Quarters Academy Partners with Spectrum International University College for Professional Development

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Quarters Academy Sdn. Bhd. (“Quarters Academy”) is pleased to announce the signing of a Partnership Agreement (“Partnership”) with Spectrum International University College (“SIUC”), a well-renowned academic institution managed by Spectrum Holdings (M) Sdn. Bhd. (“Spectrum Holdings”). This partnership aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of professional training programmes by combining Quarters Academy’s innovative training methodologies and extensive industry network with SIUC’s academic expertise and infrastructure.

Puan Duratul Ain Bt Zabor, Director of Continuous Development of Spectrum International University College (SIUC); Emeritus Professor Dr Mak Chai, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum International University College (SIUC); Mr. Luis Tee, Director of Quarters Academy Sdn Bhd; Mr. Steve Chen, Director of Quarters Academy Sdn Bhd [L-R]
Puan Duratul Ain Bt Zabor, Director of Continuous Development of Spectrum International University College (SIUC); Emeritus Professor Dr Mak Chai, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum International University College (SIUC); Mr. Luis Tee, Director of Quarters Academy Sdn Bhd; Mr. Steve Chen, Director of Quarters Academy Sdn Bhd [L-R]

 

The collaboration will create a framework for delivering market-driven courses that cater to the evolving needs of professionals in various fields. It emphasises the commitment of both Quarters Academy and SIUC to fostering continuous professional development (CPD). Quarters Academy will develop, recruit participants, and manage the delivery of professional training programmes, while SIUC will ensure the quality, compliance, and certification of these programmes.

Mr. Luis Tee, Director of Quarters Academy, said, “We are excited to partner with SIUC to provide innovative and high-quality professional training programmes. This collaboration reflects our commitment to equip individuals with the skills needed to thrive in today’s dynamic work environment.”

At the event, Quarters Academy and SIUC introduced the Professional Certificate in Trust & Fiduciary Advisory, a comprehensive course designed to educate students about trust and fiduciary laws, regulations, and advisory practices in Malaysia. The curriculum covers essential topics such as the history and creation of trusts, types of trusts, estate planning, fiduciary duties, taxation, and Islamic trusts.

Mr. Siva Sunasundram, Executive Director of SIUC, commented, “Collaborating with Quarters Academy aligns perfectly with our vision of providing inclusive and top-tier educational opportunities. We are confident that this partnership will greatly benefit our students and the broader community.”

Also at the event was CHPS GM Consultancy & Academic Sdn. Bhd. (“CHPS GM”). CHPS GM is a renowned provider of wellness and lifestyle programmes focused on human capital management and preventive healthcare. Through strategic partnerships with local and international associates, including SIUC, CHPS GM delivers high-quality consultancy and training services that address the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

Dr. Ben Prakasan, Founder and Managing Director of CHPS GM, added, “This partnership underscores our dedication to fostering professional growth and delivering value-added solutions in human capital development. Together with SIUC, we aim to raise the bar in educational excellence and industry relevance.”

Media contact:
Mandy Tan
Swan Consultancy
m.tan@swanconsultancy.biz 



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

GPD Companies, Inc. Names Kurt Schuering as President and Chief Executive Officer

THE WOODLANDS, TX, June 18, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – GPD Companies, Inc. (“GPD”), an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners, LLC (“One Rock”), today announced the appointment of Kurt Schuering as President and CEO, effective June 24, 2024. Paul Tayler will retire from his role as President and CEO and remain on GPD’s Board of Directors.

Schuering brings nearly 30 years of experience in the plastics industry and a proven track record of success, making him the ideal candidate to lead GPD into its next phase of growth and innovation. Schuering has served in several key leadership roles, including: President of PolyOne Distribution (now named Formerra), Vice President of Commercial Excellence at PolyOne, General Manager – Automotive at SABIC/GE Plastics, and most recently Vice President of Shaw Development, LLC.

Commenting on his appointment, Schuering said, “I am excited to lead GPD and build upon the strong foundation established by Paul and the team. I look forward to working closely with our employees, suppliers, and customers to drive sustainable value and deliver exceptional results.”

Reflecting on his retirement, Tayler remarked, “It has been an incredible journey leading GPD, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. I am confident the organization is well positioned for continued success under Kurt’s leadership.”

