+1 - Solvay

PVC
In a context of high oil prices,
PVC is proving increasingly
competitive and ecoefficient with
its low oil content and excellent
recyclability.
In the “Specialties”
cluster
(Specialty Polymers)
• expanding and enriching our
very-high-performance polymers
range;
• differentiating the product range
through competitiveness (quality/
price), by research efforts and by
intellectual property;
• continuing our globalization
drive with production capacity
expansions and acquisitions.
In the “Specialties”
cluster (Inergy
Automotive Systems)
• securing our technological
leadership through R&D;
• extending product functionalities
(e.g. denoxification of diesel
emissions);
• globalization by following our
car-building customers (China,
Russia, India, etc.);
• ensuring excellence in quality,
cost and services.
Driving
our strategy
In the Vinyls cluster
(vinyl chain)
• securing regional leadership in
Europe (especially in Russia),
South-East Asia and South
America;
• ensuring competitiveness
through manufacturing efficiency,
raw-materials integration
and technological innovation;
• targeted growth and
diversification.
In the Vinyls cluster
(Pipelife)
• securing our leadership in the
Europe 27;
• developing the range of products,
systems and services through
innovation.
The “Specialties”
cluster:
Specialty Polymers
and Inergy Automotive
Systems, a 50/50 joint
venture with Plastic
Omnium in fuel systems
Sales up 1% from 2006.
2007 was a very good year for
Specialty Polymers, with
volumes up on average 8%, and
above 10% in high-performance
polymers. Sales moved ahead
in Asia where we boosted our
activities (13% of our 2007
turnover), though the USD and
JPY exchange rates meant that
sales in dollars advanced less
rapidly than volumes. Profits are
continuing upwards from the very
good level of 2006, despite the
unfavourable exchange rate and
sustained R&D expenditure (5%
of sales). R&D efforts are devoted
to creating new high-performance
polymers and launching a number
of new production units, which will
contribute to tomorrow’s expansion
of these activities.
Structural analysis of plastic nano-composites.
2007 was also a year of important
strategic decisions, aimed at
extending existing capacities,
penetrating the Asian market and
enriching the product portfolio.
Most of these units have reached
world scale and are applying unique
processes and technologies.
At Solvay Solexis, perfluoropolyether
(PFPE) production capacity at the
Spinetta Marengo plant (Italy) was
doubled. The new units will become
operational in 2008. The products
in question, marketed under the
Plastics Sector
Murielle Fesler
Electronic microscopy
specialist
Solvay Global Annual Report 2007
Plastics
43