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…
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…
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…
The Lubrizol Corporation (Wickliffe, Ohio; www.lubrizol.com) announces the groundbreaking for a new TempRite chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) compounding plant in Dahej, India. Construction of this plant is an integral component of the company's previously announced $400 million global expansion of…
Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (Covington, Ky.; www.ashland.com) held a grand opening ceremony for the opening of a new pharmaceutical center of excellence in Hyderabad, India. This is the ninth center of excellence that Ashland Specialty…
Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.cpchem.com) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC) Petrochemicals Project at the Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Tex. The groundbreaking ceremony signifies the start of construction for the USGC…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has completed the acquisition of the specialty chemical assets of ERCA Química, Ltda. in Brazil, enabling the group to more than double its surfactant production capacity in the country and to expand its access to…