications requiring military grade fabric, rolls are now sold in lengths of 50 to hundred yards.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Tarps Now®

Thailand’s IRPC To Build Large Aromatics Complex With Honeywell Technology

DES PLAINES, Ill. — May 24, 2018 — Honeywell announced today that IRPC PLC will use a range of advanced process technologies from Honeywell UOP for a new aromatics complex in Thailand’s Rayong Province.

As part of the project, Honeywell UOP will provide licensing, design, key equipment and state-of-the-art catalysts and adsorbents. When completed in 2022, the complex will produce 1.2 million metric tons per year of paraxylene used to make plastic resins, films and fibers. It also will increase its benzene production capacity from 114,000 to 495,000 tons per year. Benzene is a fuel additive and ingredient in plastics, lubricants, rubber, dyes and detergents.

“This complex will enable IRPC to significantly convert its available intermediate feedstocks to higher value aromatics products such as paraxylene and benzene,” said John Gugel, vice president and general manager, Process Technology and Equipment, at Honeywell UOP. “This is the latest in a series of aromatics projects using advanced UOP technologies that have low capital and operating expense.”

The project will include a Honeywell UOP CCR Platforming™ unit, which converts naphtha into high-octane gasoline and aromatics, and an LD Parex™ unit, which recovers high-purity paraxylene from mixed xylenes and uses a new, more energy efficient light desorbent. The complex also will include Honeywell UOP Sulfolane™ technology to extract aromatics from the feed; Isomar™ technology to convert xylene isomers into more valuable paraxylene; and Tatoray™ technology, which converts toluene and C9 aromatics into mixed xylenes and high-purity benzene, and that more than doubles the yield of paraxylene from the naphtha feedstock.

Honeywell UOP is the world’s leading licensor of process technology for the production of aromatics. As of last year, UOP licensed more than 100 complexes and more than 700 individual process units for the production of aromatics, including more than 300 CCR Platforming process units and 159 Sulfolane units, 81 Isomar units, 59 Tatoray units, and 101 Parex units worldwide.

IRPC Public Company Limited is a publicly traded petroleum and petrochemical company, and a subsidiary of PTT Group. IRPC is based in Mueang Rayong District, Rayong Province, Thailand, and operates the first fully integrated petrochemical complex in Southeast Asia.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Honeywell

Huntsman To Build New Polyurethanes Systems House In Dubai

EVERBERG, Belgium— May 29, 2018 — Huntsman Corp. today announced plans to build a new polyurethanes systems house in Dubai. Located within the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone (JAFZA), the new facility will strengthen Huntsman’s differentiated downstream capabilities in the heart of the Middle East.

Targeted for completion by the second half of 2019, Huntsman’s investment will increase the company’s systems production capacity in the region and add a new dimension to its polyester polyol capabilities. The Dubai systems house will complement the company’s two existing systems houses in the Middle East, in Turkey (Huntsman EMA) and Saudi Arabia (HAPC – a joint venture with the BCI Group of Companies), forming three strong pillars for growth.

Tony Hankins, president Huntsman’s Polyurethanes division, said: “This is a bold and timely investment, which will serve as a strategic platform to expand our business in the Middle East and North Africa and build our market leading position. It represents the next step in our plan to strengthen our downstream network. We now have 30 facilities worldwide, which provide innovative solutions in close proximity to our customers.”

Steen Weien Hansen, regional Vice President of Polyurethanes, further commented: “The MDI-based systems market in the Middle East has delivered strong growth in the last five years and this trend is forecast to continue at estimated rates of 7 percent annually. The construction of the new systems house will enable us to supply traditional and high-end rigid polyurethane formulations from a local source. It will also enable us to leverage our development and production know-how in polyester polyol and polyol blends for the fast-growing flexible foam and footwear markets, as well as pre-polymers for adhesives, coatings and elastomers applications.”

Gulum Kabil, general manager of Huntsman Polyurethanes’ business activities in the Middle East and Turkey, will manage the new systems house.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Huntsman Corp.

Shandong Tianhong Chemical Chooses Honeywell Technology To Produce On-purpose Propylene

DES PLAINES, Ill.— May 29, 2018 — Honeywell announced today that Shandong Tianhong Chemical Co., Ltd. has chosen Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex™ propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology to produce 250,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene at its facility at Dongying in China’s Shandong Province.

Honeywell will provide licensing, the process design package, proprietary and non-proprietary equipment, on-site operator training, technical services for startup and continuing operation, and key catalysts and adsorbents for the project. The announcement marks Honeywell’s 32nd award in China for Oleflex technology.

“Customers such as Shandong Tianhong Chemical need to build and start up their propylene plants quickly so they can accelerate their return on investment,” said John Gugel, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP’s Process Technology and Equipment business. “Honeywell UOP helps them achieve this with Oleflex technology, which is extremely efficient and features a proven basic design package that significantly shortens the build schedule.”

Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert propane to propylene and is designed to have a lower cash cost of production and higher return on investment compared with competing technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system minimizes its impact on the environment. The independent reaction and regeneration sections enable steady-state operations, improved operating flexibility, and a high on-stream factor and reliability.

Honeywell UOP also licenses C4 Oleflex technology, which converts butanes to butylenes, the primary ingredient for making high-octane fuel additives and synthetic rubber. Including this project, Honeywell UOP’s Oleflex technology has been selected for 52 out of 64 propane and isobutane dehydrogenation projects globally since 2011.

Since the Oleflex technology was first commercialized in 1990, Honeywell UOP has commissioned 29 units for on-purpose propylene and isobutylene production. Global production capacity of propylene from Oleflex technology now stands at approximately 6.8 million metric tons per year.

Shandong Tianhong Chemical Co. Ltd. manufactures specialized chemical products, including methyl methacrylate (MMA). A subsidiary of China Wanda Group, Shandong Tianhong Chemical markets its products for the tire, acrylonitrile, chemical and carbon black industries.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Honeywell

Kimberly-Clark To Expand Production At Its North Carolina Nonwovens Plant

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — May 22, 2018 — Kimberly-Clark Corp. has approved $30 million for expansion and improvements to its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The plant produces nonwoven materials for Kimberly-Clark’s North American adult and feminine care brands including Depend, Poise and U by Kotex.

The two-year project will focus on expanding the plant’s production capacity and efficiency, and is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site, while maintaining current employment.

“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” said Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill. “This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”

“Henderson County is very proud to support Berkeley Mill’s expansion,” said Michael Edney, Chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. “Kimberly-Clark is a legacy employer in our county, and we are proud to play a key role in the company’s future. We look forward to many more years together.”

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Gulfstream Interiors And Seats Earn Design Awards

SAVANNAH, Ga. — May 29, 2018 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. is proud to announce its Interior and Industrial Design teams recently earned 2018 International Yacht & Aviation Awards for the all-new Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 seat and cabin designs.

“This recognition speaks to the creativity, craftsmanship, quality and customer-centric design focus inherent throughout the Gulfstream product line,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “The Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 showcase our ongoing commitment to a high-quality customer experience that is tailored precisely for our customers’ productivity, comfort and design aesthetic. I am incredibly proud of our very talented team for winning these awards.”

The fully outfitted G600 test aircraft earned the Private Jet Design award for its three-living-area cabin with crew rest, which demonstrates the flexibility that is part of the Gulfstream design DNA. A central focus of the winning G600 design is the mirrored mid-cabin bulkhead, a literal reflection of the customer experience and cabin versatility. Reflection continues in subtle ways, from the layered, mixed grain on the mocca oak veneer that catches the light with understated elegance to the geometric carpet pattern that mimics the herringbone design of the seats’ perforated and quilted inserts. The four-living-area G650ER won the same award in 2017.

Gulfstream’s mission-specific seating, created for the G500 and G600, took home the seating award in the Product Category. The seat styles feature three design aesthetics, Sport, Classic and Minimalist, that serve as starting points for customization. The seating was created in Gulfstream’s Research and Development Center, where industrial and interior designers, the engineering team and upholstery shop collaborated on the aesthetics, ergonomics and functionality that led to the final design.

  • The Classic seat aesthetic offers an elegant design with mid-level bolstering that creates a blend of strong support and generous freedom of movement.
  • Sport provides robust bolstering that evokes high-performance standards and is ideal for long periods of sitting. The Sport seat includes a contoured mattress insert for berthing.
  • The Minimalist seat provides the least amount of bolstering in favor of a comfortable conversion to berthing for the passenger who desires a greater focus on the sleeping surface for long-range flights.

The individual tailoring of all three seat styles starts with additional design details such as quilted inserts; decorative stitching; seat arm accents in leather, fabric, veneer or lacquer; and Gulfstream’s wide variety of fine leathers and upholstery, all custom-crafted for each aircraft.

The G600 interior and seats have been tested as part of Gulfstream’s rigorous flight-test programs for the G500 and G600 to ensure the aircraft perform as they should long before customer deliveries, which are expected later this year and in 2019, respectively.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

VDMA Members Successfully Met Indian Textiles And Nonwovens: German Textile Machinery Ranks First

FRANKFURT, Germany/MUMBAI — May 29, 2018 — India is a very important market for the German textile machinery industry, with an export of more than 255 million euros (+8 %) in 2017. Many German machinery builders have longstanding relations with Indian customers and quite a number of them also provide production plants and training centres in India. Not surprisingly, about 370 decision-makers and experts from the textile and nonwoven related industry attended the VDMA conference and B2B event called “German Technology meets Indian Textiles and Nonwovens” in Mumbai on May 15-16, 2018 (www.germantech-indiantextile.de).

