Sabic Innovative Plastics has signed an agreement to divest itself of its share in a 12-year joint venture with BASF Aktiengesellschaft, which produces polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin in Schwarzheide, Germany.
As part of this divestiture, Sabic Innovative Plastics will ensure continuity of supply for European customers through a contract to purchase PBT resin from BASF for a defined period of time. The transfer was expected by December 31st, 2007.
This re-alignment of resources allows Sabic Innovative Plastics to focus on different PBT technologies including resin based on terephthalic acid (TPA) feedstocks and iQ PBT resin, which uses an environmentally responsible process that reduces CO2 emissions and energy usage.
Heiner Markhoff, president of Sabic Innovative Plastics, Europe, stated, “This was an important strategic decision for our company, which will enable us to better support our customers here in Europe and across the globe with new and innovative PBT materials. As we accelerate the development of these products, we also will ensure an uninterrupted source of supply.”
Sabic Innovative Plastics offers several new advanced PBT-based materials with specialised properties. These include:
Valox Super High Flow resins – a family of glass-filled PBT materials aimed at helping automakers and tiers achieve thinner, larger parts with greater detail at lower injection pressures without sacrificing performance. These materials are available in both flame retardant (FR) and non-FR grades.
Valox ENH resins – a PBT-based, environmentally progressive resin family that meets the requirements for halogen-free parts.
These products deliver better ductility and strength than other environmentally focused, flame-retardant PBT materials, and better electrical properties than standard FR PBT resins. Valox ENH resins can help electrical/electronics (E/E) manufacturers and suppliers comply with regulations restricting use and disposal of hazardous substances.
Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ PBT resins – new environmentally responsible materials created via a unique process that reduces CO2 emissions and energy usage by 60 per cent. In addition to automotive components, the materials are good candidates for applications in the consumer electronics and transportation industries.
Richard Crosby, general manager of the PBT business for Sabic Innovative Plastics, said, “This development underscores how our company is taking the important steps needed to serve our customers in Europe and around the world in the best way we can. This means providing them with the most advanced PBT resins available and the technical support they need to enhance their competitive advantage.”
The joint venture with BASF, which was formed in 1995 and began production in 1997, was designed to share the capacity of a 60,000-tonne manufacturing facility, later expanded to 100,000 tonnes/yr. The facility produces PBT using DMT feedstocks. Sabic Innovative Plastics also produces PBT resins in Mt Vernon, Indiana, in the US.
