Crompton ups prepolymer prices

By David Reed, UT EditorMiddlebury, Connecticut - Crompton Corp.'s Urethanes business has announced a price increase of $0.10 to $0.15 per pound on its line of Adiprene/Vibrathane castable urethane prepolymers based on MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) and TDI (toluene diisocyanate), and $0.20 to $0.50 per pound price increase on aliphatic products. Price increases on selected curatives and additives will vary by type, the firm added in a Sep. 22 statement. All price increases are for the US and Canada, effective Oct. 15, 2004.In addition, the firm is implementing a $0.02-per-pound surcharge for products sold in steel drums and pails because of the rapid escalation of steel prices over the last several months. This surcharge will be adjusted in relation to the future price of steel, the statement added. "These price increases are warranted because of the continued escalation in feedstock and energy costs that impact the price of raw materials we use to manufacture our castable urethane products," said Andy Clock, worldwide business director for Crompton's Adiprene/Vibrathane urethanes business."