“We thank Paul for his dedication to GPD and look forward to his continued contributions as a director. We are also thrilled to welcome Kurt as GPD’s new President and CEO and are confident that his deep industry expertise in plastics distribution and his strategic vision will enable GPD to thrive in the years ahead,” said Tony Lee, Managing Partner of One Rock.

About GPD Companies, Inc.

GPD Companies, Inc. is a leading group of global value-added distributors formed by One Rock. Its operational entities currently include Nexeo Plastics and Distrupol. For more information, visit www.gpdcompanies.com.

About Nexeo Plastics

Nexeo Plastics is a leading global thermoplastics resin distributor for over 50 years, representing quality products from world-class suppliers and serving a diverse customer base across North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. From material selection assistance to identifying supply chain and inventory solutions, we go beyond traditional logistics to provide value-added services across many industries, including automotive, healthcare, packaging, wire and cable, and more. For more information, visit: www.nexeoplastics.com.

About Distrupol

Headquartered in Surrey, England, with broad geographic reach across Europe, Distrupol has provided value-added sales and application development of thermoplastic resins for over 60 years. Through its decades-long relationships with world-class supply partners, the company offers a robust array of superior performance products and solutions that meet the needs of diverse end users from leading and emerging industries, such as the consumer, medical, automotive, and electrical sectors, among others. Distrupol caters to over 1,300 customers across 17 countries with a portfolio of over 4,000 grades of high-quality polymers, including sustainably derived solutions that reduce environmental impact. For more information, visit www.distrupol.com.

About One Rock

One Rock makes investments in companies with potential for growth and operational improvement using a rigorous approach that utilizes highly experienced Operating Partners to identify, acquire, and enhance businesses in select industries. The involvement of these Operating Partners is designed to afford One Rock the ability to conduct due diligence and consummate acquisitions and investments in all types of situations, regardless of complexity. One Rock works collaboratively with company management and its Operating Partners to develop a comprehensive business plan focused on growing the enterprise and its profitability to enhance long-term value. For more information, visit www.onerock.com.

Media Contact:
GPD Companies, Inc.
Marianne Gooch
(832) 407-0706

Contact Information
Marianne Gooch
(832) 407-0706

SOURCE: GPD Companies, Inc.



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

PowerUP Asia 2024 Opens Tomorrow

TAIPEI, TW, June 10, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – PowerUP Asia 2024, a two-day virtual conference focused on power semiconductor technologies and industry developments in Asia, opens tomorrow, June 11.

Organized by AspenCore, publisher of EETimes AsiaEETimes India, and EDN Asia, PowerUP Asia builds on the success of the inaugural event last year and features keynotes and discussions on some of the latest power electronics trends, including wide-band gap (WBG) devices such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC), power ICs, packaging, test and measurement, and related technologies.

Speaker lineup this year includes the following:

  • Collins Wu, Regional Vice President, Power & Discrete Marketing APeC Region, STMicroelectronics: Enabling High Performance Industrial and Automotive Solution with WBG
  • Alex Lidow, CEO & Co-founder of Efficient Power Conversion, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC): Why GaN for Untethered Robotics
  • Dr. Mrinal K. Das, Senior Director of Technical Marketing, onsemi: Market Dynamics of Automotive SiC Revolution for Electrification
  • Dr. Kwok Wai Ma, Senior Principal Engineer, Industrial and Consumer Power, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific: Recent Advance and Outlook in SiC and GaN Technologies, For a Greener Future
  • Simon Keeton, Group President, Power Solutions Group, onsemi: A Pathway to Sustainable Energy: Optimized Energy Harvesting and Efficient Grid Integration
  • Michael (Hyung Mook) Choi, Vice President of Power Business, UTAC Group: Enhancing Power Semiconductor Packages for High-Performance Computing Processors
  • Bosheng Sun, Systems Engineer, Texas Instruments Inc.: A Totem-pole Bridgeless PFC with Extreme Low Ithd, Re-rush Current Control, High Power Density and Integrated E-meter Function
  • Nicholas Le Bas, Oscilloscope Product Manager and Application Engineer, Rohde & Schwarz: Measurements of Currents and High Voltages with Oscilloscopes
  • Mike Zhu, Sr. Product Applications Engineer, Qorvo Inc.: Qorvo SiC FETs Excel in ZVS Soft-switching Applications
  • Sasikala Thangam, Applications Engineer, Texas Instruments Inc.: Choosing Suitable Gate Driver Protection Approach for High Power Systems
  • Deric Waters, Systems Engineer and Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS), Texas Instruments Inc.: Power System Implications of the New USB Power Delivery 3.2
  • Jason Khor, Senior Manager, Engineering, Arrow Electronics: Optimizing Power Architectures and Designs for Next-generation Low- and High-power Applications

Panel Discussion

WBG devices have been seeing increasing adoption over the past few years, especially as manufacturers put power efficiency on top of their agenda amid the increasing trend towards decarbonization, in line with the global “net zero” goal.

