Perstorp investing in plasticizer future in Europe

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Perstorp Group, a world leader in specialty chemicals, will be focusing on its innovative plasticizer product range at PLASTPOL 2014. Considerable recent investments have enabled Perstorp to achieve best-in-class cost competitiveness for its general-purpose plasticizers, such as Emoltene100, according to Plastemart.

These investments have also included the development and launch of an exciting new polyolester plasticizer Pevalen aimed at sensitive applications.

Perstorp’s strategic positioning in Europe as a leading and forward thinking supplier of plasticizers is underlined by its recent major investments in Stenungsund, Sweden. The company is the only major European player in the plasticizers segment that is building fully integrated capacity at this time.

According to Jerker Olsson, Perstorp’s VP Business Unit Oxo: "We will soon have one of the most competitive plasticizer production platforms in Europe, and PLASTPOL 2014 is a perfect opportunity to present our plasticizer range to the growing and increasingly important East European plastic materials market."

This is the first time that Perstorp will be exhibiting at PLASTPOL and its main focus will be on Emoltene 100, a well-established high performance plasticizer for primarily outdoor use, and Pevalen a new innovative high performance polyolester plasticizer for close-to-consumer applications.

Emoltene100 (DPHP) is a high molecular weight phthalate, general-purpose plasticizer with a solid health and safety profile. The REACH sunset date for the four low molecular weight phthalates has triggered increased demand for Emoltene100 as a non-classified alternative. It’s low volatility gives it an unbeatable performance compared to other general-purpose plasticizers making it the plasticizer of choice for the cable and wire industry. It is also important for roofing membranes, tarpaulins, swimming pool liners and various automotive applications.

The recently launched Pevalen is a high performance polyolester plasticizer designed for sensitive applications.

Plasticizers are a vital component in soft PVC plastics where durability and flexibility are important properties - in flooring, artificial leathers, tarpaulins, toys, automotive interiors, and cables. Currently Pevalen is in the process of obtaining food contact approval.

Perstorp is one of the world leaders in various sectors of the specialty chemicals market, it's pioneer in formalin chemistry, plastics and surface materials. Perstorp was founded in 1881 and is controlled by PAI partners,a major European private equity company. The company has around 1,500 employees in with 22 production plants in Europe, Asia and North America.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chinese petrochemical producer Guangdong Peng Zun Energy has selected Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process technology to convert propane to propylene, a valuable petrochemical used in plastics production, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This will be the first propane dehydrogenation project in the Southern Guangzhou region, which is a major trade hub for Southeast Asia located near Macau and Hong Kong.

The project also is the 20th reported license for UOP’s Oleflex technology since the beginning of 2011 as petrochemical producers globally move to meet growing demand for propylene and isobutylene. This marks the 16th time that UOP’s Oleflex process has been selected by Chinese petrochemical producers.

"The rise in disposable income for Asia’s middle and upper classes is increasing consumption of durable and nondurable goods made from chemicals and polymers derived from light olefins," said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president of UOP’s process technology and equipment business.

"China’s demand for propylene is expected to more than triple by 2020 from 2011 levels," he added. "The combined Oleflex projects UOP has reported since 2011, including this new project, will increase global propylene production by more than 8 million metric tons in the next three years."

After comparing multiple propane dehydrogenation technologies, Guangdong Peng Zun chose the Oleflex process to satisfy demand in the region’s local market for high value propylene. In addition to the economic advantages, regional presence and strong technical support were key drivers in the decision, as more key technical service roles have been staffed in UOP’s Beijing office.

Guangdong Peng Zun will install the technology at its facility in the Donghai Island Port Chemical Industrial Zone in Zhanjiang, China, where it will produce 450,000 tpy of propylene starting in 2016. In addition to technology, UOP will provide training, technical services, catalysts, adsorbents, and equipment for the project.

As MRC informed previously, in January 2014, two Chinese petrochemical producers selected UOP process technologies to help meet growing demand for high-value petrochemicals in China. Shandong Huachao Chemical Co. will use the UOP C4 Oleflex process to produce isobutylene, a key ingredient for fuels and synthetic rubber. In addition, Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Co. will use the UOP Butamer process to transform normal butane to isobutane and UOP's C3/C4 Oleflex process to convert isobutane to isobutylene and propane to propylene for the production of plastics.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BIAXPLEN, part of SIBUR Holding, launched a new biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film production line in Novokuybyshevsk, said the company in its press release.

