Industry News & Announcements

Industry Reaps the Benefits of ASHRAE Scholarships
Source: ASHRAE.org
"The ASHRAE scholarship program is making a difference in the lives of the outstanding students that it touches." That’s according to David Meredith, chair of the ASHRAE Scholarship Trustees on awarding $106,000 in scholarship money for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Over the course of 24 years ASHRAE has awarded over $1.3 million to approximately 275 deserving undergraduate and graduate students. For more information on ASHRAE scholarships, visit www.ashrae.org/scholarships. Applications are now being accepted for the 2014-15 undergraduate, regional/chapter and university-specific scholarships. The deadline is Dec. 1, 2013.

Huntsman Polyurethanes Associates Presenting at CPI Polyurethanes 2013 Technical Conference
Source: huntsman.com
Huntsman Corporation is sponsoring and participating in several sessions at the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry’s (CPI) Polyurethanes 2013 Technical Conference in Arizona, which is going on now (Sept. 23-25). The CPI conference mission is to provide polyurethanes industry leaders and professionals with an opportunity to learn about the latest research, technical developments and innovations affecting the global polyurethanes industry. "We are proud to be an ongoing supporter of The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry and honored to once again play a leading role in this year’s conference," said Steve Burns, Vice President, Americas, Huntsman Polyurethanes.  

SFC Releases New SPF Inspection Guidance
Source: polyurethane.americanchemistry.com
A new Spray Foam Coalition guidance document, "Guidance on Sampling Techniques for the Inspection of Installed Spray Polyurethane Foam," was released recently. It is intended for inspectors who are familiar with spray polyurethane foam to provide general guidance and present techniques that can be used for the inspection and sampling of SPF insulation projects, with an emphasis on observation and physical sampling. Click here to see all recent SFC documents.

New 2012 Polyurethane End-Use Market Survey Now Available to Order
Source: americanchemistry.com
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council today announced that the 2012 End-Use Market Survey on the Polyurethanes Industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico is now available to order. The 2012 End-Use Market Survey is available in electronic copy only.

Leading Economic Indicator at Highest Since June 2008; Hints at Potential Upside Surprises for U.S. Economy
Source: americanchemistry.com
The U.S. economy continues to improve, with forecasts now suggesting economic expansion into 2015, according to the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) monthly Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), released Sept. 24. The Chemical Activity Barometer is a leading economic indicator, shown to lead U.S. business cycles by an average of eight months at cycle peaks, and four months at cycle troughs. The barometer increased 0.4 percent over August on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. The barometer is up 3.3 percent over a year ago, with the index itself at its highest point since June 2008. Prior CAB readings for April through August were all revised. 

CPI and BPI Offer Free Sprayfoam Training Continuing Education
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) and the Building Performance Institute, Inc., (BPI) added spray polyurethane foam (SPF) chemical health and safety training courses to BPI’s continuing education program. CPI’s training programs for High- and Low-pressure SPF Chemical Health and Safety are now eligible to contribute part of the requirements needed in earning a BPI credential. Each CPI course has been approved for 2-2.5 CEU by BPI. 
 
BASF to Build Polyurethane Systems House in Louisiana 
Source: BASF.com
On Sept. 12, BASF announced plans to build a Polyurethane Systems House in Geismar, Louisiana, in which polyurethane raw materials will be blended to deliver customized products to customers in the transportation, furniture, and construction industries. The $42 million facility will create 22 new jobs and more than 160 construction jobs.

Bayer MaterialScience Announces Debottlenecking of MDI at Caojing
Source: gupta-verlag.com
Bayer MaterialScience has just announced the debottlenecking of its MDI production facility at the Bayer Integrated Site Shanghai (BISS) in Caojing, Shanghai. The production capacity of the current facility will increase from 350,000 t/y to 500,000 t/y by mid-2014. "MDI is an important raw material for the production of polyurethane rigid foam, which is an effective insulation material for buildings and refrigerators. The debottlenecking will allow the company to further expand its business in China, which is one of the largest markets in the world for Bayer MaterialScience," said Wolfgang Miebach, President of Bayer MaterialScience China.

Arkema Announces New Low GWP Blowing Agent for PU Foams
Source: gupta-verlag.com
Arkema announced a new molecule, Forane 1233zd, for use as a low global warming potential (GWP) blowing agent for polyurethane foams. The new molecule, known in its development phase as AFA-L1, is high purity trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, a liquid halogenated olefin. Forane 1233zd blowing agent is a liquid, non-ozone depleting, non-flammable, high performance blowing agent with a global warming potential of 7.

New ABAA Evaluated Materials - Fluid-Applied and Boardstock
Sika Corp.has completed the ABAA Process for Approval for their Sikagard 520 Liquid Applied Vapor Permeable Air Barrier and Sikagard 530 Liquid Applied Vapor Permeable Air Barrier air barrier materials. See the ABAA air barrier material and assemblies listings page here for more information. Johns Manville has completed the ABAA Process for Approval for its AP Foil-Faced boardstock air barrier material. Seee the ABAA air barrier material and assemblies listings page here for more information.