Huntsman Corp. (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.huntsman.com) and Wilmar International Ltd. have announced that Wilmar’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Wilmar Europe Holdings B.V. has agreed to purchase Huntsman’s European commodity surfactants business. Completion remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory procedures in…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has signed an agreement to sell its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compound business Benvic Europe to U.S. investment company OpenGate Capital. Benvic Europe mixes PVC and additives, pigments and stabilizers to make innovative plastic compounds, which…
Clariant AG (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) has announced a significant investment to expand its plant in Casablanca, Morocco and increase its global footprint with the production of polymers and chemical blends for the African and Middle East mining industry. This…
Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany; www.lanxess.com) inaugurated its new high-tech plastics plant in Porto Feliz, Brazil. The specialty chemicals company has invested around EUR 20 million in the facility, which will initially have a capacity of 20,000 metric tons per year…
Stamicarbon B.V. (Sittard, the Netherlands; www.stamicarbon.com), the Licensing and IP Center of Maire Tecnimont Group. (www.mairetecnimont.com), has signed a license agreement with Dakota Gasification Co. for the construction of a brownfield urea melt, granulation and DEF plant in Beulah, N.D.…
Borealis AG (Vienna, Austria; www.borealisgroup.com) is investing in a capacity increase for the crosslinked polymer XLPE at its Stenungsund plant, serving the wire and cable industries. This investment, which increases overall capacity by 20,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr), is…
The deadline for nominating someone for the 2014 Award for Personal Achievement in Chemical Engineering is quickly approaching. Please submit nominations by April 15. Details about the award and how to nominate someone can be found in the January issue…
Styron (Horgen, Switzerland; www.styron.com) says that it will convert its nickel butadiene rubber (Ni-BR) production train in Schkopau, Germany, to neodymium butadiene rubber (Nd-BR). Coupled with Styron’s existing leading technology in solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR), the Nd-BR offering will…
Saipem S.p.A. (Milan, Itlay, www.saipem.com) has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the expansion of the Versalis plant in Ferrara, Italy, worth approximately €200 million. The plant produces Ethylene Propylene [Diene] Monomer (EP[D]M), a type of rubber.…
Praxair, Inc. (Danbury, Conn.; www.praxair.com) has announced the startup of a new air-separation unit (ASU) in Pisco, located in the central region of Peru. The plant’s capacity is 270 tons per day. Under a longterm contract, Praxair will increase its…