Malaysia-headquartered agrochemical company Hextar Global Bhd is acquiring Nobel Synthetic Polymer Sdn Bhd and Nobel Scientific Sdn Bhd – collectively known as Nobel Group- for RM105 million. The Nobel Group provides high performance, custom-made anti-tack rubber lubricants and coatings for…
Altaris acquires 51% of Michelin healthcare subsidiary Solesis
Investment firm Altaris Capital Partners has completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in US biomaterials company Solesis from Michelin. The deal retains 49% of Michelin’s stake in Solesis, which now operates as an independent company. Solesis operates through three…
Tyre, rubber org lobbies for rubber exclusion from EU deforestation law; civil groups hit exemption plea
The issue of deforestation is central to the proposed European Union (EU) legislation to protect the world’s forests and ecosystems. The EU, which according to a Greenpeace report, is “a major consumer and financier of products from global forest and…
Dow to increase capacities for silicones, PG and speciality materials
US chemical major Dow has announced a series of capacity expansions for its silicones, propylene glycol (PG) and specialty materialsunits to support growing demand across key end-markets, all of which, it adds, continue to grow faster than GDP. In PG, it is expanding its Thai facility to up…
MOL, Taftnet to build rubber bitumen plant in Tatarstan
MOL and Tatneft, one of the largest oil and gas companies in Russia, have launched a joint project for a rubber bitumen plant in the Republic of Tatarstan. The companies are also forming a joint venture that, besides manufacturing and…
Double Helix moves back to UK, expands its global operations
Double Helix Tracking Technologies (DoubleHelix), which has its beginnings in Singapore relocates back to the UK, according to Darren Thomas, co-Founder and CEO of Double Helix, who also informed that the company will continue to manage the global business from the…
Epsilon Carbon commissions India’s first carbon black complex in Karnataka
Indian coal tar derivatives company, Epsilon Carbon Private Limited (ECPL) has established India’s first integrated carbon black complex located in Bellary, Karnataka, South India. With a capacity of 115,000 tonnes/year, the carbon black unit has successfully commissioned its operations and is already running close…
Continental embarks on tyre, road wear particles research a supercomputer
German automotive parts manufacturer Continental, the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and France-based École Normale Supérieure de Lyon have received a grant worth 43 million core hours of supercomputer time for their joint basic research project, which aims to drive…
Michelin takes anew 20% Enviro Systems shares
French tyre maker Michelin has reportedly secured again a total of 20% of the shares in Gothenburg-headquartered tyre recycling company Enviro Systems following the dilution of its holding in May as a result of the completed new issue. The increase in its…
Shin-Etsu Chemical’s Silicone Division invests on carbon neutrality goals
Tokyo-headquartered Shin-Etsu Chemical’s Silicone Division will be ploughing an investment totalling JPY20 billion to curb greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Shin-Etsu expounded that the Silicone Division’s main manufacturing plant, the Gunma Complex, will reduce the volume of GHG by 14% against…






