BIAXPLEN launches new film grades for self-adhesive labels, confectionery and tobacco packaging

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In 2019, BIAXPLEN partnered with its customers, multinational companies and SIBUR’s R&D centres to develop new films for a number of consumer segments, said the company.

Unique for the Russian market, SOIL (pearl) and STG (transparent) label films are fused directly into polypropylene containers and do not require adhesives. These labels contribute to sustainable development and reduce carbon footprint through better feedstock efficiency and recyclability.

A LOBB film for fully wrapped labelling increases the output of finished (printed) labels by 10% compared to LOBA (standard pearl film for fully wrapped labelling) due to lower weight. The grade has undergone consumer testing and is commercially supplied to key manufacturers of bottled soft drinks.

A new TSHS tobacco film with better thermal shrinkage resistance designed specifically for high-speed packaging equipment helps improve visual properties of the end product.

A HOHG film grade for confectionery can be used to produce resealable packaging for chocolate bars. It retains the product’s consumer properties and complies with the current packaging and food safety requirements.

BIAXPLEN keeps engaging deeply with customers to develop joint innovative products and packaging solutions at SIBUR’s NIOST and PolyLab R&D centres in Tomsk and Skolkovo.

As MRC informed earlier, BIAXPLEN and Manucor will share their best practices in terms of R&D, sales and marketing, production, and technical support. Joining efforts with Manucor’s sales team will result in new opportunities in the European markets for BIAXPLEN. In turn, SIBUR will engage PolyLab, its Skolkovo-based R&D centre, to develop new products. Together, the parties expect to create the leading BOPP film producer in Europe.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.

BIAXPLEN is a subsidiary of SIBUR, a petrochemical company, and Russia's largest BOPP film producer. Its capacity amounts to 180 ktpa across five regions, and its products are exported to 27 countries.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (India) has recently signed a contract with Nayara Energy, under which it will provide project management consultancy (PMC) services for Nayara's new petrochemical project to be built at the site of Nayara's 20-million-t/y Vadinar refinery in India, according to Apic-online.

The USD850-million project, which will mark Nayara's entry into the petrochemical sector, includes a 450,000-t/y propylene recovery unit, a 450,000-t/y Unipol polypropylene (PP) plant, a 200,000-t/y methyl tertiary butyl ether unit and associated off-sites and utility facilities.

PCN earlier said the project was expected to be completed in 2022.

"Nayara Energy's endeavors in the petrochemical sector are aligned towards our larger aspiration to play a vital role in India's development story," noted Nayara Energy Chief Executive B. Anand.

As MRC informed before, in December 2017, Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions’ subsidiary Uhde Inventa-Fischer signed a contract to build two new world-scale polymer plants for SASA Polyester Sanayi A.S in Adana, Turkey. One plant is planned to produce 380,000 tpy of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for low-viscosity applications. The second plant will use Uhde Inventa-Fischer’s proprietary patented MTR technology to produce 216,000 tpy of resin for the production of PET bottles. Both new plants are among the largest single-line production plants for their respective products.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Keiyo Ethylene, has lowered operational rates at the cracker, owing to bearish market conditions, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that, the company has cut its run rates to around 90-95% of production capacity levels at the cracker in early-January, 2020.

Located at Chiba in Japan, the cracker has an ethylene capacity of 768,000 mt/year and propylene capacity of 450,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed previously, in 2019, Keiyo Ethylene took its naphtha cracker in Chiba off-stream for a maintenance work on February 15, 2019. The repair works remained in force for around 10-15 days. Located at Ichihara in Chiba prefecture of Japan, the cracker has a production capacity of 740,000 mt/year.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,904,410 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2019, up by 6% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. PE shipments increased from both domestic producers and foreign suppliers. The PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.

Founded in 1991, Keiyo Ethylene Co. Ltd. produces and sells petrochemical products. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, and other petrochemical products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Honeywell has recently announced that Ceyhan Polipropilen Uretim A.S. will use