LyondellBasell grants Spherizone license to CNOOC for PP plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell has announced that CNOOC Oil and Petrochemicals Co., has selected the LyondellBasell Spherizone technology for a 400,000 tons per year polypropylene (PP) plant planned to be built at Huizhou, China, reported the company on its site.

"LyondellBasell Spherizone technology can deliver a wide range of high-quality PP products with low resource and energy consumption and we are pleased that CNOOC has again selected our technology for their new facility," said Bob Patel, LyondellBasell Senior Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins for Europe, Asia, International, and Technology. "This is the fourth polyolefins process technology we have licensed to CNOOC and its joint venture, building on a relationship that spans more than 10 years."

Spherizone offers a multi-zone circulating reactor process providing an economical and efficient method of manufacturing a wide range of high-quality polypropylene and novel polyolefins resins all on a single-line with capacities of up to 500 KT per year. Low manufacturing and investment cost make Spherizone very attractive in the marketplace. Since the launch of the Spherizone process in 2004, more than 3.5 million tons of capacities have been licensed.

As MRC informed previously, in May 2014, LyondellBasell received a key permit required in the company's multi-plant ethylene expansion program which, when fully operational, is expected to increase annual ethylene capacity by an estimated USD3.12 billion, for a total estimated capacity of USD19.9 billion in North America. The ethylene expansion program began in 2013 and represents a total investment of approximately USD1.3 billion in the company's Channelview, La Porte and Corpus Christi, Texas plants which benefit from shale gas production.

LyondellBasell Industries NV is a manufacturing company. The company produces chemicals, fuels, and polymers used for packaging, clean fuels, durable textiles, medical applications, construction materials, and automotive parts. LyondellBasell Industries operates globally and is headquartered in the Netherlands. LyondellBasell is also a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. The more than 250 polyolefin process licenses granted by LyondellBasell are twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG, a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer, has presented its plans to reorganize the group structure to the Supervisory Board, as per the company's statement.

The Executive Board wants to concentrate more on Evonik's strategic development within a management holding structure. The plan is for the three operating segments, Consumer, Health & Nutrition, Resource Efficiency, and Specialty Materials, to become three fully functional legal entities operating as limited liability companies (German legal status: GmbH). This would give them far greater entrepreneurial independence, allowing more targeted management of their respective businesses, position them even closer to their markets and customers, and bring a further improvement in efficiency. In the future, Evonik also intends to operate the present Site Services as a limited liability company (GmbH) with the involvement of the three operating segments. Further details of the planned new corporate structure will be worked out in the course of this year.

Klaus Engel, Chairman of Evonik's Executive Board, explained: "Through the planned reorganization of the management and portfolio structure we want to create a better basis for more differentiated management of our various businesses close to the markets and for more focused development. That will increase our strategic flexibility and strengthen our leading competitive positions in the different markets."

The demands made on managing and running the three segments already differ considerably in line with their respective market requirements.

As MRC reported earlier, 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 recently 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.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, unites product improvements with sustainability in the latest masterbatch solutions in its innovation pipeline, as per the company's press release.

New CESA-absorb for active oxygen barriers in PET packaging and advanced Hydrocerol nucleating agents for new-generation construction insulation, demonstrate Clariant’s commitment to sustainable innovation addressing market trends and customers’ needs.

Christian Kohlpaintner, Member of Clariant’s Executive Committee, comments: "Masterbatches’ latest product advances embody Clariant’s global commitment to sustainable innovation focused on customer needs and attractive markets. Food protection through clever packaging solutions and energy saving are important issues within society’s global megatrends, and areas where Clariant is actively supporting customers in making a difference."

CESA-absorb responds to the global need of securing food supplies for the world’s growing population by providing effective oxygen barrier solutions for plastic packaging, particularly lightweight, thin and mono-layer packaging – chosen for their environmental benefits – where food needs greater protection from permeating oxygen.

CESA-absorb is a novel masterbatch with an integrated active oxygen barrier that optimally protects sensitive packaged goods from oxygen-induced degradation. It provides superior and long-term oxygen barrier performance to PET packaging such as bottles and films without impacting on transparency or the recyclability of PET. Based on proprietary and patent protected Clariant chemistries, the oxygen scavenging units consist of a catalyst and an oxidizable substrate, which are uniformly dispersed in the polymeric matrix of the packaging wall.