As electronics and semiconductor technologies advance, businesses are creating a wide range of products that offer advantages in a number of applications for the industrial, automotive, and consumer industries, among others.

At PowerUP Asia 2024, a panel of industry experts from some of the leading companies will discuss the challenges that designers currently face, the obstacles that still need to be removed for widespread adoption of WBG devices, the latest innovations that are fueling further growth of the GaN and SiC market, and the future of the WBG industry.

With the theme The Role of GaN and SiC Technologies Towards Drive for More-Efficient Power Electronics, the panel discussion will feature the following experts:

  • Collins Wu, Regional Vice President, Power & Discrete Marketing APeC Region, STMicroelectronics
  • Alex Lidow, CEO & Co-founder of Efficient Power Conversion, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC)
  • Dr. Mrinal K. Das, Senior Director of Technical Marketing, onsemi

For more information or to register, visit https://ve.eetasia.com/powerup2024.

About AspenCore

AspenCore is a unique collection of brands and products that have set the standard in meeting the demands of today’s engineers.

We reach over 15 million technologists, designers, engineers, and managers. We connect this electronics community to reliable news, authoritative analysis, industry trends, and daily information on new technology.

Our brands include EE Times, Electronic Products, EPSNews, ESM China, IoT Times, Power Electronics News, EDN, EEWeb, Electro Schematics, Elektroda.pl, Embedded.com, Planet Analog, and more.

For more information, visit https://aspencore.com.

Contact Person
Celia Shih
Marketing Manager
Taiwan/ASEAN Marketing and Circulation Department
T: +886 227591366 Ext. 103/222
E: celia.shih@aspencore.com



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

PowerUP Asia 2024: Leading Power Semiconductor Companies to Discuss Challenges, Trends, and Latest Innovations

TAIPEI, TW, May 23, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Leading power semiconductor companies including STMicroelectronics (ST), Texas Instruments Inc. (TI), Efficient Power Conversion Corp. (EPC), onsemi, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, and NXP Semiconductors will be discussing the latest power semiconductor development trends and innovations, and how these are helping the drive toward greener electronics, at the upcoming PowerUP Asia 2024 virtual conference.

PowerUP Asia, organized by AspenCore, publisher of EETimes Asia, EETimes India, and EDN Asia, is a two-day virtual conference and exhibition focusing on power semiconductor technologies, including wide-bandgap (WBG) devices such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC), low- and high-voltage power semiconductors, and related technologies, as electronics manufacturers worldwide set their sights on power efficiency, carbon reduction, and greener energy.

With the theme Power Semiconductor Innovations Toward Green Goals, Decarbonization and Sustainability, PowerUP Asia, to be held from June 11–12, will feature keynotes, technical presentations, and a panel discussion, discussing the latest developments in power semiconductor and engineering, and how the industry can explore ways to accelerate the pathway to net-zero carbon emissions.

The virtual conference will also feature technical experts from UTAC Group, Rohde & Schwarz, Qorvo Inc., and Arrow Electronics.

Who Should Attend

Engineers, researchers, and industry professionals should attend the PowerUP Asian 2024 virtual expo and conference.

Engineers specializing in power electronics, semiconductor technologies, like GaN and SiC, and renewable energy systems will find immense value. Professionals in power management, converters and those exploring advancements in e-mobility and smart-grid infrastructure will gain significant insights.

Furthermore, those interested in gaining hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technologies within this field should attend. Those who possess a genuine enthusiasm for transforming energy efficiency, diminishing carbon footprints, and promoting the worldwide transition to renewable energy sources will find this conference to be of value.

For more information or to register, visit https://ve.eetasia.com/powerup2024.

About AspenCore

AspenCore is a unique collection of brands and products that have set the standard in meeting the demands of today’s engineers.

