Wacker Chemie AG (Munich, Germany; www.wacker.com) is expanding its existing vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions production facilities in the U.S. Wacker will add a new reactor with an annual capacity of 85,000 metric tons (m.t.) at its Calvert City, Ky.…
The S&P index for chemical companies is up 5.6% from the beginning of 2015, while the wider S&P 500 Index is up only 2.2%, according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington,…
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF; Philadelphia, Pa.; www.chemheritage.org) has named Kathryn Humphreys vice president of development. Humphreys comes to CHF from Cornell University, where she provided leadership and direction for fundraising, alumni programs, donor relations, and stewardship in the College…
Perstorp Holding AB (Malmö, Sweden; www.perstorp.com) announces the successful startup of a new major investment in Sweden. Production of key raw materials for Perstorp’s general-purpose PVC plasticizers, valeraldehyde and 2-propylheptanol, and associated chemicals, at a major extension to the company’s…
Total S.A. (Paris, France; www.total.com) has acquired a majority 68% interest in Germany's Polyblend, which manufactures polymer plastics intended primarily for the automotive industry. The transaction is aligned with Total's strategy of developing higher-value-added polymers and differentiating itself in markets…
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has made bio-based Polytetrahydrofuran 1000 (tradenamed PolyTHF 1000) available for the first time. The company is now providing this intermediate to selected partners for testing various applications in a large scale. “The bio-based PolyTHF 1000…
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) is significantly expanding its production capacity for about 20 specialty amines at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen. The company will therefore invest a double-digit million euro amount in expanding current production facilities, which are planned…
SNC-Lavalin (Montreal, Canada; www.snclavalin.com) has been awarded a second engineering and procurement contract by Azomures, for a new gas emissions treatment facility at a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizer production plant in Târgu Mures, Romania. The contract will be…
ABB (Zurich, Switzerland; www.abb.com) will invest $30 million in building a new manufacturing site and expanding its customer experience center for its Low Voltage Products division near Memphis, Tenn. The investment will initially create more than 200 jobs, with a…
Royal DSM (Heerlen, the Netherlands; www.dsm.com) has finalized the sale of its Euroresins business to Cathay Investments. The divestment was announced on December 23, 2014. Euroresins is a distributor of products to the composite resins industry with activities in nine…