The composite leading indicator (CLI) for February from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD; Paris; www.oecd.org) suggests “strengthening growth momentum in the Euro area,” according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council…
Messer Group (Bad Soden/Frankfurt, Germany; www.messergroup.com) is investing €15 million in a modern air-separation unit (ASU) in Škofja Loka, Slovenia, which will also make a contribution to protecting the environment. Ground is to be broken at the start of 2016,…
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. (Tokyo, Japan; www.shinetsu.co.jp) will establish a new plant in Taiwan, aiming for the expansion of its photoresists-related business. Presently, Shin-Etsu is applying to the Taiwan authorities for a construction permit, and the construction work will be started…
Yara International ASA (Oslo, Norway; www.yara.com) has appointed Terje Knutsen as head of Downstream. He succeeds Egil Hogna, who has submitted his resignation. Knutsen will assume his new position on 1 May 2015. Yara's Downstream business unit manages the company's…
Roquette Freres (Lestrem, France; www.roquette.com) announces the launch of a new industrial unit for the production of isosorbide at its site in Lestrem, Pas-de-Calais, France. A global player in the processing of plant-based raw materials, Roquette confirms its ambition to…
Kuraray Co. (Tokyo, Japan; www.kuraray.co.jp/en) announces an expansion into bio-based barrier materials through the acquisition of Plantic, an Australia-based global leader in bio-based barrier materials. The acquisition of Plantic enables Kuraray to provide barrier materials that meet the increasing global…
Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany; www.lanxess.com) has successfully started its new ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) plant in Changzhou (Jiangsu Province), China. With the gradual ramp-up of the new plant, Lanxess completes its global EPDM asset base. Over the next few…
A. Schulman, Inc. (Akron, Ohio; www.aschulman.com) has announced plans to establish a new Masterbatch production plant in Turkey. This new facility will produce, when fully operational, approximately 40 million pounds of the Company's premium additive, white, and breathable masterbatches for…
Airgas, Inc. (Radnor, Pa.; www.airgas.com) has announced that it has signed a longterm agreement to build an air-separation unit (ASU) to supply tonnage oxygen, nitrogen and argon via pipeline to Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc., a subsidiary of Nucor Corporation, at…
Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. (Milan, Italy; www.mairetecnimont.com) announces that its subsidiaries Tecnimont S.p.A. and KT – Kinetics Technology S.p.A have reached an agreement with Socar Polymer for the award relating to the realization of a polypropylene plant and relevant utilities and…