BASF APPOINTS BHATIA INDUSTRY MANAGER FOR EPOXY AND POLYUREA INTERMEDIATES IN NORTH AMERICA

BASF has appointed Jay Bhatia as industry manager for epoxy and polyurea in the company’s Intermediates business in North America. In his new role, Bhatia is responsible for managing BASF Intermediates’ marketing activities relating to epoxy and polyurea coatings in North America. He is based at BASF’s North American headquarters in Florham Park, NJ.

“Jay brings excellent capabilities for managing our business with epoxy and polyurea coatings manufacturers,” said Teressa Szelest, group vice president for BASF’s Intermediates business in North America. “His broad global and regional marketing and sales experience with chemical companies in India, the Middle East and the United States makes him ideal to grow this important business.”

Bhatia joined BASF in 2005 as a product and business development manager for Intermediates in North America. From 2000 to 2005, he held various global and regional marketing and sales positions with the epoxy resins business unit of Shell Chemicals (now called Hexion Specialty Chemicals) in Houston and Dubai, UAE. From 1995 to 1999, Jay was area sales manager for Petrochem Middle East based in Dubai. He began his career as a marketing executive with Reliance Industries Ltd. in Mumbai, India.

For more information, visit www.basf.com.

COGNIS AND NUPLEX CLOSE DEAL ON ACRYLIC POLYOL RESINS BUSINESS

Cognis and Nuplex have signed a deal in which Nuplex acquires the G-Cure^® business from Cognis. No fixed assets are included. The deal is in line with each company’s focus on their core businesses.

The G-Cure^® product line was part of the Functional Products business unit of Cognis. Mainly focused on the NAFTA region, the G-Cure^® business generated net sales of approximately $13 million in 2006.

The business consists of acrylic polyol-based resins for the industrial coatings industry. G-Cure^® products are sold primarily into the heavy- and light-duty industrial maintenance and automotive refinish markets.

For more information, visit www.cognis.com.

DOW CORNING SURFACE AND INTERFACE SOLUTIONS CENTER ADDS STAFF

Dow Corning Surface and Interface Solutions Center (SISC) recently expanded its technical development staff to increase support for customers seeking to use silicon-based technology for a competitive advantage.

The addition of Thomas Chausee, Ph.D. and Ana Marques, Ph.D. will further strengthen the level of expertise at the SISC’s dedicated location in Seneffe, Belgium.

Chaussee earned his Ph.D. in materials science from Ecole de Physique et de Chimie Industrielle de Paris (France).

Marques received her Ph.D. in optical materials from the Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal. She also studied at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, at their invitation to lead exploratory research. Marques has valuable experience with sol-gel processes for integrated optics.

“We are delighted to have both Ana and Thomas joining the team,” said Thierry Materne, global silane technology and business development manager. “Their expertise will continue to reinforce our materials science and solution approach to helping our customers differentiate their offerings and create value in their markets.”

For more information, visit www.dowcorning.com/silanes.

MAPEI RECEIVES SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR NEW PLANT IN NEW JERSEY

The MAPEI Corp., a leading manufacturer of adhesives, mortars and accessory products for the construction industry, has received approval on the site plan for a property it is seeking to develop in Millville, NJ. The company expects to close on the purchase of the land and begin building a 115,000-square-foot manufacturing facility by early 2008. The new plant will be perfectly situated to serve the entire Northeast construction sector, fortifying MAPEI’s leadership position in this key market. The plant, which will quintuple the company’s production capacity in the Northeast, will produce cementitious adhesives, mortars, grouts, waterproofing and moisture mitigation products for tile and stone installation systems, as well as self-leveling underlayments, construction grouts, and repair mortars for the concrete restoration market. In addition, the new site will act as a regional distribution center for the company’s wood, resilient and carpet adhesives lines.

For more information, visit www.mapei.com .