Addcomp Holland BV expands production capacity again, global sales of company's polymer additive solutions brisk

Citation

(2007), "Addcomp Holland BV expands production capacity again, global sales of company's polymer additive solutions brisk", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 36 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2007.12936fab.031

Addcomp Holland BV expands production capacity again, global sales of company's polymer additive solutions brisk

Addcomp Holland BV expands production capacity again, global sales of company's polymer additive solutions brisk Nijverdal – Addcomp Holland BV, a manufacturer of polymer additive solutions for thermoplastic resins – announced a significant expansion of production capacity with the addition of two additional lines at its plant due to brisk sales in Europe, North America, and Asia. The company opened a new factory in June of 2006, which represented a considerable increase in capacity over its previous facility. Addcomp Holland BV provides a wide range of polymer additive solutions in masterbatch or compacted form to the polymer industry: polymer producers, additive producers, and polymer converters. End-use markets include automotive, consumer, agricultural, construction, electrical and electronic, and various industrial market segments.

Speaking of the expansion, Addcomp Director of Operations, Jan Tijhuis said, “Even though our new plant has been open for a little over a year, we have been operating at full capacity for some time. Hence, we made the decision to bring a fourth extrusion line on stream in October of 2007 and a fifth on line early in 2008.”

Paul Stassen, Addcomp Marketing and Sales Director, added, “The new lines will enable us to develop our strategic sales growth in select global market segments and to broaden our scope for product development and customer trials to better serve our customers.”

Addcomp Holland BV was founded in 1997 as a supplier of polymer- additive systems to the plastics industry. Since, its founding, the company has experienced rapid growth in both turnover and product development, which has led to Addcomp being awarded Deloitte Technology Fast50 status in The Netherlands twice in two years. The company's high-growth and rapid development of new technology are a result of its strategy to provide innovative additive solutions to customer problems as well as developing in-house, state-of-the-art production technology, which further enhances Addcomp's manufacturing expertise. To maintain its technology and manufacturing lead, the company typically invests 12-15 percent of its profits in both product and process development each year. In 2005, owing to the need to expand its manufacturing capabilities with a new factory and new offices, the company invested 50 percent of its turnover.

Additive systems are used to stabilize and enhance the quality, production efficiency, and/or performance of polymers. Addcomp provides more than 500 products to other additives suppliers, original resin producers, custom compounders, and processors (molders). The company develops and produces single-pack additive systems (in masterbatch or compacted pellet form) for a variety of common thermoplastic resin systems, including polyolefins, PS, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic elastomers, and polyamides (nylons). Common systems available from Addcomp are used for UV stabilization, anti-blocking (for films), nucleating agents, blowing agents, antimicrobials, flame retardance, and for enhancing lubricity/wear, antistatic properties, hydrophilic properties (for fibers), thermal stability, weatherability, and service life. Enhanced processability is another benefit Addcomp additive systems bring to molders converting polymers via tape, fiber/filament, and nonwovens; injection molding; blow molding; or extrusion processes such as oriented or non-oriented film, pipe, sheet, etc. This also helps stabilize the resin for multiple heat-histories such as is seen with inplant and post-consumer recycling. In addition, Addcomp assists other additives suppliers by providing blending services, compacted products or masterbatches, or assisting with manufacturing technology development. Addcomp does not produce or offer color masterbatches or mineral-filled compounds.

Technology from Addcomp enhances the base-resin performance of applications in markets such as automotive, agriculture, construction, consumer, housewares, electrical/ electronics, industrial, lawn and garden, materials handling, and packaging. More than 90 percent of Addcomp's products are exported out of The Netherlands, not only to other countries in the European Union, but also to South Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. Addcomp is the only additives supplier to be ISO/TS 16949: 2002 certified. This is a very difficult quality listing to achieve and indicates a leader in product quality and security of supply.

SolarWorld No. 1 coated with BASF Coatings' paints

SolarWorld No. 1 is the German delegation's ace in the sleeve at the Solar World Challenge in October in Australia. For months, students at the University of Applied Sciences Bochum have been working intensively on the solar racer, and with BASF Coatings won a supporter for all paint-related questions. The role of the coating for the racer cannot be underestimated. On the one hand, it has to be light weight, because every gram counts when it comes to the overall package of the racer. The paint has to withstand the toughest conditions and on top of that, needs to be environmentally friendly and eco-efficient to promote sustainability. One thing was demonstrated by the project: BASF Coatings is working on solutions for coating automobiles of the future – no matter what the appearance of the automotive surfaces, the materials they consist of, or how they are fueled.

BASF Coatings has had good reason to commit itself to this sustainability project: individual mobility is considered to be a privilege that needs to be preserved, since it represents the freedom of the individual. These days, the status of the car is equally high. However, the global increase in mobility calls for meeting the challenge of making this mobility more ecologically sound, and in this area, the coating plays an important role. SolarWorld No. 1, like the other concepts for mobility of tomorrow, demonstrates one thing: it is necessary for all actors involved in the production process to work together as well as possible to develop an optimum overall package.

Solar Challenge is a grueling 3,000km endurance test

Leading technology and strong partners are basic conditions for finishing at the top at the World Solar Challenge. The race, which has taken place every two years since 1987, is celebrating its 20th birthday this year. It poses extremely tough demands for both man and machine. Over 3,000km have to be conquered in the singeing heat. From October 21 to 28, 2007, the racetrack will be taking the teams from all over the world from Darwin, on the northern coast straight across Australia, down to Adelaide in the south. Not only are the drivers subjected to a real endurance test, as they combat temperatures of up to 50 degrees in the narrow cockpits, the outer skin of the solar racers is put to the test as well.

The coatings concept of BASF Coatings

BASF Coatings has given SolarWorld No. 1 a melon yellow finish. For the finishing job, two-component adhesive primer and an environmentally friendly 90 line waterborne basecoat were selected. About 90 line stands out for its high mechanical, chemical, and physical durability, and also complies with the European VOC directives on the reduction of solvents. The two- component clearcoat ensures effective protection and high resistance to extreme external impacts.

About BASF Coatings

BASF Coatings, the Coatings Division of the BASF Group, develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints. BASF has significant market positions in the Coatings sector in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia/Pacific region. In 2006, BASF Coatings achieved global sales of about e2.3 billion. The internet address of BASF Coatings is www.basf-coatings.com

BASF Automotive Solutions. Performance passion success

BASF – the chemical company – is a leading-edge source of intelligent sustainable solutions to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers worldwide. With a full portfolio of technologies that include coatings, catalysts, engineering thermoplastics, polyurethanes, pigments and colorants, coolants and brake fluids for a broad array of exterior, interior, chassis and under-the-hood applications, BASF – The Chemical Company – develops and delivers the innovations that help the automotive industry improve the quality, appearance, safety, cost competitiveness, performance, comfort, fuel efficiency, sustainability. For further information, please visit the web site: www.automotive.basf.com