WILMINGTON, Del./MIDLAND, Mich. — May 2, 2017 — DuPont and The Dow Chemical Co. announced that China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has granted conditional regulatory approval of their proposed merger of equals.

MOFCOM’s approval is conditional on DuPont and Dow fulfilling commitments given to MOFCOM in connection with the clearance. This approval continues the progress that the companies have made to secure regulatory clearances around the world for their procompetitive merger, which will drive innovation and competition.

Specifically, and consistent with commitments already made to obtain the European Commission’s regulatory approval for the proposed merger of equals, Dow and DuPont will divest certain parts of DuPont’s crop protection portfolio and research and development pipeline and organization and Dow’s global Ethylene Acrylic Acid copolymers and ionomers business.

In addition, Dow and DuPont have made commitments related to the supply and distribution in China of certain herbicide and insecticide ingredients and formulations for rice crops for five years after the closing of the proposed merger of equals.

China is a critical market for both Dow and DuPont and will be for the three intended independent companies that will be created following the merger. The intended three-way separation is expected to unlock significant value for all stakeholders as each company will be a growth-oriented leader in attractive segments where global challenges are generating strong demand for their distinctive offerings.

Dow and DuPont continue to work constructively with regulators in the remaining relevant jurisdictions to obtain clearance for the merger, which they are confident will be achieved. On March 27, the European Commission conditionally approved the merger. The companies reaffirm their expectation for closing of the merger to occur between August 1, 2017 and September 1, 2017, with the intended spin-offs to occur within 18 months of closing. The companies expect that the first step of the intended separation process will be the spin-off of the Materials Science Company, assuming such sequencing would allow for the completion of all intended spin-offs within 18 months of merger closing and would not adversely impact the value of the intended spin-offs.

Posted May 2, 2017

Source: Dow Chemical

MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany — May 1, 2017 — Tavemex SA de CV of Mexico has become the second denim producer in the world to install a Monforts Eco Denim Line, and the first to use the technology for finishing denim fabrics of up to 300 grams per square meter.

The first installation, in 2016, was to a Vietnamese producer of lightweight denim fabrics.

Tavemex, which is based at Tlaxcala in Mexico, completed installation of the Eco Denim Line early this year and after only one month of operation was recording an 80-percent reduction in water usage.

For Tavemex, the investment in the new Monforts technology comes at a time of fundamental change for the company.

Previously known as Tavex, the company was part of a multinational enterprise that originated in Spain and had denim-manufacturing plants there and in Morocco, Brazil and Argentina, as well as Mexico.

Tavemex is now however an independent Mexican-owned concern, with its prime market being the United States.

Tavemex’s installed capacity is now 2 million meters per month, Part of current production is gradually being moved from the existing tenters to the new Eco Denim Line.

The equipment was delivered from Monforts in Germany via the manufacturer’s distributor for Mexico, Sattex-Mexico. A Monforts engineer carried out installation, and in depth training was provided.

“Our main reason for investing in the Eco Denim Line at this time was to satisfy those of our customers who have been requesting us, more and more, to use less water in dyeing and finishing,” says Arturo Ornelas Elizondo, Tavemex’s industrial director.

“They themselves have been trying to use less water in their garment production, to the point in some instances of softening fabrics to break the starch and avoid using water.

“Their need is to meet stringent environmental standards, and also to respond to strong customer demand for more environmentally friendly products.

“We use our own well for water supply, so the water cost is relatively low, but we are saving more than 80 percent on water usage, and this will enable our customers to label their products in the stores respectively.”

Usually denim is processed through a number of cylinder dryers that are steam heated, and stretched in a large stretching unit that applies high force to the fabric in order to achieve the necessary weft.

The Monforts Eco Line innovation uses a modified Thermex Hotflue Chamber that generates the necessary moisture and temperature for making the denim stretchable, whilst incorporating a soft stretching of the fabric by using many rollers instead of only the one or two in a traditional stretching unit.

