The Urethane Blog

August 7, 2019

Benzene Update

US AROMATICS

US benzene prices are expected to remain steady this week following the settlement of the August benzene CP. The August benzene CP fell 13 cents to settle at 254 cents/gal. The lower CP should bode well for styrene producers who wrestled with high costs in July. Demand from the styrene segment is expected to be steady in the near term, although consumption should improve throughout the latter part of the year with multiple European styrene producers poised to carry out turnarounds. Supply-side conditions are unlikely to change, with benzene remaining contingent upon imports amid poor toluene conversion economics. Prompt spot toluene prices fell over the past week, however weakness in both benzene and paraxylene was expected to keep margins in negative territory. Mixed xylene prices were expected to remain soft on continued weak downstream demand from the paraxylene segment. US spot paraxylene prices were not expected to see much upside amid market length and waning seasonal demand along the PET chain.

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/petrochemicals/080519-americas-petrochemical-outlook-w-c-aug-5

August 7, 2019

PFA Call for Papers

Polyurethane Foam Association Accepting Abstracts For Technical Presentations For November 2019 Meeting

 

Abstract Deadline: September 15, 2019 

LOUDON, TN (August 6, 2019)—The Polyurethane Foam Association is accepting proposals for technical presentations for its Fall Technical Program, November 7, at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY.

Authors must submit an abstract with request for presentation. Presentations must not exceed 25 minutes in length. A written paper and slide file are also required to become part of PFA’s online information library.

The Paper Selection Process

To be eligible for presentation, papers must have a non-commercial focus and specifically address topics related to slabstock or molded flexible polyurethane foam production, raw material developments, environmental performance, occupational safety, product evaluation, novel commercial applications, or production control, and be based on actual production applications.

The deadline for submitting an abstract is September 15, 2019. To submit a proposal or for more information, please contact Russ Batson by email ( rbatson@pfa.org ) or telephone (865.657.9840). Three topics have already been proposed, so potential speakers are advised to act quickly.

Based on a program that includes at least 6 technical papers, the presentations will be scored to compete for a $500 Technical Excellence Award provided by the Herman Stone Family Endowment.

 

About The Polyurethane Foam Association

The Polyurethane Foam Association is a trade association founded in 1980 to educate customers and other groups about flexible polyurethane foam (FPF). This includes providing facts on environmental, health and safety issues and technical information on the performance of FPF in consumer and industrial products. FPF is used as a key comfort component in most upholstered furniture and mattress products, along with automotive seating, packaging, medical products, and numerous other applications. To learn more, visit www.pfa.org.

August 7, 2019

PFA Call for Papers

Polyurethane Foam Association Accepting Abstracts For Technical Presentations For November 2019 Meeting

 

Abstract Deadline: September 15, 2019 

LOUDON, TN (August 6, 2019)—The Polyurethane Foam Association is accepting proposals for technical presentations for its Fall Technical Program, November 7, at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY.

Authors must submit an abstract with request for presentation. Presentations must not exceed 25 minutes in length. A written paper and slide file are also required to become part of PFA’s online information library.

The Paper Selection Process

To be eligible for presentation, papers must have a non-commercial focus and specifically address topics related to slabstock or molded flexible polyurethane foam production, raw material developments, environmental performance, occupational safety, product evaluation, novel commercial applications, or production control, and be based on actual production applications.

The deadline for submitting an abstract is September 15, 2019. To submit a proposal or for more information, please contact Russ Batson by email ( rbatson@pfa.org ) or telephone (865.657.9840). Three topics have already been proposed, so potential speakers are advised to act quickly.

Based on a program that includes at least 6 technical papers, the presentations will be scored to compete for a $500 Technical Excellence Award provided by the Herman Stone Family Endowment.

