Evonik and Siemens partner up for chems data management scheme

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Siemens und Evonik are to enter into a technology partnership. Its aim is the development of an asset life cycle data model and its integration into the Siemens software solution Comos, as per Evonik's press release.

The asset life cycle data model was developed by Evonik on the basis of the international DEXPI standard ISO 15956 and other internationally valid standards. Its aim is to cover all the elements and structures of relevance for the chemical industry in a single integrated data model across the entire life cycle - from product development, equipment planning and operation to final decommissioning. Siemens and Evonik develop an application providing software support for the whole engineering and operation process. The outcome of this cooperative process will become an integral part of the Comos software portfolio.

"I’m delighted that we’ll be stepping up what is already a long-standing association built on mutual trust and creating a new technology partnership," said Eckard Eberle, CEO of the Process Automation (PD PA) Business Unit and Director of the Siemens booth at the Achema 2018. "This partnership also underpins Siemens’ digitalization strategy surrounding the Digital Enterprise for the process industries."

Dr. Wilhelm Otten, Head of Process Technology & Engineering at Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH, confirmed: "We see Siemens as the ideal partner to provide us worldwide with technological and application support in mapping out our data model."

The application Siemens and Evonik will be developing jointly will be based on the Comos engineering platform and will use the complete Evonik data model, which covers all the necessary functional features and the corresponding data scope. This also includes interfaces for the input of data generated by upstream process simulations or other process development steps, meaning that as an engineering platform, Comos offers all the possibilities required to successfully map the consistency, flexibility and functionality required for the data model. Consistency is ensured in Comos by the software’s object orientation, whereby an object is defined as any graphical or data-related description of a plant component. Any associated data sheets, lists or other documents are directly linked to the relevant object. The flexibility offered by Comos is due to its open system architecture, which allows Comos to be adapted to specific customer requirements and linked to third-party systems.

As MRC reported previously, half a year after the announcement of the 2030 strategy, MOL Group has reached an important milestone in its industrial transformational journey. The license agreements signed with Evonik and thyssenkrupp in early August 2017, will enable MOL to produce propylene oxide, a key component for the production of polyether polyols. MOL intends to become a significant producer of polyether polyols, high-value intermediates for products applied in the automotive, packaging and furniture industries.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. In fiscal 2017, which ended on September 30, 2017, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income o EUR6.2 billion. At the end of September 2017, the company had around 377,000 employees worldwide.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-orientated innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 36,000 employees. In fiscal 2017, the enterprise generated sales of EUR14.4 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR2.36 billion.
MRC

PVC imports to Russia fell by 60% in January-May, exports increased by 30%

MOSCOW (Market Report) - Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) to Russia amounted to about 9,300 tonnes in January-May of this year, down 60% year on year. At the same time, the low demand from the domestic market forced Russian producers to increase export volumes by 30%, according to MRC DataScope report.

May imports of SPVC in the country fell to 237 tonnes against 3,400 tonnes a month earlier; increase in export prices and the devaluation of the rouble against the dollar in April contributed to the almost complete SPVC purchases in China. Total SPVC imports into Russia amounted to about 9,300 tonnes in the first five months of this year against 23,600 tonnes a year earlier.

At the same time, Russian producers had to ship PVC more actively this year due to the low demand from the domestic market, export sales increased by almost a third. The key external suppliers of PVC for several years have traditionally been producers from China.

May imports of acetylene PVC from China significantly decreased to 237 tonnes against 3,200 tonnes a month earlier. In general, acetylene PVC imports from China in the first five months of the year decreased to about 8,400 tonnes against 21,800 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of acetylene PVC is expected to increase slightly in June. As it was already reported, at the same time, Russian producers had to increase export volumes, although since March, export sales have declined.

Exports of SPVC from Russia exceeded 48,000 tonnes in January - May of this year versus 37,000 tonnes a year earlier.


MRC

PP imports in Russia grew by 31% in January-May

MOSCOW (MRC) - Total imports of polypropylene (PP) to Russia increased by 31% compared to the same period in 2017 and slightly exceeded 80,000 tonnes in the first five months of this year. The supply of all types of propylene polymers has grown, according to MRC's DataScope report.

May imports of PP into Russia increased to 18,200 tonnes against 16,100 tonnes a month earlier, supplies of homopolymer PP from Turkmenistan increased. Total imports of PP into Russia exceeded 80,000 tonnes in January-May of this year against 61,100 tonnes a year earlier. The import for all types of propylene polymers increased, the greatest increase in supplies accounted on homopolymer PP.