This consequently saves on the volume of water needed to generate the steam, and also saves on the amount of energy required to convert the water to steam.

The Tavemex factory uses fuel oil for its steam supply, being located too far from a natural gas supply to pipe in gas, and Elizondo says that the Eco Denim Line is projected to save energy.

“We are still in the process of transferring the production from the traditional stenters to the Eco Denim Line, but we estimate that ultimately we shall save between 20 and 30 percent on steam generation” he says.

The denim is treated much more gently with the Eco Line, and Elizondo says the highest fabric quality can be achieved, certainly to the same standard as with the steam cylinders.

The new installation includes a Monforts Eco Applicator, which applies the chemicals, replacing a conventional padder. This reduces the drying needs and therefore energy consumption, due to the fact that the Eco Applicator applies less moisture to the fabric.

Less water usage also means less wastewater, and again although this has little effect in financial savings, the environmental aspects are very beneficial.

“This will also give us the opportunity to improve our wastewater plant to the latest European standards.”

Elizondo adds that the response of Tavemex’s customers to this new installation has been very favourable.

“They started to ask us for ways to reduce water usage about four years ago,” he says. “We worked with our chemicals suppliers to reduce the water during the dyeing process, but although giving us an advantage, it was still not enough.

“Now however the reduction is dramatic. It is creating new marketing advantages for our customers.”

The new company ownership means that Tavemex, once part of the world’s largest denim producing conglomerate, is now an independent Mexican producer facing stiff competition. The company is confident that the Eco Denim Line will help it stay at the forefront.

Posted May 1, 2017

Source: Monforts

OSNABRÜCK, Germany — April 28, 2017 — Felix Schoeller Group, the Osnabrück-based specialty paper manufacturer, is presenting its entire diverse product portfolio for digital printing, including digital textile printing, at this year’s FESPA. Proof that the Felix Schoeller Group is also successfully directing the know-how it has acquired over more than 120 years to future markets such as the fast growing digital textile printing market. The company will be showcasing its S-RACE® papers for sublimation printing to the Hamburg audience. A live sublimation demonstration will give visitors the opportunity to see for themselves the characteristics of the S-RACE series on hard substrates. Furthermore, Felix Schoeller will be exhibiting new products such as the STYLine® brand of nonwoven wallpapers specially developed for digital printing or solvent and latex poster papers (SLP) for HP Latex 300 machines.

S-RACE tacky paper – the first microporous tacky paper for sublimation printing with guaranteed fastest drying

S-RACE papers’ key outstanding features are their extremely fast drying time, short transfer time, excellent line sharpness and superb lay-flat properties. They produce excellent print results — both on soft and hard substrates — and the 55-gram paper performs exceptionally well with soft substrates such as fabrics and textiles. In addition to the new 55-gram papers, the portfolio also comprises papers with basis weights of 75 to 130 g/m². The 100-gram paper S-RACE tacky is a new addition to the portfolio. It was specially developed for all types of elastic polyester textiles and prevents what is known as the “ghosting effect.” S-RACE tacky is the first microporous tacky paper for sublimation printing and is the fastest drying tacky paper on the market.

One of the highlights at the stand will be a sublimation demonstration. Visitors to the Felix Schoeller stand will have the opportunity to experience a live demonstration of how impressive prints on S-RACE paper are with their true-to-life colours and how they depict the motifs superbly after transfer to hard substrates. Florian Murrmann, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Felix Schoeller Digital Media: “We are delighted that the live sublimation demonstration will enable us to illustrate the advantages of S-RACE to our customers under realistic conditions and in a more immediate way.“ The demonstration will use a Sawgrass printer.  For further information on these innovative sublimation papers, please go to: www.s-race.com

Visual communication and decorative highlights

Visual communication will be another key focus at the show. The new solvent and latex poster papers (SLP) have been developed for digital signage and poster products.Their special back coat (heat barrier layer) makes it possible not only to print on all common solvent and latex systems but also permits problem-free printing on HP Latex machines in the 300 series. The SLP papers are ideal for outdoor use and also for indoor applications such as POS signage, exhibition graphics, posters and much more besides.

