Shrieve Chemical Company has acquired Vertec BioSolvents, a West Chicago manufacturer of patented bio-based solvent blends. The transaction may affect manufacturing scale, intellectual property portfolios, and regulatory compliance considerations in sectors such as coatings, adhesives, and food-contact formulations.
Yearly Archives: 2026
42 posts
Axalta announced Zencore™, a cabinet finishing system derived from the company’s Zenamel™ technology that combines primer and enamel functionality into a two-step process intended for high-throughput production. The product is described as stock-available in North America and may have operational, regulatory, and specification implications for manufacturers and their counsel to consider.
Kurita Water Industries has taken an equity stake in Cyclopure and obtained exclusive U.S. sales rights to DEXSORB for industrial and specified municipal water applications. The expanded partnership includes technical integration of DEXSORB into treatment systems and joint construction of an industrial-scale regeneration facility to process spent media and concentrate PFAS waste.
Henkel has launched two silicone‑based anti‑fingerprint coatings, Loctite AF 8810 for plastic cover lenses and Loctite AF 8812 for glass, formulated without PFAS or fluorine ingredients. The materials are positioned for automotive display manufacturing with spray and PVD application compatibility, heat cure cycles and durability testing benchmarks reported by the company.
NanoTech Materials closed a $29.4 million Series A to expand domestic production of ceramic-particle coatings for roofing, insulation and wildfire mitigation. The company’s patented Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP) technology and ongoing work with California agencies may carry implications for compliance, IP strategy, and materials specification in procurement and construction contexts.
Celanese announced accelerated operational actions at its IPH Frankfurt site and a feedstock reallocation from its Fairway Methanol joint venture to support production of VAM, VAE emulsions and POM. The measures are described as leveraging an integrated acetyls-to-engineered-materials value chain and may have implications for regulatory, contractual and intellectual property considerations.
Bruker announced placement of its Dimension IconIR photothermal AFM-IR system at imec under a joint development project focused on nanoscale chemical characterization for advanced semiconductor research. The collaboration may be relevant to intellectual property, product specification, and regulatory considerations in materials and process development.
BASF has added Ultrason P 3010 BMB, a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) grade attributed with 20% bio‑circular feedstock via an ISCC PLUS mass balance approach, to its Ultrason portfolio. The material is reported as chemically identical to the standard P 3010 grade and produced in Ludwigshafen using 100% green electricity and a continuously emission‑optimized process.
CVD Equipment Corporation has sold its Stainless Design Concepts (SDC) business division for approximately $16.9 million in cash, with net proceeds of about $15.0 million after transaction costs and a $900,000 escrow. The company will retain ownership of its Saugerties, New York manufacturing facility and lease it to the buyer for an initial two-year term.
LANXESS has extended Frederique van Baarle’s contract as a member of the Board of Management, effective April 1, 2026, through 2031; van Baarle is based in Pittsburgh and holds regional and global functional responsibilities. Her portfolio includes oversight of Lubricant Additives, Polymer Additives and the Rhein Chemie business, and may be relevant to corporate governance, regulatory compliance, supply chain and IP considerations for chemistry and Polymers businesses active in the Americas and globally.
Amerigo Scientific announced availability of a portfolio of hydrophilic polymers covering sodium polymethacrylate, multiple sodium polyacrylate grades, potassium polyvinyl sulfate solution, PVA blend filament, and linear polyethylenimine. The product set and its stated specifications may be relevant to manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property assessment in chemistry and materials sectors.
Arkema and the Zephir Project unveiled a speed-board prototype at JEC World 2026 that incorporates Elium® liquid thermoplastic acrylic resin and recycled carbon fiber inputs. The design is presented as chemically recyclable through a depolymerization process that separates resin and fiber for reuse.
Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies unit will source bluemint® CO₂-reduced tinplate from thyssenkrupp Rasselstein for cans used across its adhesive product lines, with metal packaging manufacturer Pirlo involved in conversion. The bluemint product is produced using specially processed steel scrap in blast-furnace operations and carries third‑party verification of specific emissions data.
