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February 22, 2012 | By LAWRENCE SLOAN By Lawrence Sloan, President and CEO of Socma The Obama administration recently announced a proposal to merge the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative with five other agencies responsible for business and trade into one single cabinet-level department. The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) certainly applauds the initiative to create a more efficient and leaner government that will... February 13, 2012 | By LYN TATTUM Art, also known in jest as Kojak because of his bald pate, was a legend among chemical industry journalists and commentators. Chemical industry journalists are a small and close community, in a big yet close industry, and Art was always at the top of his game. In his role as publisher and editor-in-chief of CMR he was generous with his knowledge and insights, taking the view--unspoken but tacit-- that good, informed reporting transcended any “rivalry” among publications.... February 14, 2012 | By DEEPTI RAMESH LONZA PLANS API JOINT VENTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA Lonza says it is in discussions with the South African government for establishing a joint venture called Ketlaphela to build an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility for anti-retroviral medicines in South Africa. The discussions are at an early stage and no deal has been signed yet, Lonza says. The jv facility will involve a total... February 21, 2012 | By REBECCA COONS Codexis fell 19% today after several analyst downgrades and the announcement that long-standing CEO Alan Shaw was stepping down. Shaw, who has been with Codexis since its founding and been CEO for a decade, is leaving to "pursue other interests," according to the release, although market watchers suspect pressure over delays in... February 21, 2012 | By DEEPTI RAMESH INFORMEX USA: ACQUISITIONS, EXPANSIONS IN THE CARDS Alex Scott in New Orleans Companies at Informex USA, a fine-and specialty-chemicals expo held last week in New Orleans, appear to be in growth mode with many unveiling plans for acquisitions or capacity expansions. Exhibitors totaled 469, down from 489 last year, with visitor numbers of more than four thousand estimated by event organizer UBM (London)... February 20, 2012 | By LYN TATTUM Investment in India may be about to take off, carrying chemical demand along with it. Bureaucracy, poor utilities and raw materials provision, and an uncompetitive environment have for many years undermined India’s huge market potential, driving international companies to more attractive opportunities in China and elsewhere. Indian GDP growth is expected to be 6.9% this year, and 7%-7.5% next year... February 15, 2012 | By KATHRYN SHERIDAN The European Commission published its long-awaited strategy on the bio-based economy, or bioeconomy on Monday. The Strategy for 'Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe' talks about how to shift the European economy towards a more sustainable use of renewable resources. For chemical or plastics companies in the bio-based sector or those looking to branch out into using... February 13, 2012 | By VINCENT VALK Topping the headlines last week, Indorama Ventures has agreed to acquire the chemical assets of Old World Industries for $795 million. The assets include the largest ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol production facility in the U.S. at Clear Lake, TX. In earnings news, commodity firms, including Dow... February 10, 2012 | By VINCENT VALK This Week on CW: Indorama Ventures, a Thai chemicals concern, has announced plans to buy Old World Industries’ chemicals assets for $795 million. Old World operates the largest ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol plant in the U.S. The plant is in Clear Lake TX, and had... February 7, 2012 | By DEEPTI RAMESH LONZA REPLACES CEO AFTER DECLINE IN EARNINGS Lonza has suddenly fired CEO Stefan Borgas following a series of weak financial results. The company announced plans last month to appoint a new CEO and, during a transitional period Rolf Soiron, Lonza chairman, will coordinate its management committee. The weak results follow Lonza’s acquisition of biocides maker Arch Chemicals (Norwalk, CT) for $1.4...
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ABOUT CHEM IDEAS
Welcome to Chem Ideas, the place for opinions and perspective on the key issues affecting the global chemicals industry. This zone features articles by Chemweek’s regular editors as well as a team of established experts with insights across the chemicals industry. If you would like to contribute a blog or opinion piece contact Alex Scott, Executive Editor/Web and Environment for Chemweek at alex.scott@ihs.com
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT CHEMWEEK'S EDITORS
ABOUT OUR GUEST AUTHORS
Fine Chemicals / Pharma
Girish Malhotra is the president and founder of Epcot International, an international consulting firm covering chemical manufacture. Girish is an established industry figure having held senior positions at companies including ExxonMobil and Sherwin Williams. He can be reached at girish@epcotint.com
.jpg) SOCMA
Lawrence D. Sloan became Socma's
President in early 2010. He says he will continue to drive up the interests of his members on issues including regulation and best business practice.
REACH
Lisa Allen is the Technical Manager of ReachReady, the Reach services body affiliated to the Chemical Industries Assocation (CIA; U.K.).
She spends much of her time addressing concerns raised by ReachReady’s customers about Reach.
.jpg) Environment
Kathryn Sheridan is the founder of Sustainability Consult, providing public relations support with a sustainability focus to a number of chemical industry clients, as well as to other sectors. Sustainability Consult helps organisations develop, promote and communicate their sustainability strategies, plans and activities. ks@sustainabilityconsult.com
Rubber and Plastics
Lou Reade is a freelance journalist and expert in the rubber and plastics fields. Based in the U.K. Lou has more than a decade writing in about rubber and plastics manufacture with a wealth of experience gained while writing for the leading publications in the field in the U.K. and wider afield. Loureade@talk21.com.
EU Regulation
Giles Chappell is an attorney in the Brussels office of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. His practice focuses on chemicals (Reach) and the CLP Regulation), electronic waste and disposal legislation (WEEE, RoHS), biocides and pesticides legislation, and the developing legal and regulatory framework for nanomaterials.
 Security
Steve Roberts is an attorney who practices in the rapidly developing area of homeland security law and regulation. Steve writes and speaks frequently on the legal aspects of homeland security and counterterrorism affecting the nation’s critical infrastructure. www.chemicalsecurity.com
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