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…
Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) and Ashland Inc. (Covington, Ky.; www.ashland.com) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to sell their joint venture (JV), ASK Chemicals headquartered in Hilden, Germany, to investment funds affiliated with Rhône, a London…
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) and Sinopec Corp. (Beijing, China; www.sinopec.com) today inaugurated two new plants for acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers (SAP) at their state-of-the-art Verbund site, BASF-YPC Co., a 50-50 joint venture (JV) in Nanjing, China. Additionally, a…
CB&I (The Woodlands, Tex.; ) says that its Chevron Lummus Global joint venture has been awarded a contract valued in excess of $100 million. The scope of work includes the license, engineering design package and catalyst supply for three grassroots…
Yara International (Oslo, Norway; www.yara.com) will expand its emissions-control business by acquiring a majority 63% stake in Green Tech Marine (GTM), a leading sulfur oxide (SOX) scrubber supplier to the marine industry. Starting Jan. 1, 2015, SOX Emission Control Areas…