Solvay completes two resin acquisitions.

Solvay S.A. of Belgium has completed its acquisition of two makers of high-performance polymers that will be folded into Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC, Alpharetta, Ga. One purchase was of Mississippi Polymer Technologies (MPT), Bay St. Louis, Miss. It is the sole producer of Parmax SRP (self-reinforcing polymer), a transparent resin with very high stiffness, heat and chemical resistance, and hardness.

The other purchase was of the Polymers Div. of Gharda Chemicals in India. It produced PEEK and high-performance sulfone polymers. Solvay is finalizing plans to expand production of PEEK--a new addition to Solvay's line--in India "as part of a broader push to establish a strong market position as a supplier of PEEK," according to a company announcement. Tel: [phone] * PTDirect: 362NP

Gharda Chemicals Ltd. in Mumbai will remain in engineering plastics. The company is developing ultra-high performance engineering grades including polyetherketone (PEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyether nitrile (PEN), fluoro-polyimides (FPI), and polyamide ether sulfone (PAES). These are expected to find use in high-temperature applications (250 to 300 C) in aerospace, electronics, transportation, and chemical markets. Commercialization is expected by mid- to late 2007. Gharda's U.S. office is in Newtown, Pa. Tel: [phone] * www.gharda.com