PTi announces major plant expansion

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sheet extrusion equipment supplier Processing Technologies International LLC (PTi) is making a USD10 million expansion to its headquarters in Aurora, Ill, said Plastocsnews.

The company will add 40,000 square feet of space, nearly doubling its net manufacturing capacity while increasing office space to 20,000 square feet. Artist's rendering of the completed PTi plant. Artist’s rendering of the completed PTi plant.

Groundbreaking is slated for March 2016 and the new space is expected to be fully operational by October 2016.

"Our strong sales are driving this expansion need," said Dana Hanson, PTi president. "Over the past couple of years we’ve enjoyed a steady rise in business volume and this appears to be the trend for the foreseeable future."

An integral part of the expansion, Hanson said, is a 15,000-square-foot technology development centre that will be dedicated to product development and process trials for customers on production-scale systems. "This space will accommodate up to three different systems, including the high-vacuum twin-screw extruder dryer-less technology, a conventional multi-layer (barrier) system, and a third system with newly patented sheet extrusion technology that will be released soon," he said. "All demonstration systems will feature winders for producing roll stock."

The company also expects to announce new hiring in connection with the expansion.

As it was written before, Processing Technologies International (PTi), a leading global manufacturer of high-performance sheet extrusion machinery,has announced that it is in the final stages of formalizing a commercial agreement with a leading global tooling manufacturer for the exclusive sourcing of its patented layer-flipping technology. This technology allows processors to quickly change the position of extrudates from two extruders in a coextruded structure without tedious disassembly and costly shutdowns.

PTi is a Global Leader in high performance sheet extrusion machinery. Engineered to exact standards PTi systems offer a unique array of design features resulting in superior equipment performance. PTi provides its customers with sheet extrusion systems that manufacture sheet goods to the highest quality standards found anywhere throughout the industry.

MRC

Sinochem gets government approval for refinery expansion and petrochemical project

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinochem has received approval from the Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission for a refinery expansion and petrochemicals project in Quanzhou, the China Chemical Fiber Group reporte, according to GV.

The USD 6.8-billion project will expand the refinery by 25 % to 300,000 b/d from the current 240,000 b/d capacity.

The company will also add a 1-million-t/y ethylene cracker, an 800,000-t/y paraxylene unit, a 400,000-t/y polyethylene plant, an aromatics extraction unit with 300,000 t/y of capacity, and secondary units.

Sinochem received clearance from the Fujian Environmental Protection Department in October. A schedule for the project was not given.

As MRC informed previously, last year Sinochem got approva from the National Development and Reform Commission for preliminary work for a 1 mln tpa ethylene project in Quanzhou of the southeastern Fujian province.

Sinochem Group engages in energy, agriculture, chemicals, real estate, and finance service businesses in China and internationally. It is involved in the exploration and production, refining and trading, warehousing and logistics, and distribution and retailing of oil and gas. The company also produces and distributes fertilizers, such as nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and other fertilizers.
MRC

Ukrainian parliament cancels additional import duty

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has approved law No.3533 "on the measures promoting foreign economic activity" that cancels additional import duties from January 1, 2016, as per the decision, posted on the government website.

A total of 268 MPs voted for a relevant decision.

Thus, the document canceled the law of Ukraine "on the measurers stabilizing Ukraine’s balance of payments in line with Article XII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade as of 1994" under which additional import duties of 5% and 10% were introduced for one year.

The law comes into effect on January 1, 2016.

As MRC reported earlier, the bill provides that the additional import duties should be levied on goods imported into the customs territory of Ukraine in the import regime, regardless of their country of origin. According to the draft law, the import of food products (product groups 1-24, according UKTVED) will be imposed by an additional duty of 10%, the rest goods (group 25-97) - at the rate of 5%. Polymers and products made of them belong to the group 39.
MRC

Ravago acquires Bay State Polymers

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ravago Americas LLC has expanded its North American engineering resins business by acquiring Bay State Polymer Distribution Inc., said Canplastics.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Westlake, Ohio-based Bay State Polymer will become part of Ravago’s Amco Polymers business, a North American distributor of commodity, engineering and specialty polymers.

"We continue to search for high-quality companies that are a strategic fit for our company," said Jim Duffy, president of Orlando, Fla.-based Ravago. "Bay State Polymer has a strong reputation in the marketplace and will be a perfect complement to the Amco business."

As MRC informed earlier, the Board of Directors of Westlake Chemical Corporation on November 20, 2015 authorized the company to repurchase an additional USD150 million in shares of its common stock under its existing share repurchase program.

Founded in 1983, Bay State Polymer distributes nylon, thermoplastic polyurethane and other engineering resins for Lanxess, Covestro, and other material suppliers.

MRC

Manufacturing sales dipped 1.1 per cent in October: StatsCan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dragged down in part by a decline in the machinery industry, manufacturing sales fell 1.1 per cent to USD50.4 billion in October, the third consecutive decrease according to Statistics Canada, as per Canplastics.

Petroleum and coal products and aerospace products and parts were also responsible for the overall drop, StatsCan said. "Sales were down 5.7 per cent to USD4.5 billion in the petroleum and coal product industry, due in part to maintenance work at some refineries that began in September," the agency said.

The aerospace product and parts industry fell 10.3 per cent to USD1.6 billion, the agency continued, while machinery sales fell 4.6 per cent in October to USD2.8 billion.

The fall-off in machinery sales "largely reflects lower sales in the commercial and service machinery manufacturing sub-industry…which tends to fluctuate on the basis of the completion of large projects," StatsCan said.

Sales declined in five provinces in October, StatsCan said, with New Brunswick posting the largest decrease in dollar terms. "In New Brunswick, sales fell 23.9% to USD1.1 billion in October, as a result of lower non-durable goods sales," StatsCan said. "Manufacturing sales in the province have been on a generally downward trend since April 2015, when they were USD1.5 billion. Since then, sales have declined 28.2%."

Sales in Quebec declined 2.1% to USD11.8 billion in October, while Alberta manufacturing sales were down 1.9% to USD5.5 billion. "In Ontario, sales rose 0.6% to USD24.4 billion, offsetting some of the declines in the other provinces. The gain stemmed from a 4.8% increase in the motor vehicle assembly industry," StatsCan said. "This was the fifth sales increase in the motor vehicle assembly industry in six months."

MRC