Helping shoemakers create quality footwear, US firm Huntsman introduces Avalon 60 AE-ESD, plasticiser-free, soft thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) that gives manufacturers the bonding strength and mechanical properties required for safety shoes with electro-static dissipation (ESD) features.

Designed especially for manufacturers that use roundtable machine casting, Avalon 60 AE-ESD meets growing market demand for a soft footwear outsole capable of reaching a hardness of 60 Shore A. The solution improves speed and strength of bonding to suitable polyurethane (PU) midsole materials typically used in double density constructions.

Extensively tested and proven for production of all types of high quality footwear, Avalon 60 AE-ESD is suited to the rigorous demands of the safety footwear sector. Combining softness with flexural strength, it is designed to make shoes that are comfortable yet hard wearing enough to withstand challenging conditions. It also fulfills the exacting requirements of safety shoe standard DIN EN ISO 20345.

US firm Huntsman Corp. has acquired the remaining stake of Huntsman NMG, its Russian PU joint venture with NMG, the manufacturer of PU in Russia and other areas of the former Soviet Union.

Shanghai Sinopec Mitsui Elastomers, a 50:50 joint-venture between Chinese firm Sinopec and Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals, will build an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPT) production plant in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

Swiss speciality chemicals group Clariant is acquiring the remaining 40% share of a joint venture between Alvigo and Chemie.

Belgian firm Solvay has started up its EUR21 million speciality polymers compounding plant at Changshu, targeting the electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial applications markets.

German automotive Tier 1 supplier Faurecia has opened a major R&D centre in Pune, India. Employing 800 automotive engineers, the facility will serve interior systems, automotive seating and automotive exteriors.

US international aerospace and industrial manufacturing and service provider Barnes Group will acquire privately held hot runner maker Synventive Molding Solutions for US$335 million.

US firms Bermis has tied up with Norwegian Thin Film Electronics to develop the Bemis Intelligent Packaging Platform for the commercial development of functional sensor labels manufactured from new and emerging printed electronic technology made from Thin Film’s propriety read/writable printed memory and programme logic

Not only did German robot maker Krauss-Maffei Automation celebrate its 30th anniversary since its foundation, it also marked it with its 1,000th robot delivery from the “robot wharf” of its branch in Schwerin.