FIAT turned to lightweight, cost-competitive PP materials from Borealis and Borouge

(plastemart) -- FIAT has turned to lightweight, cost-competitive materials from Borealis and Borouge, leading providers of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, to achieve top-level aesthetics and performance for interior and exterior components on its new Fiat Panda. The Panda model is one of the original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs) key new platforms for 2012.

Borealis and Borouge's polypropylene (PP) automotive innovations combine a host of high-performance mechanical properties and processing advantages designed to ease production, and enhance the quality and surface finish of vehicle interiors and exteriors. In addition, the lightweight polyolefins offer vehicle weight savings when used to replace traditional parts materials, contributing to a reduction in fuel consumption.

Borealis has assisted the company's enhancement of performance and aesthetics of interior and exterior vehicle parts on models recognised for their safety and cutting-edge designs such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat 500.

For the new Fiat Panda, Tier One supplier Magneti Marelli successfully used high-performance Daplen thermoplastic olefin (TPO) compounds from Borealis to achieve consistent parts with the visual appeal and safety-related performance to meet FIAT's stringent quality requirements and technical specifications.
MRC

Bumi Armada got USD200 mln contract from Russia's Lukoil


(4-traders) -- Malaysian oil and gas services provider Bumi Armada Bhd. (5210.KU) said Monday that its unit Bumi Armada Caspian has won a USD200 million engineering, procurement and commissioning contract from Russia's Lukoil for Filanovsky field development in the Caspian Sea.

The project is expected to run for 32 months and includes engineering of line pipes and installation of nine infield lines, Bumi Armada said in a statement.

The company said its order backlog has reached MYR1.8 billion in value.
MRC

Tessenderlo Group inaugurates new CTS plant for automotive specialty compounds in China

(tessenderlo) -- Tessenderlo Group has officially inaugurated on April 16 its new CTS production plant in Changsu, China. The new plant will produce high-performance, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and slush molding compounds for automotive applications.

CTS occupies a leading position in the automotive market with compounds for airbag covers, glazing seals and dashboard skins. CTS Automotive Compounds (Changsu) Ltd. will produce the Marvyflo and Tefabloc brands that have been successfully marketed by CTS in China and Asia for more than 10 years.


At the inauguration ceremony, Albert Vasseur, Director Plastics Converting, stated: ⌠We are proud to open this state of the art production facility, that will supply our Asian customers with the CTS quality standard they are counting on.

This investment is in line with the strategy of Tessenderlo Group?s business unit Compounds, which now increases its presence in the growing automotive market in Asia, where all major global car producers (OEMs) and producers of automotive parts (TR1/TR2) are present.
mrcplant.com

Mitsubishi, Celanese to expand polyacetal complex in South Korea


(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. says it is expanding polyacetal (POM) production at its joint-venture facility in South Korea, increasing its production by 35,000 tpy. The construction of the new facility will start in the first quarter of 2012 and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. (MGC) says it is expanding polyacetal (POM) production at its joint-venture facility in South Korea, increasing its production by 35,000 tpy.

The plant is a joint venture with US-based specialty chemicals producer Celanese, who owns the other 50%. In 1988, Mitsubishi began production of POM at its plant in Ulsan, and annual production has now reached over 100,000 tons.

The additional 35,000 tpy of capacity made possible with MGC technology will be combined with the current capacity to bring total POM production capacity to 140,000 tpy, the company said.

The construction of the new facility will start in the first quarter of 2012 and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013. Commercial operation is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014.

MRC

BASF plans new site in India

(downstreamtoday) -- BASF India Limited will invest EUR150 million to set up a new chemical production site at the Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), located on the west coast of India in Gujarat.

The new site will be an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing and will also house production facilities for care chemicals and polymer dispersions for coatings and paper. With this new production site, BASF aims to ensure local supply for growing markets and industries such as appliances, footwear, automotive, construction, adhesives, architectural coatings, paper and personal care. The start of production is planned for 2014.

"With its robust local industries, India is set to become a pillar of growth in Asia Pacific. The country's changing demographic profile and the resulting need for improved quality of life are driving increasing market demand. With the new manufacturing facility, we will be able to serve our customers better by developing solutions that meet their individual needs as well as strengthen their competitive advantage," said Dr. Martin Brudermueller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific.

MRC