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Linking up Combining strengths
NEWS
Combining strengths
BASF and Markor to establish joint ventures
BASF and Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. (Markor) plan to establish two joint ventures for the production of butanediol (BDO) and polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, north-west China.
The joint venture companies intend to build a plant for the production of BDO and one for PolyTHF which are planned to go on stream in 2015. The annual capacities of the plants located in Korla will be 100,000 tonnes of BDO and 50,000 tonnes of PolyTHF. “Based on our globally leading PolyTHF technology and the strong local presence of Markor in China, we are aiming to expand our local production capacity in order to support our customers in the Chinese market with high quality products,” said Dr Guido Voit, senior vice-president, responsible for the region Asia Pacific within BASF’s Intermediates division.
PolyTHF is primarily used to make elastic spandex fibres for a large variety of textiles, including underwear, outerwear, sportswear and swimsuits. It also serves as a chemical building block for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) used to make hoses, films and cable sheathing Visit: www.basf.com
Borealis acquires DEXPlastomers
Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilisers, has acquired DEXPlastomers VOF in Geleen, The Netherlands, from DSM Nederland BV and ExxonMobil Benelux Holdings BV. The site is located in the Chemelot industrial park, 50km away from the nearest Borealis site in Beringen, Belgium. Approximately 100 employees will be transferred to Borealis Plastomers 1 BV (formerly DSM Plastomers BV) and other Borealis group companies outside The Netherlands.
The products manufactured in Geleen are speciality products, complementary to Borealis’ current innovative plastic solutions. The acquisition underpins Borealis’ commitment to its Value Creation through Innovation strategy as Borealis believes there is significant potential for the complementary technology.
“We are happy to welcome our new colleagues in Geleen to the Borealis Group and look forward to a successful integration,” says Mark Garrett, Borealis chief executive. “Both companies develop innovative solutions with added value for our customers; our products are complementary and will broaden our current product portfolio.” Visit: www.borealisgroup.com
Atlas Copco to purchase Rapid-Torc
Atlas Copco has agreed to acquire the business of US-based Rapid-Torc, which develops and markets hydraulic torque wrenches. The acquisition broadens Atlas Copco’s product range and will extend its expertise to new customers.
Rapid-Torc, with offices in Houston, Texas, and Brussels, Belgium, has about 30 employees and had revenues in 2012 of MUSD 11 (MSEK 75.) The company is specialised in hydraulic torque wrenches and also supplies bolt tensioners and related accessories for high-torque applications.
“This acquisition broadens our offering for existing customers and provides us with the opportunity to serve new customers in the oil and gas, and power generation segments,” said Mats Rahmström, business area president for Atlas Copco Industrial Technique. Visit: www.atlascopco.com
Matts Rahmström
BOLZONI AURAMO and MEYER join forces in Italy
BOLZONI AURAMO and MEYER have joined forces in Italy. The product ranges of both brands will now be distributed in the Northern Italian regions through BOLZONI SpA, from the head office of the group located in Piacenza, and in regions of central and southern Italy through BOLZONI ITALIA Srl located in Prato. BOLZONI SpA will cover the following regions: Piemonte, Valle d’Aosta, Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria and Marche. BOLZONI ITALIA Srl will cover Toscana, Abruzzo, Molise, Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicilia and Sardegna.
The greater variety of products available will allow the companies to better respond to market demands and provide additional support to the forklift truck industry. The two companies will offer customers a wide range of Bolzoni Auramo and Meyer high quality attachments, providing the best product lines for today’s market requirements. Visit: www.bolzoni-auramo.com
LINKINGUP
Gary Hughes Sandvik has signed an agreement with Cubex Limited (CUBEX) to acquire its drilling solutions business and operations. CUBEX is an industry-leading drilling solutions provider focused on the design and manufacture of a wide range of underground in-the-hole (ITH), and geo-technical drilling equipment. CUBEX products are distributed globally, and the current main markets are the United States, Canada, Africa, South America, and Australia.
In 2012, the acquired business of CUBEX had a turnover of about 270 MSEK and about 110 employees. The head office and manufacturing facility is based in Winnipeg, Canada.
“We already have a strong cooperation with CUBEX and since 2009 Sandvik has served as global distributor responsible for the sales and service of CUBEX products worldwide. The acquisition is in line with Sandvik’s long-term strategy of continued profitable growth and to deliver increased customer value. CUBEX’s knowledge of the ITH drilling method complements Sandvik’s already extensive offering in underground drilling,” says Gary Hughes, president of the Sandvik Mining business area. Visit: www.sandvik.com
New owner for StrikoWestofen
StrikoWestofen, the globally active manufacturer of melting and dosing systems, has a new owner: it has been announced that the Munichbased ‘Auctus Capital Partners AG’ has acquired the majority share in the StrikoWestofen Group. Up to now, the majority share in the group belonged to ‘BPE Fund Investors GmbH’ (Hamburg).
“With Auctus, a well-known partner has been won as an investor – a partner who knows the light metal casting industry and holds our role as a technological pioneer in high regard,” explains Rudolf Riedel, managing director of StrikoWestofen. “In particular our strong market position as well as our past and future innovations were the reasons for Auctus to become involved in a healthy company with strong brands – and for supporting the further expansion of its market presence in growth markets.”
The aim is to further expand the technological advances the company has made in global markets and to achieve healthy growth. The company also benefits from having its own production facilities in Europe, China and North America. Visit: www.strikowestofen.com
Linde takes over joint venture OCAP in Netherlands
The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company, acquired the remaining shares of its partner Volker Wessels Stevin Deelnemingen in the OCAP joint venture (Organic CO2 for Assimilation by Plants). With immediate effect the supplier of industrial gases is thus the sole shareholder. The acquisition enables The Linde Group to reinforce its position in the global energy and environment growth market as one of the leading suppliers of clean technologies for its Clean Energy Programm.
OCAP is a leading player in a very special market segment: as a supplier of gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Benelux region OCAP delivers CO2 to greenhouses between Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The CO2-enriched atmosphere in the greenhouses promotes the growth of plants. The gas comes from the largest Shell refinery in Europe and an Abengoa bioethanol plant. If it was not used in greenhouses, the CO2 needed would have to be produced by conventional means by burning natural gas. Visit: www.linde.com
SNCB Logistics sells barging companies
SNCB Logistics Group and Felbermayr Group have announced that the inland shipping companies H&S Container Line GmbH, Haeger & Schmidt International GmbH and RKE NV, that were owned by SNCB Logistics Group, have been sold to Felbermayr Holding GmbH, Wels, Austria.
SNCB Logistics Groups sold all of its shares in the three companies to Felbermayr: H&S Container Line GmbH was a 100% affiliate of Inter Ferry Boats (affiliate of SNCB Logistics), Haeger & Schmidt International GmbH was a 100% affiliate of Xpedys (affiliate of SNCB Logistics) and Xpedys also held a 61.46% stake in RKE NV. ThyssenKrupp continues to hold its 38.54% stake in RKE.
The management and staff remain in place and the continuity of the activities of the three companies is assured. With this transaction, SNCB Logistics executes another key measure of its restructuring plan. SNCB Logistics wants to focus on its core rail freight business, and notably become a competitive private railway company.
For Felbermayr, the acquisition of these three barging companies complements the already existing port facilities in Linz an der Donau and Krefeld am Rhein. As such the companies are intended as a rounding off to the existing portfolio with future synergies. Visit: www.felbermayr.com