 

About The Polyurethane Foam Association

The Polyurethane Foam Association is a trade association founded in 1980 to educate customers and other groups about flexible polyurethane foam (FPF). This includes providing facts on environmental, health and safety issues and technical information on the performance of FPF in consumer and industrial products. FPF is used as a key comfort component in most upholstered furniture and mattress products, along with automotive seating, packaging, medical products, and numerous other applications. To learn more, visit www.pfa.org.

August 5, 2019

Stockmeier Hosts WVMA

Stockmeier Urethanes USA was selected to host one of the 2019 Legislative
Lunch & Learn series for the West Virginia Manufacturers Association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo During Plant Tour

Clarksburg, WV – July 2019 – STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc. was pleased to host
the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) Lunch & Learn at their facility on
Tuesday, July 30. The WVMA created the Lunch & Learn series throughout the
Mountain State to give legislators and community leaders an opportunity to learn about
the manufacturing plants in WV and take tours of their facilities.

Chris Martinkat, Chairman and CEO of STOCKMEIER Urethanes, USA, spoke about
the history of the company, the growth seen for their USA facility and discussed policy
issues that affect everyday business for manufacturers in West Virginia. “It was an
honor to host the Lunch & Learn at our facility. I enjoyed sharing how STOCKMEIER
Urethanes began and our successes in the US with legislators and community leaders
and supporters. We chose West Virginia because there was a great deal of support for
us to establish our business here and we simply felt taken care of.” stated Martinkat.
“We are happy to be a member of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association as they
consistently advocate for us as well as serve as the voice for our industry to
policymakers and regulators.”

As a specialist within the STOCKMEIER Group, STOCKMEIER Urethanes GmbH & Co.
was founded in 1991 in Germany as a polyurethane systems house focused on the
development and manufacturing of coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers for a
wide range of sports and industrial markets. Operating worldwide with ISO 9001
certified production facilities and laboratories in Germany, France, the United Kingdom
and the United States, STOCKMEIER Urethanes provides customers with consistent
global delivery of high quality polyurethane products and services.
For more information on STOCKMEIER Urethanes please visit our website at
www.stockmeier-urethanes.com or contact us at +1-304-624-7002 or
urethanes.usa@stockmeier.com.

August 5, 2019

Stockmeier Hosts WVMA

Stockmeier Urethanes USA was selected to host one of the 2019 Legislative
Lunch & Learn series for the West Virginia Manufacturers Association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo During Plant Tour

Clarksburg, WV – July 2019 – STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc. was pleased to host
the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) Lunch & Learn at their facility on
Tuesday, July 30. The WVMA created the Lunch & Learn series throughout the
Mountain State to give legislators and community leaders an opportunity to learn about
the manufacturing plants in WV and take tours of their facilities.

Chris Martinkat, Chairman and CEO of STOCKMEIER Urethanes, USA, spoke about
the history of the company, the growth seen for their USA facility and discussed policy
issues that affect everyday business for manufacturers in West Virginia. “It was an
honor to host the Lunch & Learn at our facility. I enjoyed sharing how STOCKMEIER
Urethanes began and our successes in the US with legislators and community leaders
and supporters. We chose West Virginia because there was a great deal of support for
us to establish our business here and we simply felt taken care of.” stated Martinkat.
“We are happy to be a member of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association as they
consistently advocate for us as well as serve as the voice for our industry to
policymakers and regulators.”

As a specialist within the STOCKMEIER Group, STOCKMEIER Urethanes GmbH & Co.
was founded in 1991 in Germany as a polyurethane systems house focused on the
development and manufacturing of coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers for a
wide range of sports and industrial markets. Operating worldwide with ISO 9001
certified production facilities and laboratories in Germany, France, the United Kingdom
and the United States, STOCKMEIER Urethanes provides customers with consistent
global delivery of high quality polyurethane products and services.
For more information on STOCKMEIER Urethanes please visit our website at
www.stockmeier-urethanes.com or contact us at +1-304-624-7002 or
urethanes.usa@stockmeier.com.