Teknos Joins Project to Develop Bio-Based Binders and Coatings

HELSINKI, Finland – Coatings manufacturer Teknos is participating in a project to develop bio-based binders and coatings as sustainable alternatives for fossil-based materials. A consortium of Finnish companies and research institutes have formed the SUSBINCO project with the aim of developing novel and bio-based product portfolios for manufacturing and commercialization in global markets. SUSBINCO will support Finland in the goal to become a development and market leader in bio-based solutions. It has received funding from the Finnish export promotion institute, Business Finland.

“Sustainable binders and coatings are becoming more and more important. To combat climate change and resource scarcity, companies in all industries need to develop low-carbon, bio-based alternatives to fossil-based materials. In the coatings industry, the availability and price of materials as well as the high technical requirements have limited the usage of bio-based solutions. Therefore, it is important to develop new bio-based alternatives,” said Pasi Virtanen, Group R&D Manager, Innovations, at Teknos.

The SUSBINCO project aims to develop binders and coatings that can be used in packaging, paints, adhesives, sealants and abrasives. The objective is to achieve 80-100% bio-based content in the developed binders and coatings. The project began in autumn 2021 and ends in 2023.

“The ambition of this project is very high; enabling products with at least 80% of bio-content means doubling the current available bio-level. By the end of the project, we hope to have a range of polymers with high bio-based content that we can utilize widely in our own solutions. This is an important project, which also provides excellent support for our current corporate strategy,” Virtanen explained.

Archroma Relocates Headquarters

REINACH, Switzerland – Specialty chemicals provider Archroma recently announced the relocation of its headquarters to Pratteln, just outside Basel, Switzerland. The company also announced a customized R&D role for its existing site in Reinach, Switzerland.

Archroma’s new Haus der Wirtschaft (HWD) headquarters is located in a business hub that hosts the Economic Chamber Baselland with other companies, as well as a fully serviced conference and event center. The new offices have been designed to support a smooth and efficient collaborative work and visitor experience.

“With our new HWD corporate headquarters we are joining a dynamic business hub,” said Heike van de Kerkhof, CEO at Archroma. “We are excited to refocus our Reinach site as a true ‘tech hub’ to provide innovative, sustainable solutions and services to our customers to help them increase the value of their products. Our science and technology expertise, coupled with in-depth market, customer and regulatory understanding, provide the platforms for the creation of safer, more sustainable chemicals and practices in the industries we serve. With this latest development we are strongly reaffirming our deep commitment to our Swiss roots and presence.”

The move comes after a decade of growth at Archroma’s TechCenter building in Reinach, also near Basel, which evolved from being a dedicated technical center to hosting a growing number of corporate services and teams. With the opening of the new HWD headquarters, the Reinach TechCenter, designed to accommodate laboratories and technical expert teams, will return to its roots with focus on global R&D and application development, supporting those of the Archroma Competence Centers (CC) that are located in Switzerland: CC Textile Finishing; CC Textile Repellents; CC Paper Coloration; and CC Paper Whiteness.

AGM Receives U.K. Patent for Water-Based Corrosion Innovation

REDCAR, England – Applied Graphene Materials, producer of specialty graphene nanoplatelet dispersions, has been issued U.K. Patent No. GB2585648. The patent covers the use of graphene nanoplatelets in water-based anti-corrosion protective coatings applications. This latest patent reflects AGM’s commitment to continuous development as an innovator in graphene dispersion and application technology.

Adrian Potts, Chief Executive Officer of AGM, said, “The global cost of corrosion is substantial, and there is significant and growing pressure within the international coatings industry to reduce and ultimately remove the dependence on harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The move towards a water-based technology solution is a primary goal for many protective coatings innovators. Overcoming the challenge of dispersing graphene nanoplatelets into such coatings has been a significant area of development for AGM’s technical team, and I am pleased that this technology has resulted in patent coverage. This latest dispersed product technology offers the coatings industry a new tool in the formulation of water-based systems. It provides a further opportunity to narrow the gap in solvent- and water-based coating performance by enabling the use of graphene nanoplatelet materials, thereby supporting the move away from solvent-based products.”

Applied Graphene Materials reports that graphene nanoplatelets have been shown to provide highly effective barrier properties, enhancing corrosion prevention in solvent-based paints through the use of high-performance dispersions. The introduction of graphene nanoplatelets into water-based paints has been historically problematic due to the challenges in producing effective and stable dispersions for water-based systems. AGM’s range of water-based dispersions has now been demonstrated to enhance corrosion performance in such systems. This technology development enables primer systems to achieve ISO 12944 category C3 or C4 corrosion rating performance where typical environments include urban and industrial atmospheres, moderate sulphur dioxide pollution, or coastal areas with low to moderate salinity.

