Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Polymers

Honeywell triples capacity of blowing agent for polystyrene board, notes growing demand

Honeywell has tripled production capacity for its low-global-warming-potential product HFO-1234ze to meet what it says is growing need for the material, used in multiple foam and aerosol applications.

Global PVC growth to continue, but new China capacity will limit op rates - report

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) demand growth is forecast to continue in 2011, but the start-up of additional capacity in China will lead to global operating rates remaining low, according to a new report from US-based consultancy ChemSystems.

IHS acquires chemical consultancy CMAI

US-based information and analysis provider IHS announced this week that it has acquired consultancy Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI), a leading provider of market & business advisory services for the global petrochemical, specialty chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, fibers and chlor-alkali industries.

PPG closes on $27mn deal for US chlor-alkali producer Equa-Chlor

US chemicals major PPG Industries announced that it completed its acquisition of certain assets of Equa-Chlor, Inc., a Washington-based producer of chlorine, caustic soda and muriatic acid.

Bayer invests $120mn in environmental, safety upgrades at Texas chemical site

Bayer MaterialScience will invest $120mn into environmental and safety improvements at its Baytown chemical site in Texas – the company’s largest US manufacturing facility.

HP Construction: Asia-Pacific

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

Fluor Offshore Solutions, a unit of Fluor Corp., has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by Woodside for the Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) development. The Browse fiel..

BP, Dow Chemical plants in Texas City lose power as regional outages continue

The BP chemical plant in Texas City, Texas, lost power on Wednesday morning, marking the latest in a string of outages for the area’s numerous plants and refineries - including nearby producer Dow Chemical.

US EPA proposes new emissions cuts for domestic PVC plants

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed stronger standards that require facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to reduce emissions of harmful toxics.

Reliance starts capacity expansion work for India polyester projects

Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) has begun implementing its planned world-scale projects in India across the polyester chain. This is RIL’s largest capacity expansion in the sector and is aimed at consolidating its position as the world’s largest integrated polyester producer.

Global materials firm Styron to change name to Trinseo in 2011

Styron, a leading US-based global materials firm formed in June 2010, has announced plans to change its company name to Trinseo.