BERGAMO, Italy — July 5, 2016 — RadiciGroup, a historic Italian industrial enterprise with 2,985 employees and a global production and sales presence — Europe (Italy, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Romania, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland and Hungary), North and South America (the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil), Asia (China and India) — in 2015 recorded consolidated sales revenue of EUR 1,011 million, slightly less (dropping 1.37 percent) than in 2014. Sales volume increased (up 3 percent over 2014), as did gross operating margin, which was EUR 103 million (up 37 percent compared to 2014). Group financial and capital soundness also showed further improvement: debt decreased to EUR 183 million (against EUR 231 million in 2014). First half 2016 was positive and saw RadiciGroup attain a gross operating margin of EUR 60 million.

For the year 2015, RadiciGroup’s three business areas reported consolidated sales, as follows:

• Specialty Chemicals (polyamide polymers and chemical intermediates) – EUR 370 million
• Performance Plastics (polyamide engineering plastics) – EUR 277 million
• Synthetic Fibers & Nonwovens (polyamide and polyester synthetic fibres and spunbond nonwovens) – EUR 458 million.

“Our 2015 income statement results were good,” Angelo Radici, president of RadiciGroup, commented. “We closed the year with total sales revenue slightly lower than in 2014, which was basically due to the decrease in raw materials costs. However, our gross operating margin and volume rose by 37% and 3%, respectively. Italy and the rest of Europe continued to be our main target markets. Indeed, these geographical areas contributed 73% of our sales revenue. Good performance trends were recorded, first of all, in the automotive industry and also in electrical / electronics, furnishings and apparel, which are among our key outlet markets. Our Performance Plastics business area performed particularly well in terms of both volumes and margins and achieved an upturn in 2015 sales revenue of about 9% compared to the prior financial year. After the acquisition of the polyamide engineering polymers division of Resinas TB in Mexico, the business area’s global organization and potential has led us to consider a possible further expansion.”

“Despite problems upstream during the first few months of 2016, our margins for the first half are positive,” Mr. Radici continued. “We achieved a gross operating margin of about EUR 60 million, exceeding our expectations. Given the uncertainty of the current international scenario, forecasting is hard, but we expect to close the year with margins in line with those of 2015.”

The Group’s financial soundness continues to improve. “In 2015, net financial debt ended the year at EUR 183 million, of which over 60% was medium-long term,” Alessandro Manzoni, CFO of RadiciGroup, noted. “The debt to equity ratio was 0.50. Our steps to strengthen capital over the past few years reduced debt by EUR 153 million from 2010 to 2015, allowing us to gradually achieve an increasingly sounder position. That course of action required substantial effort and during that period the backing of our banks was essential. Their support and our mutual trust during the years enabled us to work with peace of mind on the industrial management of our Group.”

In 2016 RadiciGroup investments: EUR 40 million (in 2015 investments amounted to EUR 30 million).

RadiciGroup Results: 2015 Sales Revenue EUR 1,011 Million. 2016 First Half Positive

For a long time now, the Group has taken action to translate sustainability into the precise systemic measurement of environmental, economic and social indicators, according to the GRI guidelines. During 2015, RadiciGroup’s product development strategy continued on three fronts: biopolymers, post-industrial and post-consumer recycling, and ecodesign of products obtained from traditional sources. The Group also maintained its constant commitment to measure the environmental impact of its products and provide the market and all its stakeholders with information based on scientific, verified and comparable data. This achievement was made possible by the development and definition of Product Category Rules (PCRs) for its production chain, which specify how to measure and quantify the environmental impact performance of its products using Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), in order to obtain specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

As of today, RADICIGROUP has published an EPDfor the HERAMID® range of post-industrial PA6 and PA6.6 engineering plastics, an EPD for the polyamide scrap recovery service (solely used for the production of HERAMID®), an EPD for the RADILON® S and RADILON® A lines, PA6 and PA6.6 engineering plastics, and an EPD for Radifloor® PA6 and PA6.6 BCF yarn. Moreover, RadiciGroup, through its chemical company Radici Chimica SpA, has experimented with a new method of calculating the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) introduced by the European Commission. Radici Novacips SpA, on the other hand, has experimented with the preparation of a PEF in conjunction with its EPDs and in compliance with specific rules for product environmental labelling. Furthermore, Radici Novacips SpA’s system for issuing and managing their EPDs have been certified.

Some 2015 sustainability performance figures … The energy mix of RadiciGroup companies is continually improving. In 2015 the percentage of electricity from renewable sources (mainly hydroelectric energy) used by the Group was 48.5% (compared to 45.3% in 2014), with 7 production sites 100% powered by renewable energy. In the three-year period 2013-2015, total primary energy consumption from fossil sources per ton of product decreased by about 19% and, in the period 2011-2015, the amount of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions was reduced by 48.3%. The quality of water discharged also improved (in the period 2013- 2015, chemical oxygen demand [COD] dropped by about 55%). All the data will be available shortly in the 2015 RadiciGroup Sustainability Report.

