INEOS completes the sale of its global films business

(INEOS) -- INEOS Group today confirmed the completion the sale of its global films business to Bilcare AG. The completion of the sale follows the announcement to sell the business, for the sum of ┬100 million, made on August 2nd, 2010.

The global films business which had 2009 annual sales of ┬240 million will now become a part of the Bilcare group, a leading international pharmaceutical packaging and research company.

INEOS Films division is a global producer of high quality polymer films built on expertise and innovation. As part of the Bilcare group it will continue to play a major role across international markets for pharmaceutical blister packaging, films for printing and decoration, shrink film for sleeves, capsules and plastic credit cards.

Russian polymers' market prospects are going to be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14, 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC

Formosa expands capacity at Mailiao refinery

(Argus) -- Taiwanese private sector refiner Formosa Petrochemical has restarted 80,000 barrels per day residual desulphurization unit and raised operating rates at its 540,000 barrels per day Mailiao refinery after a week long disruption.

The increased output has done little to boost sentiment the Asian gasoil market that is already well supplied, exacerbated by poor arbitrage economics to Europe or the US.

Formosa restarted the residual desulphurization unit on September 9th 2010, while runs rates at two of its three 180,000 barrels per day capacity crude distillation units were raised to around 95%. The residual desulphurization unit was shut a week ago to allow Formosa to carry out further investigations and make design corrections at the refinery following a fire in late July 2010.

Russian polymers' market prospects are going to be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14, 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC

BP suspends No 4 cracker in Gelsenkirchen

LONDON (ICIS) -- A planned six to seven week maintenance turnaround is underway at BP Refining & Petrochemicals' (BPRP) No 4 cracker at Gelsenkirchen, Germany, a company source said on Wednesday.


The cracker, which has the capacity to produce 525,000 tonnes/year of ethylene and 260,000 tonnes/year of propylene, according to ICIS data, is one of two owned and operated by BPRP at the site.


It had started to ramp down operations last week and was one of a number of other European crackers which were down for maintenance in the September-October time frame.

Russian polymers' market prospects are going to be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14, 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC

Baerlocher presents new PVC stabilizer

(PlastEurope) -- Baerlocher has launched a Ca/Zn stabiliser for use in the manufacture of plastisols for PVC flooring, which that it claims greatly reduces VOC emissions in flooring systems. ⌠Baerostab LOW-VOC Ca/Zn solid and paste products retain the performance benefits of traditional liquid stabilisers in PVC flooring applications, the company said.

They are free from solvent, phenol and ethylhexanoic acid and are claimed to achieve plastisol viscosity properties equal to those seen with traditional liquid stabilisers. They are suitable for use in filled, pigmented and transparent plastisols and have been developed primarily for application in the stabilisation of topcoat flooring.

Russian polymers' market prospects are going to be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC

Teknor Apex buys DSM sublsidiary

(prw) -- US-based compounder Teknor Apex is acquiring the Sarlink TPV unit from DSM for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes the Sarlink compounding facilities in Belgium and the US, as well as offices the Netherlands, Shanghai and Singapore.


Teknor Apex will continue to sell TPVs under the Sarlink name.

⌠Teknor Apex is a natural fit for the Sarlink group and the synergies from our combined people and resources will benefit the customers of both, said Bertram M Lederer, executive VP of Teknor Apex.

Russian polymers' market prospects are going to be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14, 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC