Business & Economics
Open Process Automation Offers Business Benefits
The Open Process Automation Standard (O-PAS) Business Guide makes the business case for the O-PAS. An example from the biopharmaceutical industry illustrates the benefits of interoperability and open process automation architecture Normally, technical standards focus purely on technology. However, while…
Global and U.S. chemical production trended higher in April, ACC says
Marking another month of incremental gains, global and U.S. chemical production rose in April. According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), the Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) rose by 0.4% in April following a revised…
Thyssenkrupp nucera partners with OxyChem to install next-generation chlor-alkali electrolyzers
Thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA (Dortmund, Germany) is partnering with OxyChem to install the latest generation eBiTAC v7 electrolyzers to support the conversion of its Battleground plant in LaPorte, Texas, from the diaphragm to membrane chlor-alkali technology. "The fact…
Lummus acquires water and wastewater-treatment technologies from Siemens Energy
Lummus Technology (Houston) announced that it has reached an agreement with Siemens Energy to acquire assets from its water solutions portfolio, including intellectual property and copyrights, trade secrets, and research and development properties. The technologies address water and wastewater needs…
2023 CEPCI updates: March (prelim.) and February (final)
The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for March 2023 (most recent available) is slightly higher than the February values. All four subindices (Equipment, Buildings, Construction Labor, and Engineering & Supervision) rose slightly from the previous month.…
Dow selects site for nuclear project
Dow (Midland, Michigan; www.dow.com) and X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC (Rockville, Md; www.x-energy.com) announced that Dow has selected its Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas for its proposed advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear project. The project…
Both global and U.S. chemical production trended higher in March, ACC says
According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), the Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) rose by 0.7% in March, following a 0.2% increase in February. In the U.S., the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI)…
Bookshelf for May 2023: Recently Published Books for the CPI
The following is a list of recently published books that may be relevant for various parts of the chemical process industries (CPI): Fire Protection Handbook, 21st edition. By the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, 2023, two-volume set, $749. Contract Strategies…
Business News: May 2023
Plant Watch Evonik plans to double global PEBA production capacity April 14, 2023 — Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) is doubling its global capacity for polyether block amide (PEBA) with a twofold approach, including a major expansion of its…
Petroleum Refining Decarbonization Strategies
As refiners respond to shifting product demand, pressure to decarbonize operations builds. Investments in low-carbon hydrogen technologies, process optimization and integration projects are on the rise The petroleum-refining sector sits in a unique place: global demand for refined products —…