Polymir resumed LDPE production

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polymir, the only Belarusian producer of low density polyethylene (LDPE), resumed its production after an outage for maintenance, reported MRC analysts.

Polymir resumed operations at its second LDPE reactor on 25 October after a turnaround. The plant was shut down on 5 October, the outage lasted about three weeks. The second LDPE reactor's production capacity is 65,000 tonnes per year. Maintenance works at the plant's first stage were carried out in May 2014.

Polymir was founded in 1968. Technologies of the largest foreign firms from England, Japan, Germany, Italy (Courtaulds, Asahi Chemical Co. Ltd, Kanematsu Gosho, SNIA BPD, etc.), as well as developments of scientific research institutes of the CIS countries, were used in the process of the plant's production and technical facilities foundation. The plant's annual LDPE production capacity is 130,000 tonnes. Polymir's overall production totalled 82,100 tonnes over the first nine months of 2014.
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Solvay launches new high active natural polymer for modern surface cleaning

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Swiss Solvay, a privately owned multinational chemicals company, has unveiled its breakthrough innovation for surface cleaning formulations, as per the company's statement.

While Mirapol Surf S polymers are a well-established range of polymers for hydrophilization of surfaces such as ceramic, glass, stainless steel, Solvay launches a unique technology enabling formulators to deliver the key benefits consumers now expect for even modern plastic surfaces.

With Mirapol Surf N, Solvay makes a step change in household cleaning making it effortless and longer-lasting.

Mirapol Surf N are natural-based polymers which hydrophilize plastic-derived surfaces, leading to spot-less cleaning, faster and uniform drying, and easier subsequent cleaning thanks to reduced soil adhesion.

Mirapol Surf N polymers were specifically designed to help gently clean and accelerate the drying of plastic kitchen surfaces, plastic dishware in dishwashers, plastic shower doors, etc. Mirapol Surf N key benefits can also be outside the house on whiteboards, lab benches and many other applications.

Mirapol Surf N HSC is suitable for plastic-coated surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms: the hydrophilization of the surface reduces soil adhesion, leaving it cleaner longer and making next time cleaning much easier and faster.

Mirapol Surf N ADW is suitable for Automatic Dish Wash: the hydrophilization of plastic dishware makes the drying faster and spot-free. No need to dry plastic boxes by hand at the end of the cycle.

As MRC wrote before, Solvay SA and Ineos Group AG have given a name to their chlorovinyls joint venture, Inovyn, as the two firms prepare the launch the company by the end of 2014. The new company will officially open following divestments by both companies required by the European Commission. Until completion, Solvay and Ineos will continue to run their businesses separately.

Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, with its head office in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium. The company has diversified into two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. Solvay supplies over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds.
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BASF announces personnel changes

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Board of Executive Directors of BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has announced the personnel changes, reported the company in its press release.

Thus, the changes will be as follows:

Gabriel Tanbourgi, President of the Care Chemicals division, will retire effective December 31, 2014. He will be succeeded by Hans-W. Reiners, who is currently President of the Performance Chemicals division, effective January 1, 2015.

Prof. Dr. Christian Fischer, President, Advanced Materials & Systems Research, will assume responsibility for the Performance Chemicals division effective January 1, 2015. Dr. Harald Lauke, President, Biological & Effect Systems Research, will succeed Fischer at the same time.

Dr. Peter Eckes, President, Plant Science, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, will assume responsibility for the new research division, Bioscience Research, Research Triangle Park, as of January 1, 2015.

Dr. Stefan Blank, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of BASF New Business, Ludwigshafen, will become President of the Intermediates division, Ludwigshafen, effective December 1, 2014. The current head of the division, Sanjeev Gandhi, has been appointed to the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. Dr. Guido Voit, Senior Vice President, Intermediates Asia Pacific, BASF East Asia RHQ Ltd., Hong Kong, will succeed Blank as head of BASF New Business at the same time.

