DuPont appoints Stacy L. Fox as Senior Vice President and General Counsel

MOSCOW (MRC) -- DuPont has announced that it has named Stacy L. Fox as senior vice president and general counsel effective Oct. 1, succeeding Thomas L. Sager, who is retiring following 37 years of service to the company, as per the company's press release.

"Tom has served as an outstanding general counsel at DuPont. He has set an exceptional benchmark as a lawyer through his unwavering commitment in promoting and developing diversity not only within DuPont, but throughout the legal community," said DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. "He has been an innovator and pioneer in the legal profession and all who worked with him will miss his steady counsel and strong leadership.

"Stacy comes to us as a proven leader with exceptional experience as a lawyer and business executive. She will play an important role in supporting DuPont’s growth, and I am pleased to welcome her to the company."

Prior to joining DuPont, Fox, 60, held the position of senior vice president, Strategy, and general counsel and secretary of Sunoco, Inc. Previously, she served as executive vice president of Corporate Transactions and Legal Affairs for Visteon, an USD18 billion multinational automotive supplier and general counsel of Collins & Aikman, also in the automotive industry.

As MRC wrote before, DuPont Co. had said its first-quarter earnings fell 57% as the chemicals and agricultural-products company reported that growth in most of its businesses was offset by harsh weather and shifts in agriculture. The bottom line also was impacted by the sale of its performance coatings business last year, which had contributed nearly USD2 billion of income for the year-earlier period. In the latest quarter, earnings from the company's remaining operations rose 4.2%.

DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802. DuPont developed many polymers such as Vespel, neoprene, nylon, Corian, Teflon, Mylar, Kevlar, Zemdrain, M5 fiber, Nomex, Tyvek, Sorona and Lycra. DuPont developed Freon (chlorofluorocarbons) for the refrigerant industry, and later more environmentally friendly refrigerants. It developed synthetic pigments and paints including ChromaFlair.
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Celanese material expertise helps IVP Plastics advance gas-assist injection molding technology for tubular auto parts

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a global leader in vinyl acetate ethylene (EVA) emulsions, is helping to advance gas-assist injection molding by providing material and processing expertise that IVP Plastics, a provider of solutions for thermoplastic components and assemblies, is using to reduce weight and costs of tubular cooling system parts for automotive engines, as per the company's statement.

"Celanese has a long relationship in working with IVP Plastics to solve material challenges, especially those found under the hood. Fortron polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) excels in these extreme heat and aggressive operating conditions that are pushing material limits," said Edward Hallahan, Fortron PPS global marketing manager for Celanese.

Auto designers and engineers are looking for new material solutions that will help them meet fuel economy and emission standards. As engine compartments are becoming smaller and more compact, traditional metal tubing and rubber hoses are no longer an option.

"Our unique application of gas-assist molding technology can create a one-shot injection-molded, non-linear hollow shape with 90 degree turns and molded fastening points," said James Mechowski of IVP Plastics. "Glass-filled, low-viscosity Fortron PPS is the ideal solution from a molding and performance perspective."

Fortron PPS is a semi-crystalline polymer that features exceptionally high temperature performance up to 240 degrees Celsius (464 degrees Fahrenheit); outstanding resistance to fuels, oils and solvents; excellent hardness, stiffness and dimensional stability; and inherent flame-resistance. It is often used to replace metals and thermosets in various automotive, electrical/electronics, aerospace, fluid handling and industrial/consumer applications.

As MRC informed previously, Celanese Corporation has recently developed new emulsion products for architectural paints. The company has also expanded its product portfolio for the coatings and adhesives industries, including Celansese's solvents, vinyl acetate monomer, EVA polymers and emulsions.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of USD6.5 billion.
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Eastman restored operations at its Kingsport site following unplanned shutdown

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, has announced that operations at its Kingsport, Tenn., site have been substantially restored following an unplanned shutdown on June 4, as per the company's press release.

Thus, the company resumed production at this site on 13 June 2014.

Eastman has made tremendous progress in bringing the plant back online in a safe and orderly manner with no material financial impact. Based on current information, the company projects the shutdown will negatively impact earnings between USD0.05 and USD0.10 per share, and continues to expect full-year 2014 earnings per share to be between USD6.70 and USD7.00.

"I am very proud of the Eastman team for their quick and professional response to this unfortunate shutdown. As a result of their efforts, we experienced no serious injuries or impact to the environment," said Mark Costa, chief executive officer.

As MRC reported before, in early June 2014, Eastman Chemical Company completed the acquisition of BP’s global aviation turbine oil business. The acquired business is expected to be accretive to 2014 earnings excluding acquisition-related costs and charges. The newly acquired business is part of Eastman’s Specialty Fluids & Intermediates business segment.

Earlier this year, Eastman Chemical Company enhanced its medical packaging portfolio with Eastalite copolyester, the company’s first opaque offering, which is styrene-free and can be a sustainable alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).

Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2013 revenues of approximately USD9.4 billion.
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Aromatics plant of ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd to commence production by the end of June or early July

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd (OMPL), the aromatics complex in Mangalore jointly promoted by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), will begin production by the end of June or early July, said Indubusinessline.

The project is 99% complete and the company will be able to commission it in 20-30 days. The pre-commissioning activities are going on for some time.

Paraxylene and benzene are the major products of OMPL. Paraxylene is used in the production of polyester fibres and PET bottles. Benzene is used as an intermediate to make products such as styrene, polystyrene, phenol and nylon. The feedstock for OMPL will be supplied by the MRPL refinery in Mangalore.

The OMPL plant will have the capacity to produce 920,000 tonnes of paraxylene and 283,000 tonnes of benzene a year. The company has marketing plans for the exports and domestic sectors. In the domestic market, the products from OMPL will help develop downstream industries in and around Mangalore.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is an Indian multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Dehradun, India. It is one of the largest Asia-based oil and gas exploration and production companies, and produces around 77% of India"s crude oil (equivalent to around 30% of the country"s total demand) and around 81% of its natural gas.
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Orpic to shut PP plant in Oman for maintenance

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Oman Oil refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) is likely to shut a polypropylene (PP) plant for maintenance turnaround, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Oman informed that the plant is planned to be shut in end June-early July 2014 for maintenance turnaround. It is expected to remain shut for around one month.

Located at Sohar, Oman, the plant has a production capacity of 350,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote before, in December 2013, Oman Oil Company (OOC), a commercial company wholly owned by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, successfully concluded the acquisition of Oxea which was announced in October. The purchase price was not disclosed. Oxea is one of the largest global manufacturers of Oxo chemicals. With the acquisition, OOC aims to become a vertically integrated global chemical leader in the downstream industry.

Oxea is a global manufacturer of Oxo intermediates and Oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. These products are used for the production of high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, flavorings and fragrances, printing inks and plastics.
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