Jinming licenses Dow PVDC technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Guangdong Jinming Machinery Co. Ltd. said it is poised to becoming the first Chinese machinery manufacturer to master polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) processing technology, thanks to a licensing agreement with Dow Chemical Co, said Plasticsnews.

Under the agreement, Dow will license its early encapsulation and die channel design technologies for processing PVDC. Jinming will have rights to manufacture and market products using the licensed technology as well as to sublicense it to third parties.

Midland, Mich.-based Dow has agreed on exclusivity of the license until March 1, 2017. The agreement was signed on Aug. 5 with a five-year term. It is Dow's first licensing agreement for the technology in Asia.

Jinming will pay 14% of the fair market value of all products using Dow’s early encapsulation technology and 5 percent of the fair market value of licensed products that do not use the technology.

The licensing deal signals longer-term cooperation between the two companies, Jinming said in an Aug. 6 statement.
Jinming told investors in an Aug. 7 online session that it expects to commercialize film machinery using the PVDC early encapsulation technology in the first half of 2015. The company said the new products will bring positive impact on its financials in 2015 and beyond.

As MRC wrote before, Zhejiang Juhua plans to launch a 100,000 tonne/year polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) plant in Zhejiang province in October 2014. The plant will include one 50,000 tonne/year PVDC resin unit and one 50,000 tonne/year PVDC latex unit.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A new technology that significantly simplifies the manufacture of rigid plastic containers has been launched by Australia’s Amcor (Hawthorn, Victoria), said Plasteurope.

"LiquiForm" uses the consumable liquid instead of compressed air to hydraulically form and fill the container, simultaneously combining both processes into one step. Described by Amcor as a breakthrough, the technology claims to cut operating costs by up to 25% as well as reduce manufacturing risk and provide greater flexibility in container design.

Managing director and CEO of Amcor, Ken MacKenzie, said: "I have been in the packaging industry for over 20 years and in my opinion "Liquiform" has the potential to be one of the most important breakthrough technologies in liquid packaging. This technology will transform the rigid plastic container manufacturing industry, providing significant benefits to all players throughout the value chain."

Amcor developed the “Liquiform” concept in 2006 and subsequently formed a joint venture which owns the patented technology. Amcor and Swiss beverage packaging provider Sidel (Hunenberg) own 50% each in the joint venture which will license "Liquiform" to machine manufacturers. Amcor estimates that the technology would be suitable for approximately 800 blow moulding and filling machines per year and the joint venture will target a significant portion of that annual demand for conversion to "Liquiform". The first full-scale operation is expected to be commercialised in two to three years.

Agreements have been signed with Sidel, Japan’s largest plastic bottle manufacturer, Yoshino Kogyosho (Tokyo/ Switzerland).

As MRC wrote before, Amcor Ltd. has entered into an agreement to buy an Indonesian flexible packaging business, Jakarta-based Bella Prima Packaging Ltd., for USD25.2 million.

Amcor Limited is an Australian-based multinational packaging company. It operates manufacturing plants in 42 countries. It is the world's largest manufacturer of plastic bottles.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Ufaorgsintez, owned by "United Petrochemical Company" (UPC), has shut production of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) for scheduled maintenance works, according to ICIS-MRC Price Reports.

Ufaorgsintez has begun a successive shutdown of its 90,000 tonnes/year LDPE production and 100,000 tonnes/year PP capacities for scheduled turnaround on 14, August. Maintenance works will last three weeks.

LDPE capacities will be shut in two stages. The second line of LDPE production (158 and 153 grades) will be on maintenance works from 15, August to 3, September. The first stage of LDPE capacities (108 grade) will be shut for the maintenances from 27, August to 24, September.

Ufaorgsintez OAO was founded in 1956 and is based in Ufa, Russia. As of January 22, 2010, Ufaorgsintez OAO operates as a subsidiary of Bashneft Joint Stock Oil Company. "United Petrochemical Company" (UPC) owns 87.76% of Ufaorgsintez"s registered capital. Bashneft sold Ufaorgsintez's stake to UPC in May 2013.

Ufaorgsintez OAO manufactures organic synthesis products in Russia and Europe. Its products include ethylene, propylene, ethanol, cumol, ethyl benzol, phenol, acetone, copolymer rubber, polyolefines, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene items, thinners, and dilutants. The plant's annual polypropylene (PP) production capacity is 100,000 tonnes. Ufaorgsintez's overall output of PE and PP totalled 51,300 tonnes and 73,800 tonnes, respectively, over the first seven months of 2014.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Tomskneftekhim (part of SIBUR) has resumed polypropylene (PP) production after a scheduled outage for maintenance, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Tomskneftekhim began start-up works at its PP production on 14 August after the scheduled turnaround. The plant reached a stable PP production mode on Friday, 15 August. The shut down of the plant for maintenance took place on 20 July.

Earlier, on 9 August, Tomskneftekhim resumed production of low density polyethylene (LDPE) after a scheduled turnaround.

Tomskneftekhim is a subsidiary of SIBUR and one of the largest Russian producer of polymers - polypropylene (PP) and low density polyethylene (LDPE). The plant's annual LDPE and PP production capacity is 240,000 tonnes and 140,000 tonnes, respectively.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical are teaming up with the Sweeny Independent School District in Texas to help fund the creation of a petrochemical academy, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical are making an initial combined contribution of USD1.6 million to the academy as part of their continued commitment to education and workforce development initiatives in the communities where they operate.

"I believe that the significant support from Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical in developing our petrochemical academy relates well with the intent of House Bill 5 in that it will assist the district in preparing students to be career-ready," said Randy Miksch, superintendent of the Sweeny ISD.

"It is our hope that these educational and internship opportunities will help us produce highly qualified career-ready future employees for both Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical."

The USD1.6 million combined contribution by Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical will support the purchase of equipment, building renovations, and scholarships for juniors and seniors enrolled in Sweeny ISD and surrounding school systems. Subsequent contributions will be made in coming years to help cover ongoing maintenance and operation costs and additional equipment.

"We have significant growth plans for our operations in this region, so it’s exciting to know that students who enroll in classes at the academy will gain college-level skills before they even graduate high school," said Willie Tempton, manager of the Phillips 66 refinery in Sweeny. "That means a well-trained workforce for industry in our area and good paying jobs for young Texans looking for a career right here at home."

The petrochemical academy is expected to kick off classes with the start of the new school year on August 25.

As MRC informed previously, Chevron Phillips Chemical has recently announced the construction of a world-scale ethylene cracker in Baytown, Texas, two world-scale polyethylene reactors in Old Ocean, Texas and the start-up of the world’s largest 1-hexene facility in Baytown. The 1-hexene plant, capable of producing up to 250,000 tpy, is co-located with this expansion project at the Cedar Bayou plant. Chevron says the two plants will enjoy synergies as they both share the same infrastructure and workforce talent.

Chevron Phillips Chemical, headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas (north of Houston), USl is one of the world’s top producers of olefins and polyolefins and a leading supplier of aromatics, alpha olefins, styrenics, specialty chemicals, piping, and proprietary plastics. Chevron and Phillips 66 each own 50% of Chevron Phillips Chemical.
MRC