As MRC wrote before, dffective September 1, 2014, Ralf A. Spettmann, previously Senior Vice President, Pigments & Resins Europe, Ludwigshafen, became President of the Construction Chemicals operating division headquartered in Ludwigshafen. Spettmann succeeds Dr. Tilman Krauch, who took up a new position at another company.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF 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
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Tianjin Bohai shut down PDH plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Tianjin Bohai has shut down a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in China, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant was shut last week. The reason for the shutdown as well as its restart schedule could not be ascertained.

Located in Tianjin, China, the plant has a propylene capacity of 600,000 mt/year.

As reported previously, on January 12, Tianjin Bohai Chemical Industry Group took off-stream the PDH unit in China with the capacity of 600,000 tonnes owing to technical issues.

We remind that, as MRC wrote before, last year, Ineos Nitriles and Tianjin Bohai Chemical Industry Group Corporation signed their intention to establish a 50/50 JV, to build and operate a world scale acrylonitrile plant to be located in Tianjin, China.

It is expected that the plant, which will be designed using the latest INEOS process and catalyst technology, will be completed by the end of 2016. The initial annual capacity of the new facility will be 260,000 tonnes of acrylonitrile with an expectation of possible future expansion, in line with growing demand across Asia.
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NILIT acquires Brazilian nylon 6.6 facility of Invista

MOSCOW (MRC) -- NILIT, a manufacturer of nylon 6,6 for thermoplastics and apparel applications, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire INVISTA’s Americana, Brazil, manufacturing site with intent to continue the site’s nylon 6,6 operations, said Fibre2fashion.

The parties anticipate the transaction will close in the fourth quarter of 2014 pending receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction were not publically disclosed as both Nilit and Invista are privately held.

"I want to extend thanks and appreciation to all Invista employees in Americana for their dedication through this process,” said Dave Trerotola, president of Invista Apparel & Advanced Textiles. “We believe the Americana site’s nylon 6,6 operations will enhance Nilit’s global manufacturing presence, and we wish them well as the Americana site opens a new chapter in its history."

Fabio Kahn, Managing Director, Nilit Fibers Division, said: "In addition to our sites in the U.S., China and Israel, this acquisition complements Nilit’s global nylon 6,6 manufacturing operations. South America in general — and Brazil in particular — both represent a key opportunity for Nilit. We have been active in this market since the early 1990s and have developed an excellent reputation for quality and service, with a growing number of active customers. We plan to increase our DTY capacity and to reinforce our local presence."

Zion Ginat, General Manager, Nilit Group, said, "The valuable assets at the Americana site will allow Nilit to increase the value we provide to our customers. With this acquisition, we can significantly reinforce Nilit's commitment to the Brazilian market, enabling us to expand sales to other customers, especially in the circular and warp knitting segments, by taking advantage of a very efficient, well-maintained and highly established site. A local production presence will guarantee a fast market penetration and, in addition, a footprint in Brazil, which will allow further potential expansions. We look forward to cooperating with the local workforce."

Trerotola added, "Invista Apparel remains very much committed to Brazil, and this transaction will allow us to focus our energy in Brazil on our growing Lycra spandex business. We are making very significant investments in our Paulinia, Brazil, spandex manufacturing operation and in marketing initiatives in Brazil."

As MRC wrote before, INVISTA and Solvay signed a settlement agreement that resolves disputes related to adiponitrile (ADN) intellectual property and technology in use at their nylon 6,6 intermediates Butachimie joint venture in Chalampe, France. The settlement confirms INVISTA’s exclusive ownership of the ADN technology at Butachimie and includes a plan to upgrade the facility with INVISTA’s latest and most advanced ADN technology.

INVISTA is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. The company’s advantaged technologies for nylon, spandex and polyester are used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and countless other everyday products. Headquartered in the United States, INVISTA operates in more than 20 countries and has about 10,000 employees.
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