Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1212417
March 2020 / 13 solutions. The company is continu- ing to seek more acquisitions to fill openings in its composite operations. Australian wheat production lower than forecast Australian wheat production for the 2019-2020 season is expected to fall 5.6 percent short of offi- cial estimates according to INTL FCStone, a financial services company with a specialty in com- modities. The shortage is being attributed to a drought in east Aus- tralia. According to INTL FCStone, wheat production will be 14.97 million metric tons for the season, below the official estimate of 15.85 million metric tons. As a result of the predicted shortfall, Australia's chief commodity forecaster cut its production forecast by almost 20 percent for the year through June streamline the company's portfo- lio to focus on three core business areas: care chemicals, catalysts, and natural resources. The deal with PolyOne follows failed nego- tiations in 2019 between Clariant and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. to sell the masterbatches business. According to PolyOne, the deal will allow it to add 46 manufac- turing operations and technology centers in 29 countries along with about 3,600 employees. The acquisi- tion should be complete in the third quarter of 2020 and includes the Clariant global masterbatches busi- ness and a separate agreement to sell the masterbatches business in India for $60 million. PolyOne is based in Avon Lake, OH, and has been in business for 20 years as a provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and Earth hope to improve the supply chain for rare earths in the US. The companies hope that increasing rare earths processing domestically will reduce US dependence on China for both raw materials and mineral processing to supply materials for US defense and commercial appli- cations. The pilot plant should be operational in March 2020. PolyOne to purchase Clariant masterbatches business PolyOne Corp. has agreed to pur- chase Clariant AG's masterbatches business for $1.45 billion. Clari- ant's masterbatches business offers color and additive concentrates and performance solutions for plastics. Clariant, headquartered in Muttenz, Switzerland, has been seeking to divest its masterbatches business as part of its goal to Serving customers worldwide for over 40 years Low Velocity Conveying Smooth handling of powders, granules and irregular shaped materials Fragile, abrasive and other difficult to convey materials Low energy and air consumption Little or no material degradation Virtually no pipe wear Why Macawber? Simple and cost-effective system Custom designed for best solution Original Dome Valve® patent Low maintenance and minimal down time No pipeline air boosters required Equipment life span of 20 or more years Thousands of materials conveyed worldwide Manufacturing in the US, Europe, China, India and Brazil Worldwide customer support for service and spare parts ISO 9001 Quality Assured www.macawber.com webinquiry@macawber.com 1 800-433-2213