South America

DSM Functional Materials is teaming up with Empresa Brasileira de Biotechnologia (Ebrabiotech) to work on bio-based materials. The Brazilian firm and Elgin, IL-based division of Royal DSM have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop materials for the concrete floor coatings market based on castor oil.

DSM Engineering Plastics (Sittard, The Netherlands) has joined forces with Brazilian distributor Resinet (Sao Paulo) to develop markets for the suppliers portfolio of resins in the South American nation. The two have entered into a distribution agreement that will target automotive, electrical and electronics, and general industrial applications.

Three-year-old MedPlast (Tempe, AZ) is looking for acquisition candidates in healthcare contract manufacturing in Latin America and Asia, and hopes to expand its global footprint within two years.

Former Milacron President Harold Faig.

After more than 20 years of development, bioresorbable coronary stents are close to commercialization, setting up what is sure to be a hotly contested battle for a multi-billion dollar market.

Well, you know what they say: If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! The same can be said of moldmakers.  While the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) appears to be happy - "Plastics industry applauds free-trade agreements" read one headline in an online industry trade magazine (PlasticsToday's coverage here)- well suffice it to say that doesn't speak for ALL of the plastics industry. Perhaps the U.S.

On hand for the signing of the bills in the Oval Office as well as the discussion of the new trade pacts from the White House Rose Garden, Society of the Plastics Industry's (SPI) Bill Carteaux and Jon Kurrle joined President Barack Obama in praising newly enacted trade deals with South Korea, Panama, and Colombia.

"Asleep at the wheel" and "huge mistake", that's how NatureWorks President and CEO Marc Verbruggen describes the bioplastics industry's response, or lack thereof, to the initial wave of "food vs. fuel" criticism directed at crop-based ethanol. "Food price spike: Is ethanol to blame?" is how CNNMoney framed the matter in June 2008 story, a theme repeated frequently during that summer and ever since.

Lanxess (Leverkusen, Germany) is further strengthening its commitment to serving the Brazilian auto sector with the announcement of an investment in production facilities for polyamide and polybutylene terephthalate at its Porto Feliz site in the State of São Paulo.

South American BOPP and CPP film manufacturer Opp Film, SA, a subsidiary of Oben Holding Group, announced that it will immediately begin supply of its bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and cast polypropylene (CPP) films to firms in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The company recently established a North American distribution and technical support subsidiary in Houston to facilitate Opp's move into the North American market.

Lanxess (Leverkusen, Germany) in investing EUR12 million ($16.25 million) to convert 50 percent of its ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) synthetic rubber production in Geleen, the Netherlands, to innovative Keltan ACE technology.