Business & Economics
AkzoNobel doubles MCA production in China
AkzoNobel (Amersfoort, Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) is to increase monochloroacetic acid (MCA) production capacity at its Taixing site in China to 60,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). “Our investment demonstrates our strong commitment to serving the growing Chinese market,” said Lars Andersson,…
DuPont opens new facility to serve growing titanium metals industry
Yesterday, DuPont announced that a new titanium tetrachloride purification unit has begun operations at the New Johnsonville, Tenn., titanium dioxide site. Most of the production of the high purity chemical will be used in the growing titanium metal manufacturing industry.…
Rain CII Carbon reduces turnaround time by 25% using CCPM
To illustrate the advantages of its project management solutions, Satyam Computer Services Ltd., (www.satyam.com), a consulting and information technology company, is drawing attention to Rain CII Carbon (Gramercy, La.; www.ciicarbon.com), a leading global producer of calcined petroleum coke, which recently reduced…
BASF and Gazprom boost natural gas production in Siberia
Today BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) and Russia’s OAO Gazprom (www.gazprom.com) officially launched natural gas production at the joint venture ZAO Achimgaz in Siberia. The German-Russian joint venture produces natural gas and condensate from the Achimov Formation, from which it…
Edwards receives largest order in company’s history
Edwards (Crawley, U.K.; www.edwardsvacuum.com) today announced one of the largest orders in the company’s history—the sale of approximately 100 iXH harsh process vacuum pumps to a major flat panel manufacturer. The pumps are intended for a manufacturing facility producing 50+-inch…
AkzoNobel opens Elotex production facility in China
AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals (www.akzonobel.com) has officially opened a new production site in Shanghai, China, for its Elotex building material additives business. The facility, which produces redispersible powder polymers, has an annual capacity of around 20,000 tons, and brings the total…
Mitsubishi Rayon to acquire Lucite International
The Board of Lucite International Group Ltd., (Southampton, UK; www.lucite.com), has announced that the company will be acquired by Mitsubishi Rayon Co. for a total cash consideration of approximately $1.6 billion. The purchase is subject to approval by the relevant…
Global chemicals-industry M&A activity surges despite volatile economy
Today, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (PwC) released its quarterly report Chemical Compounds: Global Chemicals Mergers & Acquisitions Analysis – Third Quarter 2008, which provides details on deal transactions and reveals trends in the chemical industry. Chemical Compounds reported 27 deals, valued at over $50 million,…
LS extends site in Pulnoy, France
Laboratoires Sérobiologiques (LS; www.laboratoires-serobiologiques.com), the active ingredients business of Cognis Care Chemicals, has begun to enhance its production site in Pulnoy, France. With this step, LS wants to further establish its site in France as a technology center for the…
LyondellBasell grants Lupotech T license to Borealis
Borealis AG (www.borealisgroup.com) has selected LyondellBasell’s (Rotterdam, Netherlands; www.lyondellbasell.com) Lupotech T technology for a new 350,000 ton/yr low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant; start-up is expected in 2013. “This investment is an important step in our growth strategy and our selection…