Plant Watch Solvay increases fluorinated-derivatives production capacity in France September 6, 2012 — Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) is investing over €10 million to double the capacity of the fluorinated aliphatic-derivatives production line at its plant in Salindres, France. The…
Increasing production of natural gas from hydraulic fracturing of shale deposits has fundamentally altered the landscape of chemical production in North America. The higher margins on steam-cracking ethane to produce ethylene have resulted in significant feedstock shifts in the U.S.…
Air Products (Lehigh Valley, Pa.; www.airproducts.com) says it will build and operate a new air separation unit (ASU) for Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij B.V. (NAM), a joint venture between Shell and Esso. The company has secured the necessary environmental and permit…
AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) is to boost capacity at one of its U.S. sites in order to meet increasing demand from the semi-conductor industry, particularly for the production of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Financial details were not disclosed. The…
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) is starting basic planning for a new methyl methacrylate (MMA) production plant using the Aveneer process at its Mobile, Ala. site. The capital expenditure involved will be in the three-digit million euro range. The…
Today, Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) officially opened two rare earth recycling units in France. In order to diversify its sources of supply and preserve resources, the Group has developed a process for recovering rare earths contained in end-of-life equipment…
Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. (Milan, Italy; www.mairetecnimont.it) says that several contracts have been awarded to some of its subsidiaries for a total amount of approximately €135 million for engineering, procurement and technology services. In Egypt, the Group has been awarded —…
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Pasadena, Calif.; www.jacobs.com) has received a contract from Petronas, the state-owned oil company of Malaysia, to develop a basic engineering package for three sulfur recovery units (SRUs). Officials did not disclose the contract value, however noted…
SNC-Lavalin Inc. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada; www.snclavalin.com) has been awarded a contract by Compañía Minera del Pacífico S.A. (CAP Minería), to provide overall management, detailed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for a thickened mine tailings disposal system at the Cerro…
Ineos Europe AG (www.ineos.com) says it has completed supply and infrastructure agreements that will secure a significant volume of ethane feedstock from the U.S., for use in its European cracker complexes. The company has agreed to a long term deal…