Trinseo starts up new Magnum ABS production plant in Zhangjiagang

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Trinseo, a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, has confirmed the successful start-up of its new Magnum acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) production line at its manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, China, reported GV.

The new ABS unit is based on mass polymerization technology, which delivers greater product stability and advanced properties. Trinseo will begin selling ABS from the plant during this quarter.

"Production of Magnum ABS in China is an important milestone for Trinseo and the Asia Pacific market," noted Tim Stedman, senior vice president and business president of Basic Plastics & Feedstocks. "We are delivering on our promise at Trinseo of providing our customers with a differentiated ABS product compared to other competitive resins produced in China today."

As MRC informed before, Trinseo and its affiliate companies in Europe have raised prices for all polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (SAN) grades. Effective December 1, 2017, or as existing contract terms allow, the contract and spot prices for the products listed below increased as follows:

- STYRON general purpose polystyrene grades (GPPS) - by EUR95 per metric ton;
- STYRON and STYRON A-TECH high impact polystyrene grades (HIPS) - by EUR95 per metric ton;
- CALIBRE Polycarbonate Resins - by EUR200 per metric ton;
- MAGNUM ABS resins - by EUR60 per metric ton;
- TYRIL SAN resins - by EUR85 per metric ton.

Trinseo is a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber. Trinseo's technology is used by customers in industries such as home appliances, automotive, building & construction, carpet, consumer electronics, consumer goods, electrical & lighting, medical, packaging, paper & paperboard, rubber goods and tires. Formerly known as Styron, Trinseo completed its renaming process in 1Q 2015. Trinseo had approximately USD3.7 billion in net sales in 2016, with 15 manufacturing sites around the world, and nearly 2,200 employees.
MRC

SIBUR to upgrade and expand terephthalic acid production in Blagoveshchensk

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SIBUR has launched a terephthalic acid production upgrade at the POLIEF Blagoveshchensk site to expand its annual capacity to 350,000 tonnes. The project seeks to improve the site’s production efficiency and environmental safety, as per SIBUR's press-release.

Terephthalic acid is used to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a basic material for the production of modern polymer packaging for mineral water, dairy products, juices, sunflower oil, and products of the textile, medical and other industries. The Russian terephthalic acid market is undersupplied and the production upgrade at SIBUR’s Blagoveshchensk site will help to substitute a major part of imports. The project is scheduled for completion in 2019.

Design documents were approved by the General Board of State Expert Review (Glavgosexpertiza). The general designer is GSE-Giprokauchuk, a Russian design institute. Russian contractors will be engaged for construction and commissioning works.

Eleven existing production facilities will be upgraded. The project is designed to renovate 150 units of core production equipment, and most of the ancillary equipment, thus enhancing its industrial safety, reliability and efficiency. The site’s atmospheric emissions are expected to shrink twofold thanks to the construction of a modern gas catalytic oxidiser and the upgrade of all gas emissions treatment systems. Transition to rotary pressure filters will translate into 1.5 times lower industrial wastewater discharges from the terephthalic acid production. In addition, the production upgrade will virtually prevent excessive evaporation into the atmosphere resulting from a significant release of heat during terephthalic acid synthesis. After the reconstruction, vapour will go through cooling systems to return to the process flow, improving the site’s energy efficiency multifold.

"The investment project at the Blagoveshchensk site seeks to meet the increasing demand from the food industry. It is also an important step of our production upgrade strategy intended to maximise energy efficiency and environmental safety of our facilities, said Dmitry Konov, Chairman of SIBUR's Management Board.
MRC

SABIC new PP extrusion line is now operational in the Netherlands

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry announced today the start-up of its new Polypropylene (PP) extrusion facility in Geleen, The Netherlands, as per company's press release.

This new extrusion line adopts state-of-the-art process technology to produce SABIC PP products and the next generation PP copolymers and underlines the company’s drive to provide advanced materials that can support customers developing new lightweight applications in industries such as packaging, appliances, automotive, healthcare and help them reduce energy consumption in their process manufacturing.

In line with SABIC’s strategic commitment to customer-driven innovation, this highly automated facility will provide new polymer solutions to meet customer needs for changing market requirements by bringing enhancements in its products by delivering "Chemistry that Matters".

"Our new PP extrusion facility is an excellent example of how SABIC is delivering on its promise to provide customers with advanced material technologies they need to be successful," said Sjoerd Zuidema, Director of Polypropylene Business Europe at SABIC. "By providing high-quality, high-performance materials for ever evolving industry requirements, we are opening up new possibilities and helping our customers reduce energy consumption by lowering processing temperatures and shortening cycle times."

Across industry, there is an increasing need for material solutions that are sustainable, cost-efficient and compliant with ever-tougher regulations. At the same time, they must provide increased process efficiency, while delivering improved functionality. "At SABIC, we are relentlessly pursuing cutting-edge technologies, both in production and new material development. Our new investment will open up opportunities to create more efficient, higher performing products that can generate sustainable solutions for us and for our customers’ long-term success,” said Lada Kurelec, Global Business Director Polypropylene at SABIC.

