ASC NAMES NEWEST HONORARY MEMBER

The Adhesives and Sealant Council, Inc. (ASC) recently named David Jackson an “Honorary Member” in recognition of his years of outstanding service to ASC and the adhesive and sealant industry. After 17 years of service on the ASC Board of Directors-the past five spent as a non-voting Outside Director-the board presented Jackson with a plaque marking the occasion at its June meeting.

With more than 40 years of industry experience, Jackson worked in a variety of capacities, including field sales, sales management, marketing, materials management and strategic planning. He served as ASC Board Chairman from 2000 to 2002, sat on the Executive Committee and participated in countless committees and task forces.

“Dave Jackson is as forward thinking as he is passionate,” ASC President Lawrence Sloan said. “He believes strongly in increasing ASC’s global presence and was the main advocate for nurturing our relationship with Virginia Tech University, with whom the association has produced many technical training courses for our members.”

Honorary membership is a recognition awarded to individuals who have either contributed exceptional service and leadership to ASC or whose significant achievements and high standing have materially aided and advanced the adhesive and sealant industry. A combination of the former Life and Honorary Member classes, Honorary Members are entitled to complimentary registration to all ASC events, ongoing receipt of ASC publications, and special recognition in industry trade press.”

For more information, visitwww.ascouncil.org.

DOW AND SOLVAY FORM JOINT VENTURE TO BUILD HYDROGEN PEROXIDE PLANT IN THAILAND; DOW AND BASF PURSUE PLANS FOR HPPO PLANT

The Dow Chemical Co. and Solvay S.A. have announced an agreement to create a joint venture for the construction of a hydrogen peroxide (HP) plant in Thailand. Scheduled to be operational in 2010, the new HP plant will serve as a raw material source for the manufacture of propylene oxide (PO). The HP plant will be the largest in the world, with a capacity of more than 330 kilotons per annum (KTA) of hydrogen peroxide at 100% concentration. The hydrogen peroxide supplying the process is based on Solvay’s proprietary, high-yield hydrogen peroxide technology.

In addition, Dow and BASF Aktiengesellschaft are advancing negotiations for the construction of a world-scale 390 KTA propylene oxide (PO) manufacturing facility in Map Ta Phut, Thailand. The new plant would use the innovative hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) technology jointly developed by Dow and BASF. “This project would expand our successful cooperation with Dow and Solvay to deploy this innovative HPPO technology in Asia,” said Jacques Delmoitiez, president of BASF’s Polyurethanes division.

The Dow and BASF Thailand facility would be the second world-scale plant to use HPPO technology. The first, a 300 KTA Dow and BASF HPPO plant, also supplied by an HP plant based on Solvay’s high-yield technology, is currently under construction in Antwerp, Belgium, and is scheduled for start-up in early 2008. Propylene oxide is used to produce propylene glycol, polyurethanes and glycol ethers.

For more information, visitwww.dow.com.

DOW WOLFF CELLULOSICS BUILDING NEW MC CAPACITY AND EXPANDING LV CAPABILITY

Further illustrating The Dow Chemical Co.’s performance business investment strategy, Dow Wolff Cellulosics has announced new capacity and capabilities, as well as steady progress on previously announced expansions. A newly formed specialty business unit of The Dow Chemical Co., Dow Wolff Cellulosics is expanding its capacity and capabilities to better serve cellulosics customers in key markets worldwide.

“We’re making good on our promise to create the future for the cellulosics industry,” said Martin Sonntag, general manager of Dow Wolff Cellulosics. “Dow is committed to investing in its performance businesses, and we are currently accelerating investments for sustained growth of the cellulosics industry and customers who rely on our technical support capabilities, global reach, long-term focus, and reliable operations.”

Dow Wolff Cellulosics plans to build a methylhydroxyethylcellulose (MHEC) production plant in Bitterfeld, Germany. The new facility is expected to come on stream in the first quarter of 2009 and will produce MHEC primarily for the construction materials market. “With this investment, Dow Wolff Cellulosics will serve the ongoing strong demand for methylcellulose products in formulations for all our key end-use markets in the future,” said Sonntag.

In addition, progress towards previously announced projects is expected to yield capacity additions of approximately 10,000 metric tons coming on-stream within the following months to other sites of Dow Wolff Cellulosics. New capacity for METHOCELTMcellulose ethers is expected to be available from Stade, Germany, during the fourth quarter of 2007, while Midland, MI, will have a new full-train operational in early 2008. The expansions are part of Dow’s long-term, multi-phase expansion program initiated in 2005.

