Mitsubishi Chemical starts full-scale sales of new grade of durabio bio-based engineering plastic

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) has begun full-scale sales of a new grade of its Durabio bio-based engineering plastic designed for bottles, according to GV.

Durabio is made from renewable plant-derived isosorbide. It features higher transparency than polycarbonate, higher strength than acrylic, and improved resistance to cracking, MCC noted.

The new grade allows for commercial production of bottles that are both "attractive and eco-friendly," the company added.

We remind that, as MRC reported previously, in October 2014, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. decided to discontinue its PTA business. Mitsubishi currently operates a 260,000-t/y PTA plant at Mizushima, Japan, through its Mizushima Aroma joint venture with Toyobo Co. A spokesperson at Mitsubishi, when asked for the reason behind its decision to quit the PTA business, said "we cannot anticipate improvement of the profit without global oversupply." The company is "now examining" when to exit the business, he added.

Mitsubishi Chemical with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is a diversified chemical company involved in petrochemicals, polymers, agrochemicals, speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company's main focus is on three business pillars: petrochemicals, performance and functional products, and health care.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Flexible packaging manufacturer ProAmpac has acquired Pactech Packaging, a Rochester, New York-based manufacturer specializing in pouch converting, as per Canplastics.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a statement, Cincinnati, Ohio-based ProAmpac said that Pactech’s products complement its existing flexible packaging offerings, which primarily serve the medical, industrial and consumer packaged goods markets.

"The acquisition of Pactech expands ProAmpac’s flexible packaging pouch manufacturing capabilities in dispensing and clean-environment production,” said ProAmpac CEO Greg Tucker. “In addition, the deal expands our short-run capabilities, allowing us to better serve our customers."

Pactech, which began manufacturing innovative flexible packaging in 1993, has expertise in pouch fitment and dispensing technology. The business will become part of the ProAmpac brand and operate under chief commercial officer Adam Grose.

With the acquisition of Pactech, ProAmpac now has 28 manufacturing sites globally with nearly 3,400 employees supplying more than 5,000 customers in 90 countries. ProAmpac primarily manufactures flexible products servicing various consumer, retail and industrial goods markets and also provides secure packaging for the transport of cash and valuables.

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC has inaugurated the first ever polyacetal (POM) plant in the Middle East and Africa region at its joint venture manufacturing affiliate, The National Methanol Company (Ibn Sina), in Jubail, marking another milestone in its growth strategy in the highly competitive global engineering thermoplastics industry, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new plant, with a capacity of 50,000 metric tons, was opened with a ceremony in the presence of SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, Yousef Al-Benyan, SABIC executives and representatives from the joint venture partner, CTE, which is jointly owned by Celanese Corporation and Duke Energy. The new plant reflects SABIC’s 2025 strategy to provide new polymer solutions that answer customer challenges for changing market requirements, while supporting the development of local content in national industries, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Executive Vice President of Petrochemicals at SABIC, commented, "The startup of the plant reflects our strategic commitment to diversify our solutions. We seek to create long-term value for our customers in a range of industries, including automotive, building and construction, consumer goods, appliances and lighting. This is how we create Chemistry that Matters."

Marcel van Amerongen, Vice President, Celanese added, "Ibn Sina is a fine example of successful collaboration between two large industrial companies by combining knowledge and a strong commitment. The new plant is expected to make a long-term contribution to the local economy and support the growth of the plastics industry."

Polyacetal is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material that has the potential to replace metal in many applications due to its high strength, exceptional dimensional stability and ease of machining. It makes an excellent candidate for applications in diverse industries such as automotive, construction, electronics, appliances, commodities, and consumer goods.

As MRC informed previously, in September 2017, SABIC continued its global expansion with the inauguration of a new polypropylene (PP) pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, and the announcement of a new investment in a state-of-the-art PP extrusion facility to be built at the same location.

SABIC ranks among the worldпїЅs top petrochemical companies, and is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers. SABIC manufactures on a global scale in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company operates in more than 50 countries across the world with 40,000 employees worldwide.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chemical maker DowDuPont Inc. is planning to spend approximately USD100 million over the next two years to expand production of specialty plastic materials at its site in Orange, Texas, as per Canplastics.

According to a DowDuPont statement, the investments will incrementally expand production capacity to support global growth of specialty materials manufactured at the site, specifically the Surlyn, Nucrel, Fusabond and Vamac product lines. Additionally, DowDuPont is evaluating longer-term plans to invest in a new facility to further support market growth.

The joint investment will support customer growth of both the packaging and specialty plastics business of DowDuPont’s materials science division, as well as the transportation and advanced polymers business of its specialty products division.

The added capacity is expected to come online in several phases starting in 2020 and will enable both divisions to meet growing demand for Surlyn, Nucrel, Fusabond and Vamac specialty materials used for applications in food packaging, transportation, and consumer goods. "With this increased capacity, we will be able to support growth in the automotive space at a time when customer demand for our advanced polymers is very strong,” said Randy Stone, business president for DuPont transportation and advanced polymers. “This investment will enable us to continue to deliver innovative solutions that serve high-growth end markets and reinforces our commitment to enhancing our leadership position in these key market segments."

DowDuPont was formed in 2016 from the merger of plastics and chemicals companies Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- WorleyParsons announced the completion of the strategic acquisition of the Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide offices of the M+W Group in Germany, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The business acquired provides engineering services supporting the world scale facilities of the chemical companies in the Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide areas. These services include feasibility studies and concept development, engineering, project and construction management.

WorleyParsons’ current operations in Ludwigshafen and the newly acquired offices will be combined into a single business. Approximately 50 staff are employed in the acquired offices. The acquisition will be funded using existing funds.

"The acquisition of the chemicals business represents another step in WorleyParsons’ strategic growth objective of establishing a strong presence in the European chemicals sector" said Andrew Wood, Chief Executive Officer of WorleyParsons.

As MRC informed before, in late May 2017, WorleyParsons announced that it had been awarded a 5-yr Framework Agreement by Shell Global Solutions International, B.V., for the provision of engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for Shell downstream projects worldwide.
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