The Felix Schoeller Group also has a number of highlights in store in the field of decorative products: first, the STYLine product family, a selection of nonwoven wallpapers specially developed for digital printing. One of STYLine media’s major advantages is their flexibility in terms of applications: they can be used on all common digital printing systems such as latex, eco-solvent or dry toner printers. Customers can opt for uncoated or specially coated products from the portfolio depending on their particular application or process.  All the papers have a special back coat, which makes them both easy to hang using a simple adhesive and guarantees optimum dry strippability. The Felix Schoeller Group will also be demonstrating with its canvas and poster media that it has found the right response to the trend towards decorative, individual interior design elements. The product series include media for wall decoration applications such as posters, framed photos and high-caliber art reproductions.

“Felix Schoeller will be exhibiting its products on its own stand as they are typically used in applications so that trade visitors will be able to see the final result and excellent outcomes for themselves,” promises Florian Murrmann, senior vice president and general manager of Felix Schoeller Digital Media.

Posted April 28, 2017

Source: Felix Schoeller Group

WILMINGTON, Del., April 27, 2017 – DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) today announced that Dr. Christian Adams, head of DuPont Biochemistry and Research Applications, will be speaking at the 2017 American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Annual Meeting on May 1, 2017 regarding new findings around the industry-leading DuPont™ REVITALENZ® 200 liquid detergent enzyme.

A recent global fabric care study carried out by DuPont Industrial Biosciences highlighted significant consumer dissatisfaction with pilling and color fading on garments after using most detergents. In response, DuPont developed REVITALENZ 200, the only cellulase enzyme on the market that offers three benefits in one product: pilling prevention and de-pilling properties; compatibility with protease enzymes; and, as new evidence shows, a proven ability to maintain the whiteness of clothes.

Since its debut in the market in 2016, it has been known that REVITALENZ 200 is easy to formulate in liquid detergents and will deliver superior de-pilling at lower temperatures without compromise. The product protects vulnerable clothes from pilling and helps renew consumers’ favorite garments by removing pills. Following extensive testing by a third-party institute, DuPont can now show that REVITALENZ 200 also keeps white clothes white and maintains color, while protecting clothes from every day wear by smoothing damaged fibers and releasing trapped dirt.

The last aspect of the cellulase enzyme’s unique position in the market is its compatibility with protease. Typically, detergent manufacturers face a challenge when they attempt to include both a protease and a cellulase in the same liquid detergent. Cellulases are not generally protease resistant and will lose their activity — and therefore their benefits — when used in a detergent with a protease. With REVITALENZ 200, this is no longer the case; manufacturers are now able to develop a detergent that delivers on cleaning performance as well as fabric care.

“With Revitalenz 200 now on the market, detergent manufacturers no longer need to choose between anti-pilling, whiteness and effective stain removal,” said Adams. “Consumers are looking for convenient solutions to simplify their laundry routines — while keeping their clothes looking new for longer — and DuPont enzymes helps our customers deliver that.”

Adams is responsible for the Biochemistry and Research Applications Teams at the Genencor Technology Center in Palo Alto, Calif. He has worked in Biotechnology for over 10 years, having joined DuPont Industrial Biosciences (Genencor) after postdoctoral training at Stanford University School of Medicine. Adams received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and a B.S. in Chemistry from Fort Lewis College.

The AOCS Annual Meeting, which takes place in Orlando, Fla., from April 30–May 3, is a key international science and business forum on fats, oils, surfactants, lipids and related materials. Globally renowned for its extensive technical program, the Annual Meeting features more than 650 oral and poster presentations within 12 interest areas. Over 1,600 professionals from 45 countries attend the Annual Meeting, representing corporate, government and academic institutions across the industry.

Posted April 27, 2017

Source: DuPont Industrial Biosciences