We reach over 15 million technologists, designers, engineers, and managers. We connect this electronics community to reliable news, authoritative analysis, industry trends, and daily information on new technology.

Our brands include EE Times, Electronic Products, EPSNews, ESM China, IoT Times, Power Electronics News, EDN, EEWeb, Electro Schematics, Elektroda.pl, Embedded.com, Planet Analog, and more.

For more information, visit https://aspencore.com.

Contact Person:
Celia Shih
Marketing Manager
Taiwan/ASEAN Marketing and Circulation Department
T: +886 227591366 Ext. 103/222
E: celia.shih@aspencore.com



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Sri Trang (SET: STA) announces delivery of EUDR rubber to customers

BANGKOK, May 17, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (SET: STA), the world’s leading and largest integrated natural rubber business operator and Thailand’s largest rubber glove manufacturer, began delivery EUDR rubber in May this year to several major branded tire manufacturers in Europe, South Korea, China and other countries, reinforcing the Company’s readiness to support the European measures to trace back the origin of natural rubber – the procedures are expected to come into force by the end of this year. Similar measures are also set to be implemented by countries in other regions around the world in the near future.

Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, STA Managing Director & Executive Director, announced that, in April-May 2024, the Company began to deliver natural rubber compliant with EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) to customers who placed their orders by May 2024. STA’s “Traceable Natural Rubber (GPS)” commands higher selling prices than most other sources, with customers consisting of many nationalities from Europe, South Korea, China and other Asian countries where there is a demand for EUDR rubber to be processed into products that will be exported to countries in the European Union in response to upcoming EUDR enforcement expected by the end of 2024. The EUDR will regulate the export of natural rubber and products processed from natural rubber to Europe, requiring traceability verification to ensure that the sources of natural rubber are not involved in deforestation and are not an encroachment of forested areas.

Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Managing Director and Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL
Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, STA’s Executive Director & Managing Director

Currently, the Company is fully ready to export all types of EUDR rubber, such as latex concentrates, rubber blocks, rubber sheets, etc., This readiness results from ongoing preparations to support these measures. More importantly, the database management system has been developed in collaboration with farmers and rubber dealers to identify land designated for rubber plantations. This system inputs data into the “Sri Trang Friends of Farmers” application allowing 100-percent traceability of rubber sources. Additionally, the launch of “Traceable Natural Rubber (GPS)” enables direct tracing of produce back to its origins. These initiatives demonstrate the Company’s full readiness to comply with the EUDR requirements from Europe, as well as from other regions in the near future for full traceability of the sources of natural rubber.

“We have been preparing in advance for some time for the exportation of EUDR rubber to countries in the European Union or their trading partners. Our operations place full emphasis on the policy that prioritizes environmental, society, and good corporate governance, together with our stance on conducting business sustainably and transparently, and in compliance with regional regulations. The Traceable Natural Rubber (GPS) will enhance the competitiveness of the Sri Trang Group of Companies while also elevating Thailand’s standards on rubber production above those of other countries’. This initiative will also open up the opportunity to increase Thailand’s trade advantage and leverage higher prices for Thailand-sourced rubber,” Mr. Veerasith added.

Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Agro-Industry PLC
For additional information, please contact: Wasana “Jeab” Wongsiri
Tel: +66 84 359 0659, +66 2 612 2081 ext.131; E: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com

About Sri Trang Agro-Industry PC

Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (STA) was established in 1987. With determination and intention, STA has grown and become a fully integrated natural rubber company. For the upstream business, the Company invested in large-scale rubber plantations and currently has an area of 7,500 hectares for rubber and other economic crop plantations in 19 provinces of Thailand. As the world’s largest fully integrated producer and distributor of natural rubber, STA is committed to growing in lockstep with the economic development of the local communities of Thailand.

Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL: www.sritranggroup.com/en/home [SET: STA][SGX: NC2][FRA: YTAA][OTCPK: SLJUY]



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Sri Trang (SET: STA) announces delivery of EUDR rubber to customers

BANGKOK, May 16, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (SET: STA), the world’s leading and largest integrated natural rubber business operator and Thailand’s largest rubber glove manufacturer, began delivery EUDR rubber in May this year to several major branded tire manufacturers in Europe, South Korea, China and other countries, reinforcing the Company’s readiness to support the European measures to trace back the origin of natural rubber – the procedures are expected to come into force by the end of this year. Similar measures are also set to be implemented by countries in other regions around the world in the near future.

Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, STA Managing Director & Executive Director, announced that, in April-May 2024, the Company began to deliver natural rubber compliant with EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) to customers who placed their orders by May 2024. STA’s “Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)” commands higher selling prices than most other sources, with customers consisting of many nationalities from Europe, South Korea, China and other Asian countries where there is a demand for EUDR rubber to be processed into products that will be exported to countries in the European Union in response to upcoming EUDR enforcement expected by the end of 2024. The EUDR will regulate the export of natural rubber and products processed from natural rubber to Europe, requiring traceability verification to ensure that the sources of natural rubber are not involved in deforestation and are not an encroachment of forested areas.

Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Managing Director and Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL
Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, STA’s Executive Director & Managing Director

Currently, the Company is fully ready to export all types of EUDR rubber, such as latex concentrates, rubber blocks, rubber sheets, etc., This readiness results from ongoing preparations to support these measures. More importantly, the database management system has been developed in collaboration with farmers and rubber dealers to identify land designated for rubber plantations. This system inputs data into the “Sri Trang Friends of Farmers” application allowing 100-percent traceability of rubber sources. Additionally, the launch of “Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber” enables direct tracing of produce back to its origins. These initiatives demonstrate the Company’s full readiness to comply with the EUDR requirements from Europe, as well as from other regions in the near future for full traceability of the sources of natural rubber.

“We have been preparing in advance for some time for the exportation of EUDR rubber to countries in the European Union or their trading partners. Our operations place full emphasis on the policy that prioritizes environmental, society, and good corporate governance, together with our stance on conducting business sustainably and transparently, and in compliance with regional regulations. The GPS Natural Rubber will enhance the competitiveness of the Sri Trang Group of Companies while also elevating Thailand’s standards on rubber production above those of other countries’. This initiative will also open up the opportunity to increase Thailand’s trade advantage and leverage higher prices for Thailand-sourced rubber,” Mr. Veerasith added.

Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Agro-Industry PLC
For additional information, please contact: Wasana “Jeab” Wongsiri
Tel: +66 84 359 0659, +66 2 612 2081 ext.131; E: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com

About Sri Trang Agro-Industry PC

Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (STA) was established in 1987. With determination and intention, STA has grown and become a fully integrated natural rubber company. For the upstream business, the Company invested in large-scale rubber plantations and currently has an area of 7,500 hectares for rubber and other economic crop plantations in 19 provinces of Thailand. As the world’s largest fully integrated producer and distributor of natural rubber, STA is committed to growing in lockstep with the economic development of the local communities of Thailand.

Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL: www.sritranggroup.com/en/home [SET: STA][SGX: NC2][FRA: YTAA][OTCPK: SLJUY]



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Kirigami hydrogels rise from cellulose film

TSUKUBA, Japan, Apr 12, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – New options for making finely structured soft, flexible and expandable materials called hydrogels have been developed by researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT). Their work extends the emerging field of ‘kirigami hydrogels’, in which patterns are cut into a thin film allowing it to later swell into complex hydrogel structures. The research is published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

A Kirigami pattern of the hydrogel (top) and the hydrogel swollen from dry state (bottom).
A Kirigami pattern of the hydrogel (top) and the hydrogel swollen from dry state (bottom).

Hydrogels have a network of water-attracting (hydrophilic) molecules, allowing their structure to swell substantially when exposed to water that becomes incorporated within the molecular network. Researchers Daisuke Nakagawa and Itsuo Hanasaki worked with an initially dry film composed of nanofibers of cellulose, the natural material that forms much of the structure of plant cell walls.

They used laser processing to cut structures into the film before water was added allowing the film to swell. The particular design of the Kirigami pattern works in such a way that the width increases when stretched in the longitudinal direction, which is called the auxetic property. This auxetic property emerges provided that the thickness grows sufficiently when the original thin film is wet.

“As Kirigami literally means the cut design of papers, it was originally intended for thin sheet structures. On the other hand, our two-dimensional auxetic mechanism manifests when the thickness of the sheet is sufficient, and this three dimensionality of the hydrogel structure emerges by swelling when it is used. It is convenient to store it in the dry state before use, rather than keeping the same water content level of the hydrogel.” says Hanasaki. “Furthermore, the auxeticity is maintained during the cyclic loading that causes the adaptive deformation of the hydrogel to reach another structural state. It will be important for the design of intelligent materials.”

Potential applications for the adaptive hydrogels include soft components of robotic technologies, allowing them to respond flexibly when interacting with objects they are manipulating, for example. They might also be incorporated into soft switches and sensor components. Hydrogels are also being explored for medical applications, including tissue engineering, wound dressings, drug delivery systems and materials that can adapt flexibly to movement and growth. The advance in kirigami hydrogels achieved by the TUAT team significantly extends the options for future hydrogel applications.

“Keeping the designed characteristics while showing adaptivity to the environmental condition is advantageous for the development of multifunctionality,” Hanasaki concludes.

Further information
Itsuo Hanasaki
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Email: hanasaki@cc.tuat.ac.jp

Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2024.2331959

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM)

Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM 

Dr Yasufumi Nakamichi
STAM Publishing Director
Email: NAKAMICHI.Yasufumi@nims.go.jp 

Press release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Formerra Unveils Evonik Alliance for High-Performance Solutions

ROMEOVILLE, IL, Apr 2, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Formerra today announced its new strategic partnership with Evonik, the global leader in PA12 and high-performance polyamides. This alliance enables Formerra to distribute Evonik’s polyamides and sustainable materials in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Additionally, these materials are accessible in Mexico courtesy of Formerra’s recent acquisition of Suministro de Especialidades.

Formerra has added PA12 and polyamides from Evonik to its lineup of high-performance material options for automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.

Specifically, Formerra will distribute the following materials:

  • VESTAMID® L POLYAMIDE 12
  • VESTAMID® E POLYAMIDE 12 ELASTOMER
  • VESTAMID® D POLYAMIDE 612
  • TROGAMID® CX (transparent and microcrystalline polyamides)
  • Sustainable grades:
    • VESTAMID® eCO (PA12)
    • VESTAMID® RFP (PA12)
    • VESTAMID® Terra (PA610 and PA1010)

Doug Zupan, Vice President of Operations at Formerra, expressed enthusiasm about the addition of this new supplier. “Joining forces with Evonik empowers us to supply top-tier materials for critical applications in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Evonik’s reputation in high-performance polyamide production and their commitment to sustainable solutions resonate with our vision of offering customers the best cutting-edge material options.”

Craig Schmidter, Americas Director of Granules and Compounds at Evonik, added, “With Formerra’s vast network and deep technical support for performance-driven applications, they are the ideal choice for our polyamide products distribution. In short, Formerra is a great match because they offer the technical material selection and engineering support that customers and applications need to incorporate our high-performance materials.”

Evonik products enable Formerra to enter new markets such as aerospace and oil & gas; Evonik will play a key role in helping Formerra to accomplish this growth. In addition, Formerra will be able to support current and future customers with logistics, warehousing, technical service, and speed to market.

The Formerra-Evonik collaboration will focus on providing substantial benefits to fuel customer innovation in multiple markets.

Formerra will exhibit next month at NPE2024: The Plastics Show in booth S39025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

About Formerra

Formerra is a preeminent distributor of engineered materials, connecting the world’s leading polymer producers with thousands of OEMs and brand owners across healthcare, consumer, industrial, and mobility markets. Powered by technical and commercial expertise, it brings a distinctive combination of portfolio depth, supply chain strength, industry knowledge, service, leading e-commerce capabilities, and ingenuity. The experienced Formerra team helps customers across multiple industries to design, select, process, and develop products in new and better ways – driving improved performance, productivity, reliability, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.formerra.com.

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15.3 billion in 2023. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.

Contact Information:
Jackie Morris
Marketing Communications Manager, Formerra
jackie.morris@formerra.com
+1 630-972-3144

SOURCE: Formerra

.

View the original press release on newswire.com.



Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

China Bluechem’s Profit Achieves Record High in 2023, Up 45.0% Year-on-Yearly to RMB 2.382 Billion

HONG KONG, Mar 24, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – China BlueChemical Ltd. (“China BlueChem” or the “Company,” stock code: 3983), China’s largest chemical fertilizer central enterprise in both production capacity and production volume, has announced its audited annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023. In 2023, the Company realized a revenue of RMB12.990 billion. Net profit attributable to owners of the Company grew 45.0% year-on-yearly to RMB 2.382 billion, which was the best performance since the establishment of the Company. The Board has recommended the payment of a final dividend of RMB0.207 per share (tax inclusive) for 2023, hitting record high and representing a payout ratio of 40%.

