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drymix.info Newsletter 260/2021; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 11. November 2021

1. Post-event Report: Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting, 20. October 2021 in Cairo
2. Upcoming drymix.info Activities: An Outlook into 2022 and beyond
3. Wacker Chemie Raises Prices for Dispersions and Resins
4. Biesterfeld Acquires GME Chemicals Singapore
5. Lonza Specialty Ingredients Re-Names itself to Arxada, Merges with Troy
6. Calucem Joins MEDMA as Industrial Partner
7. Sika Announces Acquisition of MBCC Group
8. Evonik Raises Prices for all Silicone-based Products

1. Post-event Report: Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting, 20. October 2021 in Cairo

Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt (ASU), drymix.info, Munich, Germany and The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA, Dubai, United Arab Emirates had invited the construction materials industry along with the Egypt scientific community, as well as important research institutions and government bodies for a technical event on 20. October 2021. Over 100 experts joined the 10th Workshop on Oilfield and Construction Chemistry with Focus on Drymix Mortars (Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting). Technical Chairwoman Prof. Dr. Ghada Bassioni welcomed the audience at the splendid Auditorium Maximum of the Engineering Faculty of Ain Shams University. Also present were the Vice-Dean of ASU, along with several dignitaries. The program consisted of  technical lectures and ample networking time. Many connections were made and old ones renewed (in my case ;-). As at idmmc8 earlier in October, all those present were thankful to be able to meet in person after such a long time. The event was sponsored by drymix.info members Calucem, Evonik, m-tec and Wacker Chemie. These sponsors also paid for the wonderful night cruise on the Nile River with a festive Gala Dinner on board - we thank them warmly.

2. Upcoming drymix.info Activities: An Outlook into 2022 and beyond

It is quite hard in these times to organize events, but on the other hand, our contributors need some orientation and planning in order to maintain their generally high quality in scientific lectures and product presentations. So here is a short rundown of what we are PLANNING for 2022 and early 2023 (subject to change without notice, of course).

Until 31.12.21: Drymix Mortar Yearbook 2022: this is for sure, at least! response is good for this important publication (the only one focussed entirely on the global drymix mortar industry!). We are still accepting articles and advertorials, please enquire with us (publication fees apply).

Online in February or March 2022: 6th MORTAR CONVENTION (date tbd.). Since we see no chance to hold larger meetings in Australia, South East Asia, India and The Middle East, during the next six months, Leo will consult with SEADMA and MEDMA to arrange for a virtual event yet again. It will be geared towards the mentioned regions, but of course contributions are welcome from all around the globe. So wake up early, Europeans, Africans ;-). A Call for Papers is available at drymix.info

April 28, 2022, Toronto, Canada: The 7th American Drymix Mortar Conference admmc7. This is where we intend to present our Drymix Mortar Yearbook 2022. The Technical Chairman is Prof. Dr. Johann Plank, Technische Universität München (TUM). The Call for Papers is running, its deadline is 15. December 2021. Please propose your paper, sponsors are welcome of course - also for the Delegate Welcome on April 27, 2022.

We plan a meeting in Mexico City in June 2022, but prior to announcing it officially, our team in Mexico (Meliza and Carlos) need to observe the situation (proposed date is 22. June 2022). However, there IS a Call for Papers available at drymix.info (expires 31. January 2022), proposed lectures would be “saved up” for a later date, if June 2022 can not be realized.

15. September 2022: The 7th Central and South European Drymix mortar Conference cedmmc7, Istanbul, Turkey. Given the development this year, I think this event is likely to be realized, but who knows? I personally would definitely very much enjoy being back to Turkey and especially to beautiful Istanbul - and I long to re-connect to the experts and friends in the region. There will be a cruise on the Bosphorus I promise!

26 to 29. September 2022: 4th International Conference on the Chemistry of Construction Materials (4th ICCCM), Karlsruhe, Germany. Prof. Dr. Andreas Gerdes, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is the host and Chairman of this meeting, it is being organized by The German Society of Chemists' Subgroup Construction Chemicals (Fachgruppe Bauchemie in der GDCh).

(as a side note: I hope there is an Oktoberfest in Munich after 2 years of abstinence ;-)

14. to 30. October 2022: BAUMA München, world's largest industry show, featuring construction equipment, technologies and materials. We will have our drymix mortar industry gathering on Wednesday, 26. October 2022 - sponsors are welcome for this traditional event.