Following the launch of the new 30.5 ktpa production line manufactured by Bruckner Maschinenbau, a German company, BOPP-film annual nameplate production capacity of BIAXPLEN's Novokuybyshevsk branch increased to 55.5 kt. Investment in the project exceeded RR 1.9 billion.

According to Market Report Company, in 2013 BOPP-film consumption in Russia totaled 130 kt, with demand for this product rising by an average of 4–5% per year. The new line will enable BIAXPLEN to boost supplies of innovative 5-layer films to the Russian and European markets (Italy, Poland, Germany, France, Turkey, etc.) and expand the volume of SIBUR's own polypropylene deep processing.

Nikolay Merkushkin, Governor of the Samara Region, said: "The launch of the new production facility is a key milestone landmark, not only for Novokuybyshevsk, but for the whole Samara Region as well. SIBUR's management team are working hard to develop the Novokuybyshevsk site, commissioning modern production facilities, which will be used for the next 20–30 years."

"Launch of the new production facility will enable SIBUR to increase the production of high value-added products for import substitution, reinforcing the Company’s position in one of the most rapidly-growing markets of packaging materials," – said Chairman of SIBUR Holding's Board of Directors Leonid Mikhelson.

As MRC wrote before, BIAKSPLEN commissioned a new production facility of BOPP film in Tomsk in November 2013.

BIAXPLEN LTD – a subsidiary company of SIBUR Holding is a leading biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film producer in Russia. BIAXPLEN's facilities consist of five production sites located in Novokuybyshevsk, Kursk, Balakhna (Nizhegorodsky region), Zheleznodorozhniy (Moscow region) and in Tomsk.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF announced the construction of a new plant for polyalkylene glycol (PAG)-based lubricants at its Ludwigshafen site, said the producer in its press release.

The manufacturing facility will start operations by the beginning of 2016 and produce PAG lubricant base stocks and formulated blends.

With this double-digit million euro investment BASF continues to support the global growth of synthetic lubricant formulators who use these BASF products in their final formulated lubricants. Through the integration in BASF’s largest Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the new production unit will have full backward integration into all key raw materials including ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

The new facility will increase security of supply for BASF’s customers in the lubricant industry. "With the new plant we are consequently following our strategic path as a world-class leading supplier for synthetic lubricant solutions," said Martin Widmann, Senior Vice President of BASF’s business unit Fuel and Lubricant Solutions. "The investment represents another significant step for us as well as our customers."

PAG base stocks are used, for example, in finished lubricants for gear oils or compressor oils as well as in metalworking applications or fire-resistant hydraulic fluids.

As MRC wrote before, BASF offerred high performance Ultramid (polyamide), which is derived from renewable raw materials. BASF uses an innovative approach that replaces up to 100% of the fossil resources used at the beginning of the integrated production process with certified biomass.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Acrylic Polymers Business Line of Evonik Industries AG,a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer, began producing extruded PLEXIGLAS solid sheets in Russia 10 years ago and has been increasing its market share in the country ever since, reported the company on its site.

"Having a local presence was crucial if we were to strengthen our business in Russia’s growth market and continue to expand," said Michael Traxler, Head of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line at Evonik.

Evonik entered this market through the OOO DESTEK joint venture, in which it has a majority interest. DESTEK supplies the Russian market with several thousand metric tons of extruded PLEXIGLAS per year. Its main customers are from the illuminated advertising, noise protection, and furniture construction industries.

DESTEK has an outstanding distribution network that ensures supplies to the entire Russian market. In response to the strong demand for high-quality PLEXIGLAS products, Evonik started to expand production capacity back in 2009.

"In doing so, we advanced our growth strategy in Russia, further increased the availability of our products, and shortened delivery times," explained Andrey Ivanov, Director General of DESTEK.

Evonik Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products sold under the PLEXIGLAS trademark on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the ACRYLITE trademark in the Americas.

As MRC informed before, Evonik Industries is paving the way for a new technology whose applications include automotive finishes that are more scratch-resistant than ever before. The specialty chemicals company has developed an industrial-scale method for producing silane-modified binders for automotive finishes. The advantage of these silane-modified binders: silane groups increase crosslinking density, making it possible to create automotive finishes that are flexible yet harder, leading to improved scratch resistance.

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2013 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around EUR12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about EUR2.0 billion.
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