UNIPOL PE Process selected for 300,000 tpa HDPE/LLDPE swing plant in Shaanx.

(Plastemart) -- Univation Technologies LLC announced that PuCheng Clean Energy Chemical Co. Ltd (PuCheng) has selected Univation's UNIPOL PE Process for a 300,000 tpa high density polyethylene/ linear low density swing plant.


The Unipol PE Process facility will be fed by ethylene from a combination of coal-to-methanol and methanol-to-olefins technology. The facility will be located in Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China with a planned start-up in 2013.


Univation is committed to continually investing in process and catalyst technology to drive down system costs and improve overall output and performance. In 2011, Univation will open its state-of-the-art UCAT J, high productivity catalyst manufacturing plant in Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China to reinforce commitment to customers and the region.


MRC


Dow and Shenhua submit PAR for approval for world scale integrated complex

(Plastemart) -- The Dow Chemical Co. and the Shenhua Group (Shenhua) announced Tuesday that they have taken another important step forward by submitting Project Application Report (PAR) to the Chinese government for its approval to build and operate a world scale integrated complex of coal, power and chemicals in Yulin city, Shaanxi province.


Meanwhile, discussions with relevant stakeholders are ongoing as the two partners continue to advance the project. "We are pleased to complete this important next step as we progress through the government approval process," said Peter Sykes, president, Dow Greater China. "We look forward to implementing a successful project in Yulin which will be a key element of our business growth strategy ranging from our building blocks to our downstream Performance and Advanced Material portfolios across Asia Pacific."


Overall resource conservation is a key design principle for the project, with advanced technology planned to optimize use of natural resources and minimize environmental footprint and water usage. The products produced will meet the highest international specifications and will provide a local and reliable supply to Chinese industries.


MRC

Dow breaks ground for acrylic and styrene-acrylic polymers plant in Vietnam

(Plastemart) -- Dow Advanced Materials, a division of The Dow Chemical Co., has broken ground on a new manufacturing facility in Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam for the production of acrylic and styrene-acrylic polymers used in the paint, coatings, construction, packaging, home and personal care industries.


The new plant, scheduled to go on-stream in September 2011, will be shared by three Dow Advanced Materials businesses≈Dow Coating Materials (DCM), Dow Building & Construction (DB&C), and Dow Adhesives & Functional Polymers (AFP).


"Growing demand for our polymers from global and local paint and coating manufacturers located in Vietnam was the primary driver for building the new plant," said Yoke Loon Lim, general manager, Southeast Asia, Dow Advanced Materials. "More than 90% of our capacity will be sold to Vietnam-based customers, the majority of which are multi-national companies."


Paint and coatings customers use DCM acrylic and styrene-acrylic based specialty polymers as binders, rheology modifiers, and other additives for the development of a wide range of architectural and industrial products.


MRC

Plastipak developed hot-fill technology for beverage packaging

(China Plastic & Rubber Journal) -- Plastipak Packaging has developed a lightweight hot-fill technology for the non-refrigerated beverage sector, which the company claims will help increase the shelf-life of products by up to 12 months.


The company said its ThermoShape technology offers alternative packaging for the acid-sensitive beverage and food market segments.


The technology also enables bottles to be 30% lighter than a typical PET hot-fill bottle of similar volume.


MRC

Slow recovery of petrochemical facilities in France

(Plastemart) -- France's Fos-Lavera petrochem terminal has been cleared after 33 days of strike that paralyzed the country's petrochem industry. The protest at the Fos-Lavera oil terminals at Marseille stranded 38 crude carriers and 20 product tankers.


Protests broke out at France's ports on September 27 and escalated over President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform. As a result, France, the second-biggest refining center in Europe after Germany, was forced to halt production from at least 9 of 11 active facilities in France and one in Switzerland.


France's 11 active refineries can process 1.84 million barrels of oil a day, according to Bloomberg data. Oil companies began to halt production as early as Oct. 10 because of the strike actions. As union tensions started to ebb, petrochemical players in France are slowly restarting their plants.


MRC