20. October 2022: 7th Latin American Drymix Mortar Conference ladmmc7. Technical Chairman is Mario Kristeller, formerly Quartzolit (later Saint Gobain Weber). Unfortunately, under today's circumstances we need to find a new location: Club Transatlantico does not allow enough spacing of the delegates - we will inform you further.

9. to 14. January 2023: BAU München, a major construction materials and technology show, our traditional drymix.info get-together for tired fairgoers will take place on Wednesday, 11. January 2023.

and finally:
27. March 2023: The 9th International Drymix Mortar Conference and Industry Showcase idmmc9 in Nürnberg, Germany, with a delegate welcome on Sunday, 26.3.21, hopefully again at Barfüsser im Mautkeller as all those times before.

28. to 30. March 2023: European Coatings Show, also featuring European Coatings Conference, where Prof Gerdes and I again will host the Construction Chemicals Session.

3. Wacker Chemie Raises Prices for Dispersions and Resins

Wacker Chemie AG, Munich, Germany has announced a global price increase for Dispersions and Resins. Effective 1. November 2021 or as customer contracts allow, the prices for the mentioned product groups will go up by 20 percent. The currently applicable temporary surcharge on redispersible powders will lso be affected, it will go up to 590 Euro per metric ton (+ ca. 20 %, was 510 Euro). Wacker Chemie attributes the necessity of this increase to the “continuously rising energy, raw material and logistics costs”.

4. Biesterfeld Acquires GME Chemicals Singapore

The Biesterfeld Group, Hamburg, Germany, has recently acquired a majority stake in specialty chemical distributor GME Chemicals (s) Pte Ltd, Singapore. GME Chemicals, founded 1999, has an industrial chemicals portfolio for the food, pharmaceuticals, packaging as well as coatings markets. In the construction chemicals field, GME has been working with companies providing rheological solutions such as Elementis, Lotte, Meihua, Nouryon and Vink. GME has operating subsidiaries in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and China and employs 60 people. Further details on the amount of shares transferred now were not given by either partner, an internal contract foresees the complete takeover of the remaining shares in five years (2026).     

5. Lonza Specialty Ingredients Re-Names itself to Arxada, Merges with Troy

In order to grow its anti-microbial business, Lonza Group Ltd., Basel Switzerland has spun off Lonza Specialty Ingredients (LSI) and renamed it as Arxada. Arxada is part of the portfolio of Bain Capital, Boston, MA, USA and Cinven LLP, London, United Kingdom. Now Arxada, in its first move, has agreed to merge with Troy Corporation, Florham Park, New Jersey, USA. Both companies are active in the field of biocides (microbial control).
According to company statements the owners of Troy intend to invest in the merged activity and thus will remain minority shareholders in Arxada.Both companies are active in the construction materials industries as well as in personal care, plastics, textiles and other industries. Troy operates plants in the US, Germany, The Netherlands and Thailand. The transaction is still subject to regulatory approval, financial details were not disclosed by either party.

6. Calucem Joins MEDMA as Industrial Partner

After already supporting our meeting in Cairo last month, Calucem has decided to joinThe Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA (Munich, Germany and Dubai, UAE) as Industrial Partner. Calucem, headquartered in Mannheim, Germany is producing high alumina cements for the use in drymix mortars and other industries such as refractories. The company recently joined forces with Cementos Molins, Barcelona, Spain (we reported earlier).

MEDMA warmly welcomes Calucem as Industrial Partner.

7. Sika Announces Acquisition of MBCC Group

Sika AG of Baar, Switzerland, has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire MBCC Group, Mannheim, Germany, which was recently spun off by BASF to Lone Star Funds, New York City, NY, USA (we reported earlier). MBCC contains parts of the former BASF Construction Chemicals Division and is active in that market globally. MBCC's annual turnover is estimated to be 2.700 mio Euro in 2021. The company operates 130 plants and is active in over 60 countries, it employs 7.500 people worldwide. The transaction value as reported by Sika is 5.200 mio Euro. Provided that the deal meets regulatory approval (still pending; the companies are highly complementary and individual leaders in the construction chemical market), Sika and MBCC can realize multiple synergies, estimated by Sika to be 150 to 170 mio Euro per year. The closing is targeted for the second half of 2022. Including the MBCC business, Sika targets sales of over 12.000 mio Euro in 2023.

8. Evonik Raises Prices for all Silicone-based Products

Evonik Industries AG, Essen, Germany has recently announced a net price increase of 30% or more for all silicone-based products globally, with immediate effect. It can be assumed, that this measure can be attributed to a global shortage in key raw materials caused by logistical issues in the supply chain


WE KEEP BUILDING


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