Mr. HOU Xiaofeng, CEO and President of China BlueChem said, “The Company clearly defines its development position and has been promoting the transformation and upgrade of the traditional industrial structure, while, at the same time, it has achieved safe production and pursues to increase its sales efficiency. As a result, China BlueChem’s brand value has been enhancing continuously and reached RMB5.404 billion in 2023, up by RMB1.433 billion as compared with the previous year, which was a record-high increment. To consistently implement the Company’s green and low-carbon development strategy and improve ESG management level, the Company sold 67% of equity interest in a subsidiary, Tianye Chemical (now renamed as New Material Company), which is under urea and methanol segments, which resulted in a one-time revenue of RMB 850 million, thus further optimizing the Company’s asset structure and also significantly driving the growth of the Company’s profits.”

In 2023, the Company’s methanol plant was awarded the honorary title of “Energy Efficiency Leader” by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation for the twelfth consecutive year, and the synthetic ammonia plant was awarded the honorary title of “Water Efficiency Leader” by the China Nitrogen Fertiliser Industry Association for the fourth consecutive year.

In respect of production management, the Company adhered to the principle of safe production and continued to strengthen management and control over the production operation. There were no production-related accidents throughout the year, and for the second consecutive year, there were no environmental pollution incidents, hence the best performance since the founding of the Company. Hainan Phase I methanol plant once again recorded a long-term operation period of over 500 days, and the continuous operation days of the CNOOC Huahe fertilizer plant and the production volume of urea both achieved record highs. Benefiting from such developments, the Company’s annual production of urea increased significantly year on year. In 2023, the Company produced 2,006 thousand tonnes of urea, 814 thousand tonnes of phosphate and compound fertilizers, 1,462 thousand tonnes of methanol and 165 thousand tonnes of acrylonitrile and related products.

With regard to sales management, the Company continued to strengthen market promotions and promoted refined pricing management. It enhanced its influence across channels and increased sales in the high-price range, to achieve greater sales at higher prices and increase both sales volume and profit. The Company also intensified brand building efforts, focusing on bolstering its position as a “Plant Nutrition Solution Provider”. Furthermore, the Company sought to increase e-commerce direct sales. As a consequence, the e-commerce direct sales to farmers reached 84.6 thousand tonnes, representing a year-on-year increase of 110%. In 2023, the Company sold 1,992 thousand tonnes of urea, 1,444 thousand tonnes of methanol, 473 thousand tonnes of phosphate fertilizers, 353 thousand tonnes of compound fertilizers and 159 thousand tonnes of acrylonitrile and relating products. During the year, the Company exported a total of 153 thousand tonnes of urea and 130 thousand tonnes of DAP, and the export volume of fertilizers increased by 80% year on year. Export of methanol amounted to 25 thousand tonnes.

In 2024, both the supply and demand for urea are anticipated to increase, which can be attributed to its direct application in agricultural products and through the procurement of raw materials for compound fertilizer factories. Due to seasonality, supply and demand are expected to enter different phases based on low and peak seasons. As for phosphate fertilizer, the new overseas production capacity is anticipated to fulfill part of the export demand. The overall balance between supply and demand will be relatively loose in the market, though the cost of raw materials is expected to decline, hence the price of phosphate fertilizer may return to a reasonable level with fluctuations based on the season. With gradual stability entering the global supply chain and adjustments being made in the raw materials market, the cost of raw materials for compound fertilizer will potentially sustain relative balance. Overall, the compound fertilizer market is facing certain fluctuations, and is expected to observe a neutral trend. Regarding methanol, its import will continue to remain at a high level. It is worth noting that the demand from downstream industries for olefins will be stable, whereas traditional downstream industries will show a growth trend, and the alternative application of energy will maintain growth. Furthermore, the overall price center of the methanol market is expected to improve over last year. In respect of acrylonitrile, the growth rate of domestic acrylonitrile production capacity will slow down as the release of existing production capacity has been the main driver of supply. Since the capacity expansion in downstream industries such as ABS and carbon fiber will be relatively concentrated, the overall supply and demand structure will be adjusted and revamped, and the sale in the markets will further improve.