Posted July 5, 2016

Source: RadiciGroup

LUDWIGSHAFEN , Germany — June 30, 2016 — BASF Plastic Additives’ core competence lies in light, thermal and process stabilization, allowing polymer producers and converters maximize plastics properties retention and extension. With Tinuvin® 880 and Tinuvin® XT 55, BASF launches the latest generation of light stabilizers at K 2016, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber.

Automotive plastic parts are increasingly contributing to lightweighting, aesthetic appeal, comfort as well as providing various functional and structural benefits. Plastic elements and surfaces are expected to maintain their original material appearance and properties over the entire lifetime which is why tailored light stabilization becomes increasingly important to OEMs and formulators.

Novel plastics stabilization for automotive applications: Tinuvin 880 – a new Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer (HALS) BASF offers a new generation of methylated HALS enabling formulators to optimize the long-lasting appearance and performance of various automotive interior parts. Tinuvin 880 provides unmatched intrinsic long-lasting UV resistance as well as a drastically improved thermal stability crucial for interior applications. It is also designed to improve secondary properties by eliminating defects such as mold deposit and surface stickiness, even in scratch-improved materials. As a unique 100% active substance, formulators are given entire freedom to accurately adjust parts performance properties as well as economics.

The main materials used in interior parts are polypropylene, other thermoplastic polyolefins and styrenics blends. They are used to produce instrument panels, door panels, consoles, glove boxes, trims and more. Plastics are gaining popularity in materials used to produce car parts due to their lightweighting advantage, design possibilities, and lower costs. Such plastics, however, are daily stressed by UV light and thermal aging, requiring tailor made stabilization and formulation flexibility.

With these intrinsic outstanding features to provide UV resistance in the long run, Tinuvin 880 is expected to become a leading candidate to improve the stabilization of exterior parts such as bumper, side cladding and rocker panel as well.

Novel plastics stabilization for artificial turfs: Tinuvin XT 55 – less impact of water carryover

Fibers and tapes used for numerous applications such as technical textiles for the construction industry like geo-textiles, roofing insulation, barrier structures as well as carpets, have to withstand harsh climate conditions, including prolonged exposure to UV light, fluctuating and elevated temperature, and environmental pollutants. Fibers and tapes often made of polyolefin obtain their resistance to aging by adding a Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer (HALS).

In addition to the mandatory light and thermal stability requirements, the converters are often faced with challenges of industrial manufacturing. The production of fibers and tapes with processing issues and production halts can lead to capacity reduction or potentially quality inconsistency.

An example is the manufacturing of polyethylene (PE) monofilaments for artificial turfs used to make sport floors or landscaping. The additives and colorants are usually added via a concentrated combi- batch and the filaments may be processed through a water bath. In the latter case, a phenomenon called water carryover is regularly experienced on the line leading to production disruption. To address this issue, BASF introduces Tinuvin XT 55, its latest generation of HALS for the film, fibers and tapes industry. Its primary application is polyethylene monofilaments and tapes. Tinuvin XT 55 is a high- performance light stabilizer that has very low contribution to water carryover enabling the production line to run without disruptions.

Tinuvin XT 55 also provides formulators with superior durability and excellent secondary properties such as color stability, gas fading and extraction resistance. In addition, excellent cost performance can be achieved with this new solution by adjusting dosage and other formulation components. Other applications can be considered, in particular, polyolefin monofilaments and tapes for shade nets, scaffolding, geo-textiles and big bags such as flexible intermediate bulk containers.

BASF works closely with customers on testing formulations prior to production scale-up to further improve the durability of plastic materials and develop innovative and sustainable solutions.

BASF’s light stabilization additives filter harmful UV light and act as free radical scavengers. This helps to avoid polymer degradation, maintain their appearance as well as their chemical and physical properties. For example, they are used in the interior and exterior of cars for protection against long-term exposure to sunlight and heat. In textiles, light stabilization additives are widely used to maintain the tenacity of synthetic fibers when exposed to thermal and UV aging while maintaining other secondary properties such as color retention. Agricultural plastics are another area where light stabilizers play an important role in protecting films from early degradation, due to simultaneous exposure to UV light, thermal stress and agricultural crop treatments.

BASF is a leading supplier of plastic additives with more than 50 years of experience. Its comprehensive and innovative product portfolio includes stabilizers which provide ease in processing, heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including molded articles, films, fibers, sheets and extruded profiles.

BASF at K 2016

Where your ideas become ideal solutions: BASF at K fair from October 19-26, 2016 in Dusseldorf, Germany, in hall 5, booth C21/D21. You can find all related press releases, photos and further information here: http://basf.com/k2016.

Posted June 30, 2016

Source: BASF