The new PP extrusion facility will be located next to the existing polymerization plant in Geleen where SABIC has a full-scale plant and the Global Technology Center for Europe. This new investment is an important step in growing and developing the company’s capabilities in the region, where SABIC has solid expertise in polyolefin developments from all aspects: catalyst, process, material and application.
MRC

Lotte Versalis Elastomers opens synthetic rubber complex in South Korea

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lotte Versalis Elastomers has recently inaugurated a new integrated industrial complex for the production of elastomers in Yeosu, South Korea, according to GV.

The launch was attended by the local authorities, the Ambassador of Italy to Korea and major customers.

The new plants of Lotte Versalis Elastomers, a 50:50 joint venture between Versalis (Eni) and petrochemical company Lotte Chemical, have been built in a record time of 26 months and in conformity with sustainability principles. According to Eni, this achievement is part of the company's strategy to transform its chemical business also through international development.

The joint venture, established in 2013 with the aim of targeting growth in the Asian elastomers market, uses Versalis’ technology, industrial expertise and commercial network, as well as Lotte Chemical’s site integration, which ensures the availability of feedstocks and industrial facilities. The industrial complex has a nameplate capacity of 200,000 t/y of elastomers (EPDM, S-SBR, BR). The production streams are targeted to premium application segments, mainly tyre and automotive industries, styrenics modification and technical goods, said the company.

"The construction of the first industrial complex in Asia is an important milestone in Versalis’ international development strategy, which leverages valuable proprietary technologies. It also strengthens our leading position in the global elastomers market and other prospects for growth. We are excited to be working on this project with an established partner such as Lotte Chemical. By joining forces, both Versalis and Lotte Chemical are benefitting from important synergies." said Versalis’ CEO, Daniele Ferrari.

Versalis is present in the Asia-Pacific region through its commercial units in Shanghai, Qingdao, Mumbai and Singapore.
MRC

Kraiburg introduces new TPE series for two-component automotive applications with EPDM

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Kraiburg TPE has presented a new series of thermoplastic elastomers from its Thermolast K family that was specially developed for excellent adhesion and UV resistance in two-component applications with ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), as per GV.

The new compounds are intended for automotive applications such as EPDM window trim and sealing profiles with moulded TPE corner joints and end elements.

Up to now, styrene-butadiene compounds (SBC) and crosslinked thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) rubber have been used in this area. According to Kraiburg TPE, the cost-effectiveness of TPV is limited, however, due to diverse factors in the manufacturing process, in particular the window trim. The EPDM adhesion series offers a good alternative with added value, said the company.

"The production of diverse sealing frames and window trims of EPDM profiles with molded corner and end elements requires new material solutions," said Michael Pollmann of Kraiburg TPE. "The versatility of our TPE technology has made it possible for us to develop a competitive material that solves the phase separation problems of the systems that are currently used. In addition, we have the market expertise and customer orientation for fast implementation of such innovative two-component applications."

The core requirements for corner joints and end elements of window trim profiles include high adhesion and weathering resistance, which are ensured by the long-term process stability of TPE/rubber connection. Furthermore, it is also important to minimise the injection temperature of the TPE solutions and thus reduce the cooling and cycle times of the two-component elements.

According to the company, the AD/EPDM/UV series fulfils all of these requirements by combining adhesion properties with long-term resistance to UV radiation and thermal effects with a hardness of 70 Shore A. Compared to competitive materials, these special TPE products have a high degree of stability. The EPDM profile is neither compressed nor destroyed or deformed. The compounds feature uniform colour fastness of EPDM and TPE and there is no tendency of stickiness or phase separation, said Kraiburg TPE.

The company has examined the suitability of the new materials in comprehensive adhesion, weathering and thermal ageing tests. The tests showed that the cleanliness of the EPDM contact surfaces to the TPE are crucial in these two-component elements and that freshly cut seal profiles result in optimal adhesion, the company said. The processing properties and stability have been optimized in close cooperation with machine and mould manufacturers. The AD/EPDM/UV technology is already being tested by several customers in the automotive industry, said Kraiburg TPE.

As MRC informed previously, in March 2015, for automotive exterior applications with wide flow paths and exceptionally challenging weathering requirements, Kraiburg TPE (Waldkraiburg/Germany) developed a new class of compounds within the Thermolast K family: High-flow compounds.

Kraiburg Rubber (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. was established in 2005 and is part of the Waldkraiburg-based German company Kraiburg Holding GmbH & Co. KG. The company produces a wide range of standard rubber compounds (based on NR, EPDM, CR, AEM, SBR, FKM, etc.) for automotive, building and construction applications, and other industrial markets as well as highly customised products for all kinds of industries at its Suzhou site. The compounds are produced on highly automated and fully process-controlled mixing lines, based on state-of-the-art technology. The company has 130 employees.
MRC