Axens to sublicense ExxonMobil’s sulfuric acid alkylation technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Axens has signed an agreement with ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing (ExxonMobil) to sublicense the latter’s sulfuric acid alkylation technology, said chemicals-technology.

Under the alliance agreement, both companies will market and distribute all technologies for high-octane gasoline production. The agreement aims to offer a streamlined solution to meet customer requirements.

The technologies to be accessible under the agreement include Axens feed preparation, or alkyfining, n-butane isomerisation and ExxonMobil’s sulfuric acid alkylation. Axens will offer the technologies under a single licence and engineering agreement.

"We are excited to expand our partnership to offer this optimised alkylation solution to the industry."
The new alliance follows the success of the recent ParamaX agreement to increase paraxylene production. Axens’ ParamaX suite consists of technologies originally developed by ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing.

ExxonMobil president Dan Moore said: "Combining our owner-operator experience with Axens’ strong engineering expertise in providing advanced technologies, we are excited to expand our partnership to offer this optimised alkylation solution to the industry."

Axens chairman and CEO Jean Sentenac said: "We are excited by this agreement offering integration of advanced technologies to better meet refiners’ needs for the production of alkylate, a key component of high-octane gasoline."

According to ExxonMobil, its sulfuric acid alkylation technology ‘reacts propylene, butylene and pentylene with isobutane to form high-value alkylate for gasoline blending’. The high-octane and low-vapour pressure in alkylate make it a superior gasoline blendstock.

Axens provides several solutions to convert oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, production and purification of petrochemical intermediates, and natural gas treatment and conversion.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Industrial technology supplier Milacron Holdings Corp. has promoted from within, naming Michael Jones as the new president of its plastics processing unit, formally named Advanced Plastics Processing Technologies (APPT), for the Americas and Europe, said Canplastocs.

Jones has held a number of senior leadership roles within Cincinnati, Ohio-based Milacron since joining the company in 2015.

In his new role, he will oversee the APPT refreshed machinery portfolio and will continue to expand Milacron’s plastics processing machinery lines, including the recently launched Cincinnati large tonnage product line and the new Q-Series injection molding line.

"I am honoured to be appointed to lead the APPT Americas and Europe businesses, and I look forward to continuing to build upon Milacron’s leadership position by offering the service, the technology and the machinery required by plastics processing customers," Jones said in a statement.

Prior to joining Milacron, Jones served in a number of senior leadership roles with GE Aviation and Hill-Rom. He began his career at PwC in the global tax consulting group. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Accounting, and also an MBA from The Ohio State University.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Styrolution Canada, joined industry trade group Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), said Chimiecanadienne.

Styrolution Canada’s Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario facility employs approximately 90 employees and supplies styrene to INEOS Styrolution downstream polystyrene operations as well as customers throughout North America.

In 2018, INEOS Styrolution announced a partnership with Canada-based companies ReVital Polymers and Pyrowave to use advanced technology to chemically recycle polystyrene packaging collected in consumer recycling systems.

"We are excited to join the CIAC," said Brian Lucas, Site Director at Styrolution Canada’s Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario facility. "Styrolution Canada is committed to continuous improvement to make our products and processes safer and more sustainable. We feel joining the similar-minded solution providers and world-class stewardship innovators that make up CIAC’s membership will be a great fit for us."

"CIAC is very pleased to welcome Styrolution Canada as a full member," said Bob Masterson, CIAC President and CEO. “We look forward to helping the company achieve its business objectives by developing a more competitive public policy environment for chemical producers in Canada.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Taita Chemical (part of USI Corporation) is in plans to shut an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) unit for maintenance, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Taiwan informed that the company is likely to commence turnaround at the unit in mid-April, 2019. The plant is expected to remain under maintenance for around two weeks.

Located in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, the plant has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.

Usi Group Ltd was founded in 2001. The company's line of business includes the wholesale distribution of durable goods. The company produces various kinds of polymers, including polyethylene (PE), ethylene-vynil-acetate (EVA), ABS, etc.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- On the heels of several acquisitions, Montreal’s Intertape Polymer Group Inc. (IPG) delivered what it calls “solid results” in 2018, increasing its revenue by more than 17% to USD1,053 million compared to 2017, and by more than 21.2% to US$287.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to Q4 2017, said Canplastics.

"We strengthened our product bundle with the addition of protective packaging solutions from the Polyair acquisition and expanded our geographic and competitive footprint with the acquisition of Maiweave,” IPG president and CEO Greg Yull said in a statement. "As we move into 2019, we are actively integrating these businesses, as well as delivering on the synergies from the prior acquisitions of Cantech and Airtrax. Our main priorities in 2019 are commissioning the two Indian facilities on time and on budget by mid-year, scaling production at those facilities and the second Midland production line, and driving cost and revenue synergies in Cantech, Polyair and Maiweave."

Yull also noted that IPG has invested more than US$160 million in a capital program in the past two years, including approximately US$63 million in three new greenfield facilities, including the second line at the Midland, North Carolina facility for water-activated tapes and in India at IPG’s carton sealing tapes and woven products facilities.

IPG acquired Polyair in July 2018 for US$146 million. The privately held company has dual headquarters in Toronto and Chicago, and supplies bubble cushioning, foam, mailers and air pillow systems, which IPG describes as being complementary to its business. In December 2018, IPG bought substantially all of the operating assets of Maiweave LLC for US$21 million; Maiweave is a private company based in Springfield, Ohio and an integrated U.S. manufacturer of engineered coated polyolefin fabrics that employs approximately 75 team-members at two manufacturing facilities.

Looking ahead, IPG has forecast its 2019 revenue to be between USD1,180 and USD1,220 million, barring unforeseen developments.

IPG, which has corporate headquarters in Montreal and Sarasota, Fla., develops, manufactures, and sells a variety of paper and film-based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, polyethylene, and specialized polyolefin films, woven coated fabrics, and complementary packaging systems for industrial and retail use.
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