Correction: Styrenic elastomers units within Total
Dusseldorf, Germany-Oil and petrochemicals group Total is to retain its styrenic elastomers business within its new Total Chemicals Division-formed through the reorganisation of the former Atofina chemicals branch.
Total Chemicals consists of three business units; Total Petrochemicals and Total Specialties, which are both staying with the group, and a newly formed unit called Arkema, which is to separate from Total.
ERJ on 5 Oct wrongly reported that the styrenic elastomers unit was to form part of Arkema, based on information supplied by a group spokeswoman.
Instead, the group's styrenic elastomers unit are part of Total Petrochemicals, Claudia Marenco, application manager for Finaclear at Total Petrochemicals, explained in an interview at K2004 in Dusseldorf.
Total Petrochemicals covers all the group's petrochemical operations and is among the world's leading suppliers of polypropylene, polystyrene and aromatic feedstocks. The elastomers unit operates a 100-kilotonnes-per-annum plant in Antwerp, Belgium, producing Finaprene- and Finaclear-branded styrenic elastomers.
Finaprene solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene block copolymers are used in footwear, bitumen modification, adhesives and plastics modification applications. Finaclear encompasses a range of high-styrenic linear SBS copolymers, which are tailored to provide enhanced transparency, gloss and impact resistance for packaging applications.
Total Specialties combines the group's Hutchinson rubber products, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Bostik adhesives and Atotech electroplating operations, according to a 4 Oct Total announcement.
Sartomer manufactures acrylate crosslinking coagents, functionalised polybutadiene resins, hydrocarbon resins, and plasticisers for high-performance rubber applications. The products find use in tyres, hoses, wire & cable, rubber rolls, belts, o-rings, sealants, windshield wipers, tank treads, golf ball cores and polyurethane elastomers, according to information on the company's website.
Arkema encompasses three businesses: Vinyl Products; Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products. The unit has annual sales of around Euro5000 million, 19 300 employees, and is to become independent from the group by 2006, said Thierry Desmarest, Total chairman and CEO.
“The new unit will take advantage of its remaining time with Total to enhance its performance while putting in place the organisation necessary for an independent company,†Desmarest commented in a press statement.
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