BASF Coatings will appoint Jens Luehring as Chief Executive Officer upon closing of the planned sale to Carlyle, with Dr. Uta Holzenkamp remaining in place until the transaction completes. The carve-out encompasses automotive OEM and refinish coatings and surface treatment units and may carry operational, regulatory and intellectual property implications for manufacturing and compliance stakeholders.
The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) reported 13 new members in Q1 2026, comprising six manufacturers and seven service providers spanning polymer production, spray drying tolling, contract R&D and logistics. The membership additions include firms with capabilities in silicone polymers, powder processing, and supply-chain analytics that may be relevant to regulatory, IP, and compliance practitioners.
Evonik has reorganized its strategic research activities into the Evonik Innovation Factory, an entrepreneurial unit tasked with advancing selected technologies from laboratory development toward industrial production within an average five‑year program cycle. The unit’s stated technical priorities—rhamnolipid biosurfactants, a portfolio of biopolymers, and anion exchange membranes—may have implications for manufacturing scale‑up, intellectual property strategy, and regulatory compliance in chemical manufacturing contexts.
PPG and the PPG Foundation announced a $10 million global commitment through 2030 to fund vocational training focused on coatings application, collision repair and advanced manufacturing. The initiative includes donations of digital ecosystems, coating testing equipment and consumable materials to vocational colleges and workforce programs in multiple jurisdictions.
Euclid Chemical has introduced EUCON R3A, a powdered admixture intended to convert returned unhardened concrete into a dry, granular material for reuse as recycled aggregate or base. The product’s single-component, in-drum dosing and dissolvable 1-lb packaging may have implications for materials handling, regulatory classification, and intellectual-property considerations.
CHEMEON Surface Technology and SurTec announced a strategic alliance to coordinate distribution, technical training, and joint R&D for trivalent conversion coatings, anodizing chemistries, and related surface-treatment products. The agreement details operational integration in the U.S., cross-training, and coordinated analytical and laboratory activities intended to support specification and regulatory transitions away from hexavalent chromium chemistries.
Evonik announced Protectosil ECO‑TRETE® ANTIGRAFFITI, a silane-based facade treatment formulated without intentionally added PFAS and promoted for residue-free graffiti removal. The product launch includes supplier and distribution details, and may have implications for regulatory compliance, supply‑chain testing, and intellectual property considerations.
Arkema announced a 20% expansion of Kynar® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) production capacity at its Changshu, China, manufacturing platform, with the new unit expected to start up in 2028. The project is positioned within Arkema’s global PVDF network, alongside recent capacity additions in the United States and existing European production.
Evonik has expanded its distribution agreement with IMCD, enabling IMCD to distribute the full VISIOMER® Specialty Methacrylates portfolio across the United States. The arrangement pairs Evonik’s methacrylate monomer offerings with IMCD’s commercial and technical channels for coatings, adhesives and related markets.
Syensqo has secured a multi-year agreement with Boeing to supply advanced composites, structural adhesives and surfacing solutions for commercial and defense airframes. The contract encompasses materials for primary and secondary structures, interiors and surfacing, with implications for manufacturing processes, certification and supply-chain controls.
Orion S.A. reported a Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis for its 2025 performance, placing the company in the top 1% of assessed firms. The company also referenced product and operational initiatives including bio‑circular carbon black grades, energy efficiency measures across plants, and an improved CDP supplier engagement score.
ARMOVEX has launched a water-based, spray-applied concrete floor coating system presented as eliminating grinding and multi-part mixing on most jobs. The product family includes a hybrid sealer and a penetrating waterproofing treatment and may have implications for occupational safety, regulatory compliance, and product specification practices.
BASF completed the sale of its optical brightening agent (OBA) business to Catexel at the end of February 2026, with the transaction encompassing the international business and production at the Monthey, Switzerland site. Approximately 80 employees are reported to have transferred to Catexel and financial terms were agreed to remain confidential.
Roehm announced ACRYLITE® SunResist, a PMMA molding compound designed as an ultra‑thin co‑extruded capstock offering UV absorbance to ~400 nm and enhanced processing characteristics. The material is positioned for exterior profiles and components where weathering, abrasion resistance, and post‑fabrication performance are emphasized.