Vencorex Receives EcoVadis 2021-22 CSR Platinum Medal

SAINT-PRIEST, France – For the second time in a row, Vencorex has been awarded a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Platinum medal from EcoVadis. The platinum rating highlights a company’s commitment to CSR development. It ranks Vencorex among the top 1% of the 75,000 companies rated by EcoVadis this year.

The company has implemented a rigorous management of environment and energy with ISO 14001 and ISO 50 001 certifications. It has also worked to develop environmentally friendly solutions for customers, including low-viscosity and solvent-free technology for polyureas and polyurethane coatings such as the new Tolonate™ X F 450 and Easaqua™ products for waterborne polyurethane formulations.

In terms of sustainable procurement, the company has adopted a Suppliers Code of Conduct, where its commitment to address economic, societal and environmental sustainability when conducting business is communicated to suppliers and subcontractors, and suppliers and subcontractors are encouraged to endorse the same principles.

“We are very proud to receive this Platinum medal for the second time. Through the continued implementation of its Core Values (Creativity, Open-mind, Responsibility and Excellence), Vencorex strengthens its commitment to sustainable development,” said Xavier Fournier, CEO of Vencorex.

The EcoVadis rating is recognition of the efforts that Vencorex teams are continuously making in a number of areas. In terms of safety, all Vencorex plants are OHSAS certified and managed by process hazard analysis methodology, and continuous safety training is done for all employees and subcontractors.

Arkema Appoints Megafarma to Distribute Polyamide Powder Coating Additives in Mexico

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – Arkema Inc. has appointed Megafarma, the Mexican affiliate of Azelis Americas LLC, as its exclusive distributor for coatings applications in Mexico. The agreement became effective Jan. 1, 2022. Arkema manufactures specialty polyamide coating additives.

The Orgasol^® and Rilsan^® D polyamide products are high-performance coating additives designed for liquid and UV coatings. Based on Arkema’s specialty polyamide chemistries and proprietary processing, these additives are reported to improve multiple performance aspects of coating formulations such as abrasion, stain and chemical resistance, while also providing gloss control and texture. Arkema reports that these advanced materials are utilized extensively across a wide range of high-performance market segments including coil, wood, flooring, automotive, electronics and transfer paper. The Orgasol product line includes polyamide 6, polyamide 12 and polyamide 612 powders; they are designed with an exceptionally narrow particle size distribution. The range of polyamide 11 powders is marketed under the Rilsan trademark, a completely bio-circular polymer derived from renewable and sustainable castor oil.

“With the addition of Arkema’s Orgasol and Rilsan polyamide product lines, Azelis strengthens its presence in the coatings market in Mexico while reinforcing our strategic goal of being a leader of innovative solutions for specialty chemicals distribution,” said Eduardo Salinas, Managing Director, Azelis LATAM. “In conjunction with partnering with Arkema, we will continue to leverage our application expertise from our Innovation Center in Mexico City, allowing Azelis to provide unparalleled technical service to our valued customers.”

“Since 2016, the Azelis team has done a terrific job promoting these products in Canada,” said Steve Serpe, North American Market Manager at Arkema Inc. “The technical and commercial expertise of the Megafarma team ideally positions them to penetrate the high-performance coatings industry in Mexico.”

Vertellus Acquires Jarchem Innovative Ingredients

INDIANAPOLIS – Vertellus recently announced the acquisition of Jarchem Innovative Ingredients (Jarchem), a global manufacturer and supplier of specialty ingredients and nature-based products. With this acquisition, Vertellus expands its offering of environmentally friendly ingredients and serves a growing global base of customers in high-growth specialty, personal, and home and health care markets.

“Jarchem’s high-quality portfolio of nature-based ingredients and products is an exciting addition to Vertellus,” said John Van Hulle, CEO of Vertellus. “By extending our reach in high-growth specialty and personal care markets, together we will better serve our customers. We welcome the Jarchem team to the Vertellus family.”

Based in Newark, New Jersey, Jarchem offers a range of alternatives for traditional esters, silicones and other products commonly used in personal care, food and specialty industrial markets. Jarchem brings to Vertellus an expanded global base of long-standing customers and a long-tenured management team with substantial technical expertise.