Chemical Engineering
Asahi Kasei to build second production plant for microcrystalline cellulose
Asahi Kasei (Tokyo, Japan; www.asahi-kasei.co.jp) announced that its Specialty Solutions business unit will build a second plant for microcrystalline cellulose (trade name Ceolus) at its Mizushima Works site in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. Asahi Kasei currently manufactures Ceolus, a microcrystalline cellulose…
Startup of first TertiNOx catalyst reference to reduce harmful N₂O and NOx in nitric acid industry
Haldor Topsoe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark) and Proton Ventures B.V. have announced a successful startup of the first TertiNOx catalyst reference at Kavala Fertilizers, one of the largest nitric acid producers in Greece. Topsoe has supplied both catalyst and basic engineering…
Hengli Petrochemical operates UOP low-emissions burner technologies
Honeywell announced that Hengli Petrochemical Co. Ltd. successfully used Callidus burner technology from Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.) to minimize nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions in China, and reduce the impact of these emissions while ensuring safe…
Fluor announces re-organization, maintenance services divestment
Fluor Corp. (Irving, Tex.) announced an updated organizational and reporting structure that better aligns its business with identified growth markets and company strategy. Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, Fluor will conduct its operations in three business segments: Energy…
Sulzer to acquire Nordic Water for $144 million
Sulzer AG (Winterthur, Switzerland; www.sulzer.com) has signed a binding agreement to acquire Nordic Water for a purchase price of SEK 1.2 billion (around $144 million). Nordic Water is a leading provider of screening, sedimentation and filtration solutions for municipal and…
PPG to acquire Stuttgart-based coatings manufacturer
PPG (Pittsburgh, Pa.) announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Wörwag, a global manufacturer of coatings for industrial and automotive applications. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to customary closing…
Wood secures $120-million contract for ethylene expansion in China
Wood plc (Aberdeen, Scotland) has secured a contract valued at over $120 million with Sinopec Hainan Refining and Chemical Limited Company (Sinopec) to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to expand its refinery development in the Hainan Free Trade…
Celanese plans to build a liquid-crystal polymerization plant in China
Celanese Corp. (Dallas, Tex.), a global chemical and specialty materials company, announced its intent to build a world-scale, multi-phase Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) polymerization plant in China to support the significant growth in its high-value Vectra and Zenite LCP product…
PPG to acquire VersaFlex
The VersaFlex Family of Companies (VersaFlex; Kansas City) announced it has reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by PPG (Pittsburgh, Pa.) VersaFlex is a manufacturer specializing in polyurea, epoxy, polyurethanes, custom plural component equipment, and geotechnical & insulation foams.…
Air Liquide forms helium-refrigeration JV in China
Air Liquide (Paris) and Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Science (HFIPS) signed an agreement in Hefei to establish a joint venture (JV). This aims to boost the development and manufacturing of helium refrigeration systems, supporting…