The structure of imports of polypropylene by type over the period under review was as follows.


May imports of homopolymer PP into Russia increased to 8,100 tonnes against 5,200 tonnes a month earlier, deliveries of homopolymer PP raffia from Turkmenistan increased. Total volume of imports of this type of polypropylene reached 29,000 tonnes in January-May 2018 against 21,000 tonnes a year earlier.

May imports of PP block copolymers was about 4,000 tonnes against 4,900 tonnes in April. Local companies reduced purchases of PP block copolymers for injection moulding and extrusion of pipes in Europe. During the period under review, PP block copolymers imports to Russia increased to 20,200 tonnes against 16,800 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of PP random copolymers in May amounted to about 2,900 tonnes against 3,000 tonnes a month earlier. Russia's imports of PP random copolymers in the first five months of this year amounted to 13,600 tonnes against 10,900 tonnes a year earlier, the main increase in deliveries accounted for the pipe propylene copolymers.

Imports of other propylene polymers during the period under review amounted to about 17,100 tonnes against 12,300 tonnes a year earlier.


MRC

Wacker Polymers to raise prices for dispersions and dispersible polymer powders

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Wacker Polymers is raising its prices for vinyl-acetate-ethylene-based copolymer dispersions, dispersible polymer powders and solid resins of its VINNAPAS, VINNOL, ETONIS, VINNACEL and SMARGO brands worldwide, as per the company's press release.

Effective July 1, 2018, prices will be raised by up to ten percent, or as customer contracts allow. Rapidly rising raw-material costs, especially for acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) - two indispensable raw materials for the manufacturing of Wacker’s vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer dispersions, dispersible polymer powders and solid resins - are the reason for this measure.

The price adjustment enables Wacker Polymers’ continued security of supply, technological innovation and comprehensive technical, sales and customer support services.

Wacker’s dispersions and dispersible polymer powders are applied in a broad variety of industries, ranging from adhesives, construction, caulks, nonwovens, paints and coatings to paper, carpet and textiles.

As MRC wrote before, Wacker Chemie AG is expanding its existing production plants for dispersions and dispersible polymer powders in South Korea. The Group is building a new spray dryer for dispersible polymer powders at its Ulsan site, which will have a total capacity of 80,000 metric tons per year. The Munich-based chemicals company is also constructing an additional reactor for dispersions based on vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (EVA), which are needed as the raw material for the spray dryer to produce dispersible polymer powders.

Wacker Chemie AG is a worldwide operating company in the chemical business, founded 1914. The company is controlled by the Wacker-family holding more than 50 percent of the shares. The corporation is operating more than 25 production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The product range includes silicone rubbers, polymer products like ethylene vinyl acetate redispersible polymer powder, chemical materials, polysilicon and wafers for semiconductor industry.
MRC

SNC-Lavalin wins work for refinery project in UAE

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SNC-Lavalin, a leading project management company, said it has signed an exclusive agreement with Florexx International Investments for the extended basic engineering and subsequent design and delivery of an advanced topping refinery in the UAE, as per TradeArabia.

A Dubai-based group, Florexx International Investments is an integrated bio, green, and renewable energy investment and development company. It has been established and created as a conglomerate platform for all its investments and development activities worldwide.

SNC-Lavalin said as per the deal it will carry out the initial basic engineering, masterplanning, process technology evaluation and selection to support project financial investment decision approvals, expected in the third quarter.

Once the project proceeds to the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase, the Canadian construction giant will carry out the complete design and delivery of the refinery, working alongside Emirati contractors to maximise in-country value.

Advanced topping refineries use distillation columns to separate crude oil into different petroleum products, including naphtha, diesel, kerosene and fuel, said the company in a statement.

The inside battery limits (ISBL) scope of the agreement between SNC-Lavalin and Florexx includes construction of a 100,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) capacity refinery complemented by non-process technical and non-technical buildings and support infrastructure.

On the contract win, Christian Brown, the president for oil and gas at SNC-Lavalin, said: "This project is an important addition to the work that we do in the UAE, further boosting our extensive capability in providing end-to-end solutions in the downstream oil and gas market."

"It is also contributing to the growth of our business in the region and our continued focus on adding value to all seven emirates," he added.
MRC