Hexpol AB (Malmö, Sweden) has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in McCann Plastics LLC from the McCann family. The company is specialized in niche thermoplastic compounds, with special focus on roto molding applications. The acquisition is…
Clariant AG (Muttenz, Switzerland) has completed the acquisition of BASF’s U.S. based Attapulgite business assets for $60 million in cash. Structured as an asset deal, the transaction includes the transfer of land as well as mining rights, the processing facility,…
Sandvik AB (Stockholm, Sweden) has completed the previously announced acquisition of the mining related business of Schenck Process Group (SP Mining). SP Mining is one of the market leaders in screening, feeding, screening media and train loading solutions in the…
During vessel breakout activities, plants should pay close attention to the design of the washers used on bolted flanges. A simple change in this area can help to reduce downtime and improve safety Bolted flanges on vessels, and their associated…
In crossflow membrane filtration (CMF), feed flow is parallel to the filtration surface (rather than perpendicular to it, as in conventional filtration). During a given pass, a portion of the feed permeates the membrane, while a larger portion is retained…
Fouling of heat exchanger surfaces reduces thermal efficiency. An improved understanding of fouling and the design factors that affect it can help ensure that heat exchange occurs during normal operating conditions Using tubular heat exchangers is an efficient and reliable…
Concise tips on selecting the right valve A typical chemical plant contains miles of piping and hundreds, if not thousands, of industrial valves (Figure 1) that are essential for the plant to operate efficiently and safely. Unlike the simple consumer…
A new protocol for safer chemical design is helping to overcome gaps in ‘traditional’ toxicology and improve upon federal regulations for endocrine-disrupting chemicals Research over the past two decades shows clearly that some chemicals manufactured for product functionality can have…
The U.S. Energy Information Admin. (Washington, D.C.; www.eia.gov) projects a nearly 50% increase in global energy use by 2050. Coinciding with this demand explosion, ambitious sustainability targets are necessitating a widespread transition to more climate-friendly technologies. Hydrogen is poised as…
Plant Watch Covestro breaks ground in Antwerp for new aniline plant October 12, 2022 — Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.covestro.com) broke ground in Antwerp, Belgium for a new world-scale production facility for the manufacture of aniline. Covestro is investing more…