Clariant has developed Hydrocerol nucleating solutions for insulation materials that will address the gap in the construction market for effective, energy-reduction insulation materials within thinner, space-saving boards. Existing buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global CO2 emissions, while valuable space is lost through thick insulation panels used in today’s constructions.

Clariant’s Hydrocerol-based masterbatches enable foaming of lightweight polystyrene at significantly smaller size than the currently known foams.

CESA-absorb and the advanced Hydrocerol nucleating solutions are scheduled for commercial launch at the end of 2014/beginning 2015, respectively.

As MRC reported earlier, last summer, Clariant and Tasnee, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Saudi Arabia, signed an agreement to establish a masterbatches joint venture in Saudi Arabia. Clariant's Masterbatches business unit is a recognized global leader in color and additive concentrates and performance solutions for plastics.

Besides, this April, Clariant Chemicals (India ) Ltd., an affiliate of Clariant AG, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced the successful closure of the acquisition of Plastichemix Industries, a Gujarat based masterbatches business in India, with production facilities at Rania, Kalol and Nandesari. Clariant in India will now be one of the leading masterbatches producer, that will offer a wide range of products like black, white, additive, filler & colour masterbatches, flushed pigments & mono-concentrates and engineering plastics
compounds.

Clariant Chemicals (India) Limited and custom color and additive products with production of more than 10,000 color matches which are completed each year. With more than 50 manufacturing plants around the world, Clariant
Masterbatches products, technology and service deliver competitive advantages that foster long-term customer relationships.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Asahimas, a joint venture between Japan’s Asahi Glass Company and Indonesia’s Rodamas Group, is in plans to shut its vinyls complex partially for a maintenance turnaround, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Indonesia informed that the plant will be shut in mid-August 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month. During the turnaround, one of three polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lines at the complex and a vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plant will be shut. Around 50% of the caustic soda production at the complex is also likely to be reduced during the turnaround.

Located in Anyer, western Java, Indonesia, the complex has a PVC capacity of 300,000 mt/year, VCM capacity of 400,000 mt/year and caustic soda capacity of 500,000 dry metric tonne (dmt)/year.

As MRC wrote previously, Asahimas Chemical plans to invest up to USD400 million to expand its petrochemical facility in Cilegon, Banten. The company had scheduled to start construction last year. This expansion will allow for the increased production of caustic soda to 700,000 tonnes a year from the current 500,000 tonnes a year and will increase production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to 600,000 tonnes from 280,000 tonnes.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem plans to build a new polyethylene (PE) plant at its existing complex in La Porte, Texas, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing with reference to the company's confirmation on Monday.

The new plant will manufacture ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), making it the first time for Braskem to produce UHMWPE outside of its home base in Brazil.

Construction on the plant will begin in the third quarter of 2014, with completion expected in the first half of 2016.

"We believe our investment reinforces Braskem’s dedication to the plastics industry and to our strategic markets and clients," said Braskem America CEO Fernando Musa.

Braskem sells the UHMWPE material under the UTEC brand name, noting that it offers high abrasion resistance and impact strength. The material is eight times lighter than steel and lasts 10 times longer than high-density PE, they added. Industries that use UTEC include construction, automotive, coal, mining and wastewater treatment.

"This is the next logical step for our UTEC business as we have been providing UTEC to clients in the United States and Europe for over 10 years," said Musa. "Further, this new plant will potentially enable Braskem to serve more markets than we have been able to serve in the past."

Braskem acquired the La Porte complex from Sunoco in 2010. It has 330,000 tpy of polypropylene (PP) capacity, according to news reports.

As MRC informed previously, Braskem's Technology and Innovation Center in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul has recently invested RUSD1 million to acquire a new piece of equipment for evaluating the sizes and changes in the polymer chains studied in the laboratories, which are important characteristics for the manufacture and application of the plastic resins developed by the company.

Braskem is Brazilian main producer of polyethylene and polypropylene. In addition with ongoing plants located in both petrochemical complexes, in April 2008 Braskem opened a 300,000 metric ton polypropylene plant in the city of Paulinia (Sao Paulo).
MRC