This month, the newly released Foundation for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) was demonstrated at Shell Global Solutions (Amsterdam, Netherlands) — one of several demonstrations planned by the Fieldbus Foundation (FF; Austin, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-545). In Amsterdam, engineers constructed a DCS-controlled demo…
Plant Watch New chlor-alkali plant scheduled for Kazakhstan April 23, 2008 — Uhdenora received a contract from AO "Kaustik" for a new membrane chlor-alkali plant to be erected in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. The new plant will have a capacity of 91…
Photovoltaics manufacturer Konarka Technologies, Inc. (Lowell, Mass; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-546) has successfully performed the first use of drop-on-demand inkjet printheads for the fabrication of organic solar cells. Using a Dimatix Materials Printer (DMP) provided by Fujifilm Dimatix (edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-547), Konarka’s process suggests an…
BP (London; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-548) and ConocoPhillips (Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-549) have combined resources to start Denali — the Alaska Gas Pipeline. The pipeline will move approximately 4 billion ft 3 /d of natural gas to markets, and is said to be the…
CLC bio (Aarhus, Denmark; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-550) and partners from Danish research institutions and crop-enhancing firms have started a project to develop potatoes into a multipurpose crop, which is not only used for animal and human food, but also for energy (biofuel)…
GEA Procomac, a Division of GEA Niro Inc. (Hudson, Wisc.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-551) has received a letter of non-objection from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Washington, D.C.) for aseptic filling systems for low-acid, shelf-stable products. Used for filling PET containers,…
Last month, Henkel KgaA (Düsseldorf, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-552) introduced a new conversion coating process called TecTalis, which replaces zinc phosphate, thereby offering "significantly" reduced cost and environmental footprint, says the firm. The new technology is easily applicable in existing lines. The…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) announces today that its subsidiary Solvay Chemicals, Inc. is expanding its portfolio with a new product named SOLVAir Select 300, which is designed for air-pollution control applications, in particular, the treatment of sulfur dioxide (SO2)…
BASF S.E. (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has started operating a new plant for the production of nitric acid at its Antwerp Verbund site. Nitric acid is one of the most important inorganic intermediates, and the plant's output will be used mainly…
Hägglunds Drives AB (Mellansel, Sweden; www.hagglunds.com) has signed an agreement to acquire the operations of the U.S. company Rineer Hydraulics Inc. for approx. $23 million. The acquisition will strengthen Hägglunds Drives’ product offering and position on the North American market.…