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Brad Batz becomes president of Fike Corporation…

Batz Schaefer Selby Said Brandmeier Brad Batz becomes president of Fike Corp. (Blue Springs, Mo.), a leader in fire, explosion and over-pressurization solutions. Bernd-Josef Schaefer becomes managing director of flowmeter maker Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Reinach, Switzerland). Rod Selby becomes director…

Current economic trends

Preliminary data for the November 2013 CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) show a small decrease (0.12%) in the overall index compared to the October index value. The decrease reverses the trend direction for the three previous…

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Honeywell to expand refrigerant production in Louisiana, and more business news

Plant Watch Arkema to double production capacity for organic peroxides in China January 9, 2014 — Arkema (Colombes, France; www.arkema.com) has announced the construction of a new organic peroxide plant on its Changshu site in China. This investment will double…

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Solazyme: Commercial production of Renewable Algal Oils at Iowa facilities  

Solazyme, Inc.(San Francisco, Calif.; www.solazyme.com) says that commercial operations have commenced at both Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s (ADM) Clinton, Iowa facility, and the downstream companion facility operated by American Natural Products in Galva, Iowa (ANP). Highlighting the flexibility of Solazyme’s technology…

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The first Outotec TankCell e500 to be delivered to First Quantum Minerals  

To address the market demand of increased capacity and volume Outotec Oyj (Espoo, Finland; www.outotec.com) has developed the mega-size flotation cell based on its well-established technologies. The first TankCell e500 flotation cell will be installed to First Quantum Minerals' Kevitsa…

French 3D design company to acquire software provider Accelrys

Dassault Systèmes (Vèlizy-Villacoublay, France; www.3ds.com), a world leader in 3D design software, 3D digital mockup and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions and Accelrys, Inc. (San Diego, Calif.; www.accelrys.com), a leading provider of scientific innovation lifecycle management software for chemistry, biology…

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Praxair signs long-term supply agreement in Brazil  

Praxair, Inc. (Danbury, Conn.; www.praxair.com) has signed a long-term contract to supply industrial gases to a new steel mill being built near the Port of Pecém in an international free trade zone in the state of Ceara, located in the…

Eastman to acquire BP’s aviation turbine oil business

Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, Tenn.; www.eastman.com) has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of BP’s global aviation turbine engine oil business, with annual revenues of approximately $100 million.  The acquisition includes a production…

U.S. economy recovery likely to continue restrained pace through 2014, CAB indicates

The first Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) reading of 2014 strengthened slightly, pointing to continued growth and an improving U.S. economy throughout 2014, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). The barometer in January ticked up to 94.0,…

Kraton to merge with LCY Chemicals’ styrenic block copolymer business

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (Houston; www.kraton.com), a global producer of highly engineered polymers, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with the styrenic block copolymer ("SBC") operations of Taiwan-based LCY Chemical Corp.   The combination…