According to a survey, both the event and German textile machinery engineering received the highest marks among the visitors. About 57 percent of the visitors stated very good and 38 percent good experience with machines and components from German suppliers. The performance and service promise as well as the high-quality standards have made German machine suppliers as most reliable partners in India and other countries. This positive result has by far not been reached by any other manufacturing nation from Europe or Asia. Asked for future processes, investments in technical textiles and/or nonwoven production seem to be the most favorite sectors in India. Around 74 percent of the visitors plan to expand their production capacities with new machines and components whereas 26 percent intend to replace old machinery by new machines and components. High productivity, after-sales service, end-product quality, low operating and acquisition costs are the decisive machine procurement criteria in this order. The investments plans are based on a positive business and investment outlook in India. Forty-five percent of the visitors surveyed plan to invest more than 10 percent within the next 12 months and 30 percent up to 10 percent. Twenty-five percent of the visitors expect a sales increase by more than 10 percent for the next 12 months and 60 percent anticipate a sales growth of up to 10 percent.

Considering this positive business climate and the high interest from the Indian industry, the 32 well-known VDMA members participated in the conference have good chances to offer the right technologies and to place new orders. The presented technology topics along the entire textile value chain will help the Indian industry to fulfill their expansion plans and to meet the challenges such as rising salary costs and shortage of labor in industrial regions. The major cutting-edge topics of the conference program were as follows:

  • Higher profits throughout the entire textile value chain;
  • Energy, material, water and dyestuff savings for an environmentally friendly production;
  • New applications such as technical textiles, nonwovens (e. g. hygiene products, geotextiles for the infrastructure) or home textiles (e. g. terry towels);
  • Automation, industry 4.0, digital communication and smart factory solutions;
  • Quality improvements e. g. with measurement and control systems;
  • Lower investment costs in spinning preparation with integrated draw frames;
  • New technologies to combine spinning and knitting; and
  • Smart textiles and added value products e. g. with embroidery machines.

The complete program can be found here: www.germantech-indiantextile.de/program.html

Whereas the event on 15-16 May 2018 focused on customers, a training session at the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute VJTI in Mumbai on 17 May 2018 was addressed to future engineers. More than 220 textile manufacturing and mechanical engineering students followed the technical presentations. The VDMA’s contribution to improve the education of future customers and partners was very much appreciated. The VDMA Textile Machinery Association and VDMA India Office cordially thank all media partners and supporting Associations involved (see www.germantech-indiantextile.de). In 2018, the Association’s next sales supporting activities take place in Belarus, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Iran, China and Egypt.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: VDMA

Lectra Unlocks The Real Value Of Automotive Manufacturing Data

PARIS — May 29, 2018 — Lectra, the technological partner for companies using fabrics and leather, welcomed guests from all areas of the automotive leather supply chain at its International Advanced Technology Center (IATC) in Bordeaux-Cestas, France, for two action-packed days of demonstrations, workshops and talks by industry experts during the fourth annual “Go Digital” automotive leather event.

Building on the previous editions’ themes of digitalization of manufacturing processes and the adoption of Industry 4.0 principles, this year’s presentations focused on the value creation enabled by leveraging manufacturing data. A showcase for the innovative applications Lectra is developing based on Industry 4.0 principles, the company’s trade gathering demonstrated how disruptive new technologies are enhancing the onboard experience while reorganizing the automotive interiors supply chain.

Several guest speakers provided insight into the ways industry megatrends are impacting the automotive cockpit of the future. As motorized vehicles become increasingly autonomous, connected and electrified, cementing their place in the shared mobility landscape, suppliers must now devise new strategies to achieve profitable growth. Traditional business models are losing ground to cross-functional collaboration partnerships, making it even more challenging to compete in the fast-moving connected, shared economy.

“It is disruptive for the entire automotive supply chain,” remarked Nathalie Saint Martin, vice president, Group Purchasing, Faurecia. “We are all learning to evolve together and enhance the added value to our end-customers. The level of collaboration we are now seeing among suppliers is unprecedented.”

Other keynote speeches included market research consultancy Frost & Sullivan’s analysis of automotive trends in the data-driven economy, Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) specialist Bureau Veritas’ vision of data protection for automotive and a presentation of industry insights firm WardsAuto’s selection of top 10 best vehicle interiors of 2018.

The event enables a diverse array of supply chain players in automotive interiors to gather with their peers. “Events like this one are a great opportunity to talk face-to-face with other suppliers about industry-wide challenges,” notes Claus Lattner, Director Engineering, Process Management, CoC Cut Sew Wrap Global, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “It is not often we find ourselves in the same room to talk about consumer perception and the sustainability of leather, for instance.”

“The event provided a great opportunity to interact with suppliers who have a direct impact on innovation in interior design and manufacturing,” said John Sousanis, managing director of Wards Intelligence.

For Javier Garcia, senior vice-president, Automotive Sales, Lectra, bringing together the automotive leather community is especially important as it rises to new business challenges stemming from continually changing consumer habits and the digitalization of manufacturing processes. “Connectivity and occupant comfort are increasing the amount of high-tech content in automotive interiors, but the up-market appeal of leather makes it a constant,” states Javier Garcia. “By fostering exchange, Lectra is doing its part to help the automotive leather ecosystem evolve to meet new consumer expectations.”

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Lectra

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