PPG installed an IPG PhotoniCURE™ laser curing pilot finishing line at its Strongsville, Ohio powder facility and a laboratory system at its Coatings Innovation Center for feasibility work. Pilot trials with Whirlpool are underway to evaluate powder coating formulations and throughput effects on a range of appliance components.
Lubrizol has implemented an LED-driven photochemical chlorination reactor at its Louisville, Kentucky CPVC resin facility, with the company reporting gains in thermal stability, processing cycle times and energy efficiency. The installation is described as a first step toward wider deployment across the company’s CPVC manufacturing network and may have operational, regulatory and intellectual property implications for downstream users and competitors.
Inhance Technologies has begun domestic production of packaged fluorine and custom fluorine-inert gas mixtures at its Catoosa, Oklahoma plant following recent capacity investments. The offering is intended to serve semiconductor, pharmaceutical, industrial, and specialty chemical customers with U.S.-based supply and tailored purity options.
LBB Specialties announced an authorized distribution agreement with Kemitura to supply KemituraSil® fumed silica to C.A.S.E. markets in North America. The arrangement may raise manufacturing, supply‑chain, regulatory and intellectual property considerations for counsel working on product safety, specification and commercialization matters.
NOVA Chemicals has announced commercial-scale production of two recycled polyethylene (rPE) grades intended for conversion into packaging and non-food consumer products. The announcement may raise technical, regulatory and intellectual property considerations for manufacturers, buyers and counsel engaged with polymer supply chains and sustainability claims.
Nucleus Incorporation, operating under a license from Stanley Black & Decker, announced manufacturing and market release of Stanley Chemical-branded spray foam insulation, polyurethane sealants, construction adhesives, caulks, and technical aerosols. The product set raises issues for counsel and regulatory professionals including materials specifications, manufacturing controls, labeling, IP licensing, and applicable environmental and building-code approvals.
NEXTCHEM, via its CONSER unit, has been awarded a licensing and Process Design Package to deploy its proprietary NX CONSER™ MAN and NX CONSER™ Duetto technologies for co‑production of 1,4‑butanediol (BDO) and dimethyl succinate (DMS) in China. The award covers process integration for downstream biopolymer manufacture and anticipates subsequent tenders for catalyst and proprietary equipment supply.
A new analysis indicates that 15 major state-level environmental policies will transition to the implementation phase in 2026, targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other chemical classes. The regulatory shift emphasizes class-based restrictions over individual substance bans, significantly impacting supply chain compliance and product liability frameworks.
Celanese Corporation reported a 2025 GAAP diluted loss per share of $10.44, driven largely by $1.6 billion in impairment charges related to goodwill and intangible assets. The company is currently executing a strategic footprint optimization plan, including the closure of manufacturing sites in Europe to mitigate softening demand in the automotive and construction sectors.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent No. 12,467,573 to United Felts for its EnviroCure-Felt technology. The invention utilizes a specialized polymer barrier to reduce styrene emissions during trenchless pipe rehabilitation.
The collaboration between Fertiglobe, Covestro, and TA’ZIZ establishes a vertically integrated supply chain for low-emission ammonia across the Middle East, United States, and China. This strategic alignment focuses on securing ammonia as a primary feedstock for the production of isocyanates and advanced polyurethane polymers.
The expansion of the distribution agreement between Westlake Epoxy and Brenntag introduces specialized epoxy resins and curing agents to the Indian construction and industrial sectors. This strategic move impacts supply chain liability and regulatory compliance frameworks for manufacturers utilizing these high-performance polymers and adhesives.
Nickolas Asset Management has acquired a 120,000-square-foot resin processing and materials facility from Material Difference Technologies that specializes in recycling and reprocessing post-consumer and post-industrial plastic scrap into reusable resin pellets, enhancing NAM’s vertically integrated materials platform.
Lummus Technology and Sumitomo Chemical have announced the commercial availability of their PMMA chemical recycling technology, enabling the conversion of end-of-life PMMA polymers into high-purity MMA monomer suitable for re-polymerization. The licensed process supports closed-loop recycling of acrylic polymers and is positioned to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional fossil-based PMMA production.
Ellsworth Adhesives and Surrey NanoSystems Expand Global Access to Vantablack® 310 Through Qualified Distribution Partnership