Braskem to presents Intelligent Packaging Solutions

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Braskem will present new applications for its I’m green Green Plastic packaging, including coffee packaging for The Netherlands’ Peeze as well as packaging for the personal care segment, for Germany’s Speick and Italy’s L'Erbolario at Interpack, as per Plastemart.

It will also show Braskem Amppleo, a polypropylene resin developed for the production of high performance foams, and display research work and advances made in intelligent packaging technology.

I’m green Green Polyethylene is produced from sugar cane, a renewable source, and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, as it captures carbonic gas during its productive process. A recent update of a Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) study on Green Plastic from the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research GmbH (IFEU), focusing on the agricultural phase, points to process improvements and a reduction in environmental impact. This has allowed a higher level of carbon capture to be registered compared to previously measured results.

"Our Green Plastic is the result of a research and development study involving a variety of people and investment of around USВ 300 million. This biopolymer is currently exported to Europe, the US, Asia, Africa and South America and is used in more than 150 brands worldwide. For Braskem, taking part in the world’s foremost packaging fair is an opportunity to reinforce our global presence," affirms Gustavo Sergi, head of Renewal Chemicals Business at Braskem.

Braskem will showcase Amppleo, a high-melt-strength polypropylene resin, during Interpack 2017. This HMS-PP resin has been developed for versatile and high-performance foam applications in the packaging, automotive and industrial markets. The resin can withstand temperatures of up to 130 C without deforming and enables the production of foams for a wide range of applications within a broad density range, from 30 to 300 kilograms per cubic meter. It enables products to be made with a lighter weight than those made using other materials and offers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. The material is also 100% recyclable.

Another of the fair’s highlights will be Braskem’s advances in research into intelligent packaging, which can inform the consumer, via colour changes, of the quality and state of conservation of various products, from food to cosmetics. Braskem is developing this technology in partnership with the USA’s Clemson University and Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul Federal University (UFRGS).

As MRC informed before, Braskem Idesa, a 75-25 joint venture between Braskem and Grupo Idesa, started polyethylene (PE) production at its Coatzacoalcos, Mexico complex on 6 April, 2016. The jv started injecting ethane at its Etileno XXI steam cracker on 18 March.

Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Korea Petrochemical Industry Co (KPIC) has taken a high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant off-stream for a maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has started maintenance at the plant early this week. The plant is expected to remain under maintenance for about 6-7 weeks.

Located in Ulsan, South Korea, the plant has a production capacity of 530,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, KPIC aims to expand its ethylene production capacity by the first half of 2017, company CEO Jeong Young Tae said in April 2-16. Jeong said that KPIC’s ethylene capacity expansion for its Ulsan-based Naphtha Cracking Center (NCC) is ongoing and is expected to start commercial operation from Jun 1, 2017.
Currently, KPIC produces about 470,000 mt/year of ethylene from its Ulsan-based NCC. With the ongoing capacity expansion, the company will be adding 330,000 mt/year of ethylene, and its combined ethylene capacity will reach 800,000 mt/year.

KPIC is one of the key producers of ethylene in South Korea. The company’s ethylene capacity accounts for about 6% of total ethylene production in South Korea. When the capacity expansion is completed, however, the company’s market share will be increased to nearly 10%.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) – Dow Chemical responded to an Associated Press story about the company reaching out to the Trump administration about certain pesticides. The company released the following statement, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

"The recent Associated Press story regarding government reviews of chlorpyrifos contained a number of misleading and inaccurate statements. Chlorpyrifos is, in fact, one of the most widely used and thoroughly studied pest control products in the world, supported by more than 4,000 studies examining chlorpyrifos in terms of health, safety and the environment.

It is approved not only for use in the US, but nearly 100 countries. In its preparation of biological evaluations of chlorpyrifos and the other compounds under the Endangered Species Act, EPA did not apply its own standards of data quality, nor did it follow its own procedures.

As a result, Dow and other companies submitted concerns and scientific requests through various proper channels. Dow stands by the safety of chlorpyrifos and believes that comprehensive regulatory review of all available data will continue to support the safety of the registered uses of this product.

Dow is providing links to letters sent on behalf of Dow AgroSciences, Adama and FMC in full transparency of the companies’ request. We are advocating that EPA return to applying its own standards of data quality and following its own procedures. Dow will continue to actively participate in policymaking and political processes in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws."
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US paintmaker PPG has fired what it called its "last" friendly invitation to buy Akzo Nobel, by tabling a third bid to take over its Dutch rival for EUR24.6bn, said The Financial Times.

PPG made a new cash-and-stock offer for the owner of the Dulux brand of paints, consisting of EUR61.50 in cash and 0.357 shares of PPG’s common stock. The figure includes a dividend payment that Akzo Nobel’s shareholders would be due should the company remain independent. The revised proposal valued each share in Akzo Nobel at EUR96.75.

PPG said the offer valued Akzo Nobel’s equity at EUR24.6bn. The company’s second bid was at EUR90 per ordinary share, including a dividend payment, comprised cash of EUR57.50 and 0.331 share of PPG common stock.

The new approach will raise the tempo in what has become a transatlantic tussle for one of Europe’s oldest industrial concerns. Akzo Nobel has refused two prior offers on the grounds they undervalued the company, would lead to substantial job cuts and result in significant disposals to appear antitrust regulators. PPG had said that its second bid valued Akzo Nobel’s equity at EUR22.7bn.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) will conduct a ground breaking ceremony to start work on its Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC) on April 27, 2017 at Fahud in the Wilayate of Ibri, as per Times of Oman.

The engineering and procurement and construction (EPC 3), worth US$688 mln, brings for the first time to Oman the Natural Gas Extraction Plant- a consortium of two corporations namely GS Engineering and Construction, and Mitsui & Co. Ltd.

LPIC will firmly reinforce Orpic as a recognised player in the international petrochemicals marketplace - enabling Oman, for the first time, to produce polyethylene and increase the current production of polypropylene. LPIC is the largest of the three strategic growth projects undertaken by Orpic to fulfil its vision of building an Omani integrated refining and petrochemical business.

Upon commissioning in 2020, Liwa Plastics Industries Complex will transform Orpic’s product mix. This project will be the first-of-its-kind in the Sultanate and will enable Oman to take the downstream plastics industry to the next level.

Following commissioning, plastics production is forecast to have increased by more than 1 million tons, giving Orpic a total of 1.4 million tons of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) production.

With the highly integrated complex in Suhar consisting of Orpic’s refineries, aromatics plant, PP plant, steam cracker and the downstream PP and PP units, the operation will be considered as one of the finest integrated refinery and petrochemical facility combinations in the world, and will achieve the maximum value-added for Oman’s hydrocarbon resources.

As MRC informed before, in 2014, Orpic selected LyondellBasell's Spheripol polypropylene process technology for a new 300,000 tpy PP plant to be built in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman.

Orpic (Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company) is one of the leading companies in Oman and has two refineries in that country, in Sohar and Muscat. ORPIC is owned by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and Oman Oil Company SAOC, the trading company created by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman for managing investments in the energy sector.
MRC