Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) says it will invest €75 million to build a new 85,000-ton/yr Highly Dispersible Silica (HDS) plant in Wloclawek, Poland. Combined with a further capacity expansion at its site in Qingdao (China), these two investments will…
Genomatica (San Diego, Calif.; www.genomatica.com) and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Co., (DT&L; Loudon, Tenn.; www.duponttateandlyle.com) announced the first successful commercial-scale production of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) using a bio-based manufacturing process. BDO is an intermediate chemical used in a wide…
Metso Corp. (Helsinki, Finland; www.metso.com) has opened a new automation service center in Ratchaburi, Thailand. The service center supports Metso’s strategy to grow its Automation business globally and strengthens Metso’s service capabilities in Thailand. Metso has large installed base for…
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Pasadena, Calif.; www.jacobs.com) was awarded a contract from Saudi Aramco Lubricating Oil Refining Co. (Luberef) to provide project management consulting (PMC) services for an expansion project at its lube oil refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Officials…
The SensoTech GmbH (Magdeburg–Barleben, Germany; www.sensotech.com) extends its market presence in North America with a new U.S. subsidiary and thereby reinforces significantly its globally networked team of sales and service staff. As a subsidiary of the German SensoTech GmbH, SensoTech…
Neste Jacobs Oy (Porvoo, Finland; www.nestejacobs.com) will deliver engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services to construction of an isomerization unit at Neste Oil Porvoo petroleum refinery. The investment, valued at approximately €65 million, is intended to increase the output…
Sales of chemical products at the wholesale level in the U.S. rose 1.2% to $10.3 billion in December 2012 according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau that was discussed in the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the…
While merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the global chemicals sector rose slightly in 2012 due to an increase in smaller acquisitions, continued uncertainty around the state of the global economy probably constrained growth and contributed to a decrease in…
Fluor Corp. (Irving, Tex.; www.fluor.com) says it is currently performing early construction management services for Baxter International Inc.’s (Deerfield, Ill.; www.baxter.com) new biotechnology facility near Covington, Georgia, about 45 miles southeast of Atlanta. Mass excavation and earth works are underway…
KBR (Houston; www.kbr.com) says it was selected by PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang, to provide licensing, engineering services and proprietary equipment for a new 2,000 metric tons (m.t.) per day ammonia and 2,750-m.t./d urea plant located in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia.…