Latest News
AkzoNobel and Atul to jointly build MCA plant in India
Akzo Nobel N.V. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) and Indian manufacturing company Atul Ltd. (www.atul.co.in) have announced their intention to jointly invest in the production of monochloroacetic acid (MCA) in India, which will include setting up a world-class MCA plant at…
Praj Industries to set up multiple bioethanol plants across India
Praj Industries Ltd. (Pune, India; www.praj.net) has entered into a binding agreement with Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) to set up three new second-generation (2G) bioethanol plants — one each at Panipat, Haryana and Dahej, Gujarat. These plants will have…
Atlas Copco to acquire air-compressor business in Germany
Atlas Copco (Stockholm, Sweden; www.atlascopco.com) has agreed to acquire the business of hb Kompressoren Druckluft- und Industrietechnik GmbH, a German distributor and service provider of industrial air compressors and related systems. Hb Kompressoren is based close to Stuttgart and operates…
Highlights from ACC’s year-end review and outlook
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) released its 2016 Year-End Situation and Outlook. Highlights of the Outlook include: Following a 2.6% gain in 2015, U.S. GDP growth will expand at a 1.6% pace, as weak growth in business investment,…
Local Vacuum Networks – the Reliable Alternative to Central Systems
In addition to VACUUBRAND's pumps, gauges, and controls, our VACUU·LAN® local vacuum networks are a lab-by-lab alternative to central vacuum systems. VACUU·LAN networks provide deep, stable vacuum in new labs and in renovation projects. Built on VACUUBRAND's durable, chemical-resistant diaphragm…
Solvay to sell its cellulose acetate business
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has reached an agreement to sell its cellulose acetate tow business, Acetow, to private equity funds managed by Blackstone. “The divestment of Acetow is another significant step in Solvay’s transformation towards a multi-specialty chemical group…
Lonza to divest peptides business to PolyPeptide Group
Lonza (Basel, Switzerland; www.lonza.com) and the PolyPeptide Group jointly announced today that PolyPeptide Laboratories Holding (PPL) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the peptides business and operations of Lonza in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium. Lonza’s Braine facility, with approximately 280…
Ineos Styrolution announces expansion plans in Mexico
INEOS Styrolution, (Frankfurt, Germany; www.ineos-styrolution.com) has revealed plans to expand the company’s plant in Altamira, Mexico responding to growing demand in the Americas region. The copolymer plant produces a variety of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate)…
Showa Denko to construct plant for production of new high-purity solvents
Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; Tokyo, Japan; www.sdk.co.jp) has developed new-grade products to be added to the lineup of its high-purity solvents, “Solfine” series, and decided to install a new purification plant to produce the new-grade products at its Tokuyama Plant…
Primetals Technologies to supply new Minimill to GPH Ispat in Bangladesh
GPH Ispat Ltd., a manufacturer of long products based in Chittagong, Bangladesh, has commissioned Primetals Technologies Ltd. (London, U.K.; www.primetals.com) to supply a minimill with a total annual capacity of 815,000 metric tons (m.t.) of finished products and billets. The…