Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Simrit has developed a new friction optimized seal that fits in existing standard sealing grooves. Designed to provide more consistent performance, the combined elastomer / polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) system offers low break away force, improved durability and...

For magazine subscribers only

LyondellBasell announced that it will shut down a high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit in Wesseling, Germany in the third quarter of 2013. The 100 KT per year unit is among the smallest and least efficient of the LyondellBasell HDPE units in Europe. The company has sufficient HDPE capacity to meet customer...

Rollepaal BV, a Dedemsvaart, Netherlands-based manufacturer of extrusion equipment for PVC and polyolefin pipe, is increasing capacity at its plant in Ahmedabad, India. “We will triple our India plant capacity by the middle of 2014,” said Rob Spekreijse, managing director and CEO. The plant,...

For magazine subscribers only

Global demand for plastic pipe is forecast to rise 6.2% annually through 2017 to 23 million metric tons, according a new Freedonia report. Construction-related pipe applications will drive growth. Plastic pipe will continue to supplant competing materials such as steel, copper and ductile iron in many...

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced that all closing conditions, including regulatory review, have been met and it has closed the previously announced acquisition of CertainTeed Corporation's Pipe and Foundation Group (PFG) business effective today. The PFG acquisition includes the PVC pipe,...

Irving Oil announced the delivery of the first natural gas shipment by truck to McCain Foods in Easton, Maine. McCain is one of Irving Oil’s newest natural gas industrial customers to receive compressed natural gas (CNG) by truck.  Frank Finn, President of McCain Foods USA, said the cost...

Engel North America reported more than $200m (£128m) in sales when the privately held company closed the books on fiscal year 2012 at the end of March. Sales were at a record high, according to the Pennsylvania -based injection moulding machine maker, a division of Austria's Engel Holding,...

ADA-ES, Inc. announced that it has recently received awards and letters of intent to award for approximately $30 million in Activated Carbon Injection (ACI) and Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) systems from multiple utilities. Work has begun on some of the projects and deliveries of the systems are scheduled...

The specialty chemicals producer Connect Wilson, domiciled in Penglai, China, invests in the construction of a new production site for its “Wincon” products. The project was started in autumn 2012 and is designed to meet the long-term requirements of the constantly growing market for color...

Australia-based Kairiki Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Beijing Junlun Runzhong Science & Technology and Hefei Xinxin Petrochemical to acquire two onshore oilfields in northern China. The acquired assets include Daerqi and WengTe oilfields in Inner Mongolia. Both the fields...

For magazine subscribers only

Ultra Polymer has launched two polypropylene grades for rotational moulding – a high impact variant for automotive and technical products (UP301PP) and a stiffer polypropylene for large infrastructure products (UP321PP). Both grades are supplied as powder, with a particle size less than 600 microns. Ultra...

Ireland-based San Leon Energy has signed an agreement with United Oilfield Services (UOS) to provide hydraulic well fracturing services for its Baltic Basin wells in Poland. As part of the deal, UOS will carry out drilling, completion and stimulation services on the Baltic Basin wells. San Leon is planning...

For magazine subscribers only

Linde Gases, a division of the Linde Group, announced the launch of its Crop Science business. The re-energised product and service offering – previously referred to as its "fumigants" business – is recognition of Linde's renewed commitment to combating the increasing challenges facing...

BASF has signed a contract to sell its subsidiary Industrial Water Management France SAS based in Lyon, France to Degrémont, the world water treatment specialist for local authorities and industrial customers. Degrémont, a subsidiary of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT Group, will continue operations...

China's crude oil imports rose 3.7 percent in April from a year earlier to 23.08 million tons, or 5.64 million barrels a day (bpd), according to latest data released by the Chinese government. Imports also edged up 0.1 percent from March's 23.05 million tons (5.45 million bpd), the General Administration...

UK-based BP has commissioned a new advanced diesel hydrotreater and hydrogen plant at its Cherry Point Refinery in Blaine, Washington, US. The new diesel hydrotreater unit will have production capacity of 25,000 barrels per day, while the hydrogen unit will generate 44 million standard cubic feet of...

Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSA) announced the groundbreaking of its Biorubber Process Research Center, a research and development project in Mesa, Ariz., to investigate the use of the Guayule plant as an alternative natural rubber source.  In conjunction with the announcement, Bridgestone released...

For magazine subscribers only

Enerkem has launched a new research project with the Canadian government to develop new catalytic processes for the conversion of waste into "drop-in" biofuels. These "drop-in" biofuels are fully interchangeable with hydrocarbon fuels, such as conventional gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. "Enerkem's...

Sunoco Logistics Partners has announced the acquisition of the Marcus Hook refinery, located on the banks of the Delaware River just south of Philadelphia, for $60 million. Sunoco Logistics' President and CEO Michael J. Hennigan said during its Q1 earnings call it plans to "create a world class NGL...

For magazine subscribers only

OPX Biotechnologies, Inc. (OPXBIO) and Evonik Industries AG announced the two companies have entered into an agreement to jointly develop certain bio-based specialty chemicals. The joint-development agreement signed May 3rd 2013 calls for OPXBIO to use its proprietary EDGE™ (Efficiency Directed...

Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO, headquartered in Tokyo) was awarded a contract from Sasol North America, Inc. (Sasol) to provide Front End Engineering Design (FEED) services for a 450,000 t/y linear low density polyethylene plant (LLDPE) as part of Sasol’s planned petrochemical complex to be...

Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company, and AkzoNobel, a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, announced that they have entered into an agreement targeting the development of advanced tailored oils and commercial sales for near-term product...

Sulzer Pumps will supply three water injection pump packages and topside API 610 process pumps for installation on a new FPSO vessel, which will operate in the Iracema Norte area of a pre-salt oil field, off the coast of Brazil. This order further demonstrates that Sulzer Pumps as a recognised player...

For magazine subscribers only

Environmental Recycling Technologies plc (ERT), which has developed and is exploiting the patented rights to the Powder Impression Moulding (PIM) process, capable of converting mixed waste plastics into commercial end products, is pleased to announce that it has granted a licence to Falanx Protection...

In the framework of the long-term contract signed by both companies, Air Products, the biggest technical gases supplier in Poland, on 8th May 2013 opened the modern plant for the carbon dioxide condensation in Tarnów-Mościce. The whole plant is located within the area of Grupa Azoty S.A....

For magazine subscribers only

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive U.S. license and supply agreement for ADASUVE (loxapine) inhalation powder 10 mg for the acute treatment of agitation associated...

Valvoline Cummins Limited, a joint venture formed in 1998 between Ashland Inc. and Cummins India Limited, announced the opening of a new manufacturing and packaging plant in the Ambernath Industrial Area, near Mumbai. The new facility will produce TM Valvoline automotive lubricants for the consumer,...

For magazine subscribers only

Ico Polymers, a division of A Schulman Industries, has developed a range of high performance coloured compounded rotomoulding polyethylene for marine buoy applications.  The range is composed of the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities-approved (IALA) colour compounds of Icorene 1210...

For magazine subscribers only

OMV has taken a strategic investment decision for butadiene production at its two refinery sites, Burghausen (Germany) and Schwechat (Austria) as part of its Refining & Marketing strategy. Around EUR 230 mn has been earmarked for building a new butadiene plant in the Burghausen refinery’s petrochemical...

Exxon Mobil Corporation is commencing development of the Julia oil field in the Gulf of Mexico.  Capital cost for the project, which is expected to begin oil production in 2016, is estimated to be more than $4 billion. The field was discovered in 2007 and is estimated to have nearly six billion...