For more information, visitwww.dowwolffcellulosics.com.

HENKEL SIGNS ON LEADING ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTOR

Henkel Corp. has announced the expansion of its distribution team through a strategic partnership with Production Automation Corporation (PAC). This new agreement effectively extends Henkel’s reach into several key North American regions, and offers customers immediate access to Henkel’s line of next-generation electronics materials.

Under the terms of the contract, PAC will sell Henkel’s full line of Hysol®, Loctite®and Multicore®brand electronics assembly and semiconductor packaging materials, representing the company in New England, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona, Southern California, and Mexico. PAC has over 15 outside sales representatives, most of whom have extensive experience in the electronics industry and offer in-depth technical support.

“We are confident that Henkel’s association with PAC will be a win-win for everyone,” said Brian Betti, Henkel North American distribution manager. “The PAC team’s professionalism and broad reach throughout North America ensures that Henkel customers will receive the support and quick product access they need to stay competitive.”

PAC President Jay Martin also has high expectations regarding the association with Henkel. “Without question, Henkel is today’s most innovative materials developer and supplier, delivering products that offer exceptional productivity and proven in-process performance,” he says. “ The combined expertise of the PAC and Henkel teams will most certainly yield outstanding results for our customers.”

For more information, visitwww.henkel.com/electronics.

ICI ACQUIRES ADVANCED APPLIED ADHESIVES

Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI) has acquired U.S.-based technology business Advanced Applied Adhesives (AAA) to enable commercial exploitation of AAA’s technologies in the semiconductor and electronic component assembly markets through ICI’s Electronic Materials (EM) business.

EM is a market leader in the high-growth global semiconductor packaging and circuit assembly segments of the electronic materials sector. Products include highly specialized formulations of adhesives, encapsulants and coatings used to connect and protect integrated circuits, and other components used in electronic devices, from PCs to mobile phones, cameras, MP3 players, digital printers, and more.

Based in San Diego, CA, AAA - in conjunction with its sister company Designer Molecules Inc (DMI) - has developed a range of novel patented technologies for applications in markets served by EM. ICI’s EM operations have the resources and global customer base to leverage these technologies to achieve their significant commercial potential quickly.

AAA will be integrated into the Ablestik unit of EM, but will develop technologies for all of the EM businesses. Potential applications of the new technologies include mobile phones, laptop computers and other handheld and portable devices.
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DMI will work with EM after it acquires AAA to continue developing a range of technologies used in formulated electronic materials.

PLASTICOLORS INC. APPOINTS NEW CFO

Plasticolors Inc., a custom colorant and chemical dispersions manufacturer for the thermoset plastics and paint and coatings industries, has appointed Mark A. Przybysz as its new chief financial officer.

“Mark is an excellent professional and a strong cultural fit with Plasticolors,” said Steve Walling, CEO. “He brings an incredible amount of experience and we are happy to have him on board.”

Przybysz graduated from Cleveland State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He received an MBA from Case Western Reserve University in 1997.

“Plasticolors is a frontrunner in its industry, and I feel honored that they’ve chosen me as their new CFO,” Przybysz said. “The company offers exciting challenges, and I look forward to being part of such a collaborative, forward-thinking company.”

Przybysz resides in Brunswick, OH, with his wife, Beverly, and two young sons.

For more information, visitwww.plasticolors.com.

PLEXUS ADHESIVES RECEIVE GREENGUARD CERTIFICATION

Twenty-four Plexus industrial and surfacing adhesives have been certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) as low-emissions products suitable for indoor environments.

GREENGUARD certification means that Plexus Adhesives meet the Institute’s stringent emission requirements for health, irritation and odor concerns. GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®adhesives are ideal for the assembly of countertops, boat hulls, truck cabs and other products for use in enclosed environments. “We applaud your commitment to improving indoor air quality for your customers,” wrote GEI Program Coordinator Ethleen Howell in the letter awarding certification.

Certification is based primarily on an adhesive’s emissions at 168 hours (7 days) after unpackaging. Six times throughout that period, under strictly controlled testing protocols in dynamic environmental chambers that produce airflow patterns resembling those of a home or office, an independent laboratory measures air-sample concentrations of formaldehyde, 4-phenylcyclohexene, styrene, and a wide spectrum of volatile organic compounds.

“We work very hard to design and produce adhesives with low emissions, making them as safe as possible for manufacturers, for users of products assembled with them, and for the environment,” said Ken Lambert, general manager of ITW Plexus. “This certification proves that we are succeeding.”

For more information, visitwww.itwplexus.com.