As part of the company’s strategy to invest in performance businesses and drive growth in Asia, SCG-Dow Group, a joint venture of The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, MI) and Siam Cement Group (SCG), announced the establishment of a 50/50 joint venture that will include construction of a specialty elastomers train located in the Asia Industrial Estate in Rayong Province, Thailand. The specialty elastomers train is expected to commence operations in 2011, with products including Affinity polyolefin plastomers and Engage polyolefin elastomers. Those materials utilize Dow’s Insite metallocene catalyst technology to create resins applicable in food packaging, medical, hot-melt adhesives, and durable goods.

SCG-Dow Group formed in 1987 and is comprised of four joint-venture companies that manufacture and supply styrene monomer, styrene-butadiene latex, polyethylene, polystyrene, and compounding products. SCG is Thailand’s largest industrial conglomerate with core businesses of chemicals, cement, paper, building materials, and distribution.

According to The Freedonia Group (Cleveland, OH), global demand for thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) will grow 6.2% annually through 2009 driven by direct displacement of competitive materials and overmolding onto rigid plastic and metal. Growth will be the strongest in China and India, with sales remaining concentrated in developed markets like the US, Western Europe, and Japan.—[email protected]