Petrochemicals
BASF to invest in new plastic additives plant in Shanghai, China
HONG KONG – BASF is investing more than €200 million globally to increase its production network for plastic additives. An important step is an investment to build a new plastic additives plant at its Caojing site in Shanghai, China. This world-scale plant, with an annual capacity of 42,000 t, will produce antioxidants and associated forms and blends. It is expected to be completed in 2019, with commercial production to start by early 2020.
Neste Jacobs, Coolbrook to develop new olefin cracking technology
Neste Jacobs, a technology, engineering and project management company and Coolbrook, a technology development company, are developing a new technology innovation in collaboration with University of Oxford's Osney Thermo Fluids laboratory, University of Cambridge's Whittle laboratory, and major chemical producers such as Dow Chemical as well as equipment manufacturers including MANTurbo. This innovation is based on hydrocarbon (e.g. Naphtha) cracking method, where ethylene, the core raw material for polyethylene is produced.
Korea's Hyundai Engineering $3.2-B Iran petchem deal awaiting funding
DUBAI (Reuters) -- An Iranian investment fund signed a deal with Korea's Hyundai Engineering Co. on Sunday for a $3.2 billion petrochemical project, which is awaiting financing by Korean banks, the oil ministry's website SHANA said.
Evonik breaks ground on stretching, polishing plant for large-format aircraft materials
WEITERSTADT, Germany -- Evonik marked the start of construction of a new stretching and polishing plant at the Weiterstadt site with a groundbreaking ceremony on March 2. The Essen-based Group is investing a two-digit million euro amount in the plant.
Akzo Nobel rejects $22-B PPG bid, looks to spin off chemicals
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -- Dutch paints and coatings maker Akzo Nobel NV rejected a $22 billion bid from larger US rival PPG Industries Inc on Thursday, saying instead it wanted to "unlock value" by spinning off its chemicals business.
Amec awarded Al-Zour, Kuwait petchem contract
Amec Foster Wheeler announced the award of a contract by Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C., a subsidiary of the Kuwait Petroleum Company, for the integration project between its Olefins III, Aromatics II and ZOR Refinery in the State of Kuwait. The contract covers Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) leading to Project Management Consultancy (PMC) for the project.
Sinopec to boost fine chemicals investment at Maoming refining hub
BEIJING (Reuters) -- Sinopec Corp plans to boost investment in fine chemicals at its Maoming-Zhanjiang refining base in southern China alongside partners like Germany's BASF, a senior executive said in an interview on Thursday.
ACC: US resin production down slightly, sales up in January
WASHINGTON, DC – US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.8 billion pounds during January 2017, a decrease of 0.9 percent compared to the same month in 2016, according to statistics released today by the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
People
Linde Engineering North America (LENA) has appointed Jason Cooper as President and CEO.
Teel Plastics utilizing Kepware connectivity platform as IoT solution
PORTLAND, Maine -- Kepware, a PTC business developing industrial connectivity software, announced today that Teel Plastics, Inc. is utilizing the IoT Gateway for the KEPServerEX platform as its Internet of Things (IoT) solution. KEPServerEX provides Teel Plastics with a single source for industrial data—enabling increased productivity and product quality, reduced human errors and downtime, and a scalable IoT strategy.

- Transition Industries signs agreements for the Pacifico Mexinol Project, an ultra-low carbon chemical production facility 7/3
- Bangkok Airways introduces SAF on commercial flights 7/3
- EcoCeres secures SAF contract with British Airways to help reduce carbon emissions 7/3
- Air Liquide to invest up to $200 MM in Louisiana, U.S. to support industrial growth 7/3
- MOL completes the acquisition of LBC Tank Terminals 7/3
- BHP awards charter contracts for two ammonia dual-fueled vessels 7/3