Mr. HOU Xiaofeng, CEO and President of China BlueChem said, “In 2024, the Company will continue to place safety and environmental protection as its top priority, hence it will further strengthen the refined production management, and promote the full implementation of the new Heath, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management system. The Company will also seek product and service upgrades, strengthen its position as a “Plant Nutrition Solution Provider”, precisely implement cost reduction measures, and continuously optimize the value of its products in terms of cost per tonne. Furthermore, the Company will intensify research on the resource utilization of carbon-rich natural gas and CO2 to champion carbon reduction. While promoting industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation, the Company will master more fertilizer and chemical-related core technologies, and conduct both self-initiated and cooperative research and development. Moreover, it will focus comprehensively on digital and intelligent transformation, intensify research efforts on strategic emerging industries, and optimize planning and deployment, in order to facilitate the Company’s high-quality development.”

About China BlueChemical Ltd.

China BlueChemical Ltd. (“China BlueChem”) is a listed company that specialises in the development, production and sales of chemical fertilisers and synthetic chemical products. It is the largest Central enterprise in the field of chemical fertilisers in terms of both production capacity and production volume. The Company is a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation which mainly engages in the exploration, development, production and sales of crude oil and natural gas. On 29 September 2006, China BlueChem was listed on the main board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 3983. Currently, its production facilities are located in Hainan, Hubei and Heilongjiang, China, with a total designed annual production capacity of 1.84 million tonnes of urea, 1 million tonnes of phosphate and compound fertilisers (mono-ammonium phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate and compound fertiliser), 1.4 million tonnes of methanol, 200,000 tonnes of acrylonitrile and 70,000 tonnes MMA. It has a deep water port with a designed annual throughout capacity of 18.28 million tonnes in Dongfang city, Hainan province. Boasting continued growth of its brand value, the Company’s brand value reached RMB5.404 billion in 2023, up by RMB1.433 billion as compared with 2022. In early 2023, the Company was granted “The Outstanding Listed Enterprise Awards 2022 – Excellent Results Performance” by Capital Media in recognition of its impressive and growing financial results.

For more information about the Company, please visit its website:

www.chinabluechem.com.cn.



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GNMI: Update on Discloseable Transaction Deemed Disposal of Equity Interest in Chesir Luzhai

HONG KONG, Dec 8, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – On December 6, 2023, Global New Material International Holdings Limited (the “Company”, or “GNMI”, Stock Code: 06616.HK) disclosed the latest progress of the Capital Increase Agreement in Chesir Luzhai.

The Board is pleased to announce that, as at the date hereof, all of the conditions precedent to the Capital Increase Agreement have been fulfilled, and the total consideration for the Capital Increase in the amount of RMB1 billion in cash has been received by Chesir Luzhai from the Investor.

According to the announcement of GNMI dated 20 November 2023 (the “Announcement”), Chesir Luzhai, an indirect non-wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the Investor entered into the Capital Increase Agreement, pursuant to which the Investor has conditionally agreed to inject RMB1 billion in cash into Chesir Luzhai. Upon Completion, Chesir Luzhai will remain as the core subsidiary of the Company and its financial results will continue to be consolidated in the Group’s accounts.

GNMI has made significant progress towards its goals and maintained a steady momentum of business development. Simultaneously, the Company has been actively seeking international acquisition opportunities with strong foundations and advanced technology to further enhance its core competitiveness. In August 2023, GNMI successfully completed the acquisition of CQV, a famous pearlescent pigment manufacturer in Korea and a renowned brand in the global pearlescent pigment industry, which marks a milestone in the Group’s international expansion plans.

The Company has also announced its intention to seize opportunities and expand its business presence in the international pearlescent pigments industry. It will continue to follow the strategy of “Endogenous Development and Outward Expansion” to accelerate the Group’s various strategic plans. The completion of the Capital Increase Agreement will provide the Company with additional working capital for future developments.

About Global New Material International Holdings Limited

Global New Material International specializes in the manufacturing and sale of pearlescent pigment products and synthetic mica. Leveraging the unique materials, the Company offers an expansive range of over 1000 distinct product variations catering to diverse industrial, exterior, and cosmetic applications. The company is known as the largest pearlescent pigment producer in China and the third largest globally.

About the Investor

The Investor is wholly-owned by Tonglu Technology and Innovation Industry Development and Investment Company Limited, which in turn is wholly-owned by Tonglu County State-owned Asset Management Committee, being the ultimate beneficial owner of the Investor.



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com