Germany. The chemical company Cognis increased its external net sales by 5.5% to US$3,958 million in 2008. Operating profit (EBITDA adjustment) fell slightly by 2.6% to $351 million (about US$463 million). This is due to the high costs in raw materials and energy, as well as the unfavorable exchange rates and a fall in sales volumes, which began to appear in the fourth period of the previous year.
Return on sales (adjusted Ebitda as a percentage of sales) was 11.7%. Due to lower restructuring prices, income before interest and taxes increased from $5 million to $209 million (US$275 million). Net losses were among the special items at 63 million euros, representing an improvement of 57 million euros (US$75 million), compared to 2007.
The most significant growth of the company was in Central and South America (US$259 million, growing by 20.9%). In Europe sales increased by 4.1%, in North America they increased by 3.1% and Asia Pacific also reported growth with 9.2%.
Mexico. NACE International offers as every year, its training and certification program in corrosion control for the Hispanic community, which will cover three specialized areas: cathodic protection, coating inspection and interior corrosion.
The courses will take place during the months of May and August in the city of Cuernavaca, Morelos, coordinated by the company Corrosion and Protection Engineering, and taught by certified instructors with international recognition.
The main objective of this program is to provide a preparation of excellence with official recognition of international validity, to certify engineers, technicians and other actors of the industrial activity, with responsibility in actions and decision making aimed at the operation of corrosion control systems.
The teaching methodology is based on lectures and field practices, providing each student with the required support material. To evaluate the knowledge acquired, a final exam is applied, which must be passed to obtain certification, either in cathodic protection or coating inspection.
In the portal www.corrosionyproteccion.com/certificacion-nace-mexico.asp you can find more information regarding the scheduled courses, as well as the contact telephone numbers.
Brazil. The central government launched an incentive program for the construction of new homes that, according to Dilson Ferreira, president of the Brazilian Association of Paint Manufacturers, Abrafati, will benefit, among others, the paint sector with sales of up to 400 million reais (approximately US$178 million).
Speaking to the official communications agency, Agência Brasil, Ferreira said that about 50 million liters of paint will be needed to paint more than one million houses that are planned to be built with the program. That amount is equivalent to 7% of the current consumption of architectural paintings in Brazil.
For Ferreira, the government's housing program "fully" meets the expectations of civil construction entrepreneurs and will allow "the return of credibility in the sector."
USA Scientists at the Department of Energy at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a method for coating metal surfaces with an ultra-thin film containing nanoparticles, which make the metal resistant to corrosion and eliminate the use of toxic chromium for this purpose. The technology is available by license.
"Our coating is produced for the metal using a simple two- or three-step process to produce a thin film, structured by the bond between the compounds of the component," said chemist Toshifumi Sugama.
Corrosion resistance is essential for metals used in a wide range of applications, from appliances, aviation and power plants. Traditionally, compounds contain a toxic form of chromium, which has provided the best corrosion resistance. Scientists are looking to develop chromium-free alternatives that are unable to reach the thin layers desirable for many applications. "Ultra-thin coatings reduce the amount of material needed to provide corrosion resistance, thereby reducing costs," Sugama said.
USA Cambridge Viscosity reported that the American Materials Testing Society (Astm) developed a standard test method for petroleum-based products and lubricants for gears, compressor cylinders, hydraulic equipment, chemicals and coatings where adequate viscosity is important for product performance.
By means of a viscometer with oscillation pistons, viscosity can be measured and a wide range of fluids can be controlled, including those that are transparent, translucent and opaque. The viscometer function is fully automatic, in order to reduce measurement errors.
"This designation allows us to provide our customers, through Astm, with technology for laboratory and production areas," said CEO Robert Kasameyer. "We are pleased to help the industry by providing a new standard and to assist our customers in consistent, traceable and repeatable results," he added.
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