Greiner Packaging optimises the production of plastic bottles

(greiner-gpi) -- Division Kavo of Greiner Packaging is expanding its opportunities for the production of plastic bottles. With its newly developed machine kavoblow 200/80-R2, all commonly used plastics can be processed. The machine can be used for the production of containers with a volume between five milliliters and five liters. Its highly efficient, single-stage blowing technology combines flexibility and productivity.


Gunter Ausserwoger, Head of Division Kavo at Greiner Packaging, is pleased to announce: ⌠ With our new machine we are capable of producing higher quantities of plastic bottles and containers of all types, and with greater efficiency. It is setting new benchmarks for the prices of innovative, customized products. The machine, developed by Greiner Packaging in tandem with Mould & Matic, is named the kavoblow 200/80-R2. It went into operation in 2011, at our location in Wartberg on the Krems river (Upper Austria).


"The machine was developed over a period of about 18 months and both enterprises applied their main strengths to the project. Mould & Matic draws on long-term experience of more than forty years in mold construction and automation, while Greiner Packaging has gained its packaging know-how over a period of more than fifty years," says Ausserwoger. The result is a unique machine that works with top efficiency, setting new technological standards.

MRC

Sinopec achieved new highs in 2011 production

(chemmonitor) -- Sinopec, China reached new highs in generating of a range of products through 2011.

For instance, gasoline output amounted to 37.10 million tonnes, up by 3.43 percent from 2010.


Certain growth was also registered in diesel production. Last year output of diesel is estimated at 77.17 million tonnes. This represents an increase by 1.08 million tonnes year on year.

Ethylene output of the company through 2011 is assessed at 9.894 million tonnes, showing an increase by 0.835 million tonnes from 2010.

MRC

Oslo-Based Yara Boosts its Ownership in Australian BHL

(chemmonitor) -- The Oslo-headquartered (Norway) chemical giant Yara International ASA (Yara) acquired an additional stake in Perth-based (Australia) fertilizer company Burrup Holdings Limited (BHL).



The buyer paid a total of USD 143 million, raising its ownership in BHL from 35% to 51%. Meanwhile, the remaining stake of 49% was bought by a division of Houston-based (Texas, USA) Apache Corporation - Apache Energy Ltd., which signed a new shareholders' contract with Yara.

The agreement allows Yara (75.5% ownership) and Apache (24,5% ownership) to work together on the planned Burrup Nitrates project involving the construction of a 330,000 mtpa technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) unit, to be later renamed into Yara Pilbara.



MRC

Inda's Braj Binani Group acquires Europe's fibreglass company

(binaniindustries) -- Binani Industries Limited, the holding company of USD 1.6 billion Braj Binani Group, today announced the acquisition of 3B - The Fibreglass Company (3B'), a Europe-based major in fibreglass products and technologies. Binani Industries Limited is one of India's leading global diversified business houses, with interests in cement, zinc, glass fibre, composites and ready-mix concrete.

The Braj Binani Group has acquired a 100 per cent equity interest in 3B from Platinum Equity.

Headquartered in Battice, Belgium, 3B is Europe's leading manufacturer of fibreglass for reinforcement of thermoplastics and thermoset polymer applications, and is a preferred supplier to global leaders in industries including automotive and wind energy.

This acquisition is part of Braj Binani Group's strategy to expand its footprint in the global fibreglass market. It further augments the Group's technological and marketing capabilities in the fibreglass business.

Mr Braj Binani, Chairman, Binani Industries Limited, said, ⌠The acquisition, costing us EUR 275 million, will strengthen our group's core operations at a global level. The group is present in fast-growth business segments, of which fibreglass is one. We are among one of the few groups globally that has a robust presence in this niche segment and we are working to accelerate our fibreglass operations further over the coming years. 3B is therefore a perfect match. We look forward to leveraging its expertise, strong R&D and excellent customer network.


MRC

China's Shen Hua shuts butadiene rubber plant on poor demand

(chemnet) -- China's Shen Hua Chemical Industrial shut its butadiene rubber plant in Nantong for about a month.

High butadiene feedstock costs and poor domestic demand were among the factors leading to the shutdown of the 72,000 mt/year BR plant.

Several domestic tire producers have been operating their plants at reduced rates, citing poor demand from overseas markets such as the US and Europe, and as a result, tire and rubber inventories have increased, industry sources said.

Several BR rubber producers were operating their plants at about 60-70% of capacity, a producer said.

Butadiene costs have risen as end-users have sought to secure their feedstock requirements ahead of turnarounds, both locally and overseas.

For instance, Sinopec Maoming plans to shut its No. 1 naphtha-fed steam cracker in southwestern Guangdong province over February 13-25 for scheduled maintenance.

The cracker supplies crude C4 feedstock to a 50,000 mt/year butadiene extraction unit, which will run at an undisclosed reduced rate as a result of the shutdown.


MRC