Clariant and Ashland complete sale of ASK Chemicals JV to Rhône

ClariantMuttenz/Covington, KY, July 1, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced the closing of the previously announced sale of their joint venture ASK Chemicals, headquartered in Hilden, Germany, to investment funds affiliated with Rhône, a London and New York-based private equity investment firm on 30 June 2014.

SiVance, LLC Introduces Advanced New SiVance® C1008 Curative for Protective Marine and Infrastructure Coating Applications

Left: A Commercial Epoxy Polysiloxane Subjected to a Half Inch Mandrel Bend Test Showing Cracking and Delamination after Only One Week of Aging.
Right: A Commercial Epoxy Polysiloxane with SiVance® C1008 Curative Subjected to a Half Inch Mandrel Bend Test Showing No Signs of Cracking or Delamination after Aging for One Year.
(Photo Milliken, MKPR114, Copyright© 2014 Milliken & Company, all rights reserved)Ghent, Belgium - SiVance, LLC, a subsidiary of Milliken & Company, today unveiled SiVance® C1008 Curative, a new silicone curative that significantly improves the durable flexibility of epoxy polysiloxane protective topcoats in marine and infrastructure applications, without sacrificing weatherability. The development of this new curative technology solves a major challenge common to epoxy polysiloxanes: brittleness and cracking that can develop over time as the coating cures.

DSM and Niaga join forces in introducing sustainable carpet technology

DSM Resins & Functional MaterialsRoyal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company and Niaga, a Netherlands-based provider of sustainable solutions for the carpet industry today announce a joint venture, DSM-Niaga, to further develop and commercialize sustainable technology for recyclable carpet. Based on proprietary and complementary technologies, DSM-Niaga will enable the industry to close the carpet materials loop.

Clariant prioritizes sustainability and innovation in up-coming masterbatches for packaging and construction

Clariant prioritizes sustainability and innovation in up-coming masterbatches for packaging and construction. (Photo: Clariant)Muttenz, June 25, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, unites product improvements with sustainability in the latest masterbatch solutions in its innovation pipeline. New CESA®-absorb for active oxygen barriers in PET packaging and advanced Hydrocerol® nucleating agents for new-generation construction insulation, demonstrate Clariant's commitment to sustainable innovation addressing market trends and customers' needs.

Clariant responds to growing demand - 50% capacity increase for innovative Licocene® Performance Polymers

Clariant responds to growing demand - 50% capacity increase for innovative Licocene® Performance Polymers. (Photographs: Clariant)Muttenz, June 25, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, is increasing production capacity for its Licocene® Performance Polymers by 50% at its facility on the Frankfurt-Höchst Industrial Park in Germany. The debottlenecking of Clariant's existing production line represents a low double-digit million Swiss Franc investment, with the additional capacity scheduled to come on stream in Q1 2016.

Clariant to establish catalyst Research & Development center in China

ClariantMuttenz, June 25, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced today that its Business Unit Catalysts will establish a state-of-the-art research center in Shanghai, China. The R&D center is expected to begin operation by 2015 with the goal of developing catalytic solutions tailored to Chinese market requirements and enhancing technical service support to Chinese customers.

Clariant specifies innovation- and sustainability-driven growth strategy

Clariant specifies innovation- and sustainability-driven growth strategy. (Photographs: Clariant)Muttenz, June 25, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, turned the spotlight on fostering innovation and sustainability at its 2014 Capital Markets & Media Day, held June 25/26 at the new Clariant Innovation Center (CIC) in Frankfurt, Germany. Opened in 2013, the CIC is an important part of Clariant's global R&D network, providing the optimal host location for this year's event themed "Discover Innovation".

Belden Introduces Entry-Level Industrial Ethernet Switches for Harsh Environments

Belden introduces entry-level industrial Ethernet switches for harsh environments. 
(Photo: Belden, PR319)St. Louis, Missouri - June 24, 2014 - Belden Inc., a global leader in signal transmission solutions for mission-critical applications, has launched two new robust entry-level switches in its Hirschmann product range. The new SPIDER II 16TX EEC and SPIDER II 16TX/2DS-S EEC switches have a high port density, thus offering a cost-effective means for implementing industrial Ethernet technology. Both SPIDER switches can be used to implement flexible networking solutions for a wide range of industries, including automation, discrete manufacturing and transportation.