Perstorp investis in caprolactone technology for PU market

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Perstorp Group will be focusing on its innovative caprolactone product range for the PU market at UTECH NA 2014, said the company in its press release.

Considerable investments between 2011 and 2014 have doubled the capacity for caprolactone production and substantially enhanced market and customer support making Perstorp the undisputed world leader in this technology. Perstorp’s Capa brand of performance enhancing caprolactones includes an extensive offer of Capa monomer, Capa polyols and Capa thermoplastics.

The substantial investments in this advanced and exciting product line will be particularly beneficial to the North American PU market. Capa Monomer worldwide capacity has been doubled, alongside greater capacity and availability of Capa polyols. The latest Capa investment has been the 2014 commissioning of a pilot plant to support customers’ development needs. Customers will now be able to obtain development samples from 200kgs to 800kgs from this new facility, bridging the gap between lab-scale and full commercial quantities.

As MRC wrote before, Perstorp launched Pevalen as a non-phthalate plasticizer meeting market demand in sensitive applications. Pevalen is a plasticizer based on well-proven, reliable chemistry. As a non-phthalate plasticizer alternative it does not compromise performance in any way. In fact performance is equal to or better than other plasticizers used today.

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.

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) -- SABIC and the Korean petrochemical company, SK Global Chemical, signed a 50-50 joint venture agreement in Seoul, South Korea, for a total investment of USD595 million to manufacture a range of high-performance polyethylene products using SK’s cutting edge Nexlene solution technology, said SABIC in its press release.

The joint venture, which is located in Singapore, is expected to operate a series of manufacturing plants, the first of which was recently completed by SK Global Chemical at its complex in Ulsan, South Korea, with an expected annual capacity of 230,000 tons. The plants will produce metallocene linear low density polyethylene, polyolefin plastomers and polyolefin elastomers that will meet the growing needs of diverse industries such as advanced packaging, automotive, healthcare, footwear and electrical and lighting.

A second plant is planned for Saudi Arabia. Over time, production bases will be established worldwide.

The properties and characteristics offer a range of possibilities for the development of innovative product applications. The packaging industry can benefit from lighter versions of Nexlene (mLLDPE) to produce films to manufacture flexible food packaging and wrapping materials. They can also be used in pipes for greater variations as well as in consumer goods, such as roto-moulded articles.

Polyolefin elastomers find applications in a number of industries where elasticity is important including impact modifiers in the automotive industry, footwear in consumer markets and wire coatings in utilities and construction industries.

Polyolefin plastomers are specifically designed to provide excellent heat seal strength for a variety of packaging products to help provide inner sealing, adhesive and air/moisture barrier layers.

The joint venture marks the second instance in which SABIC is investing in manufacturing capability in the Far East after its successful partnership with the China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec).

SK Global Chemical is a pioneering petrochemical company in Korea, being the first in the country to build a naphtha cracking facility in 1972. Through continuous facility investment, R&D and technological improvement, the company has maintained its position as the leader of the petrochemical industry in Korea.

SABIC is a diversified manufacturing company, active in chemicals and intermediates, industrial polymers, fertilizers and metals. It is the largest public company in Saudi Arabia. It is the largest company in the Middle East.
SABIC is currently the second largest global ethylene glycol producer and is expected to become number one after the introduction of these new projects. SABIC is the third largest polyethylene manufacturer, the fourth largest polyolefins manufacturer and the fourth largest polypropylene manufacturer. It is also the world's largest producer of mono-ethylene glycol, MTBE, granular urea, polyphenylene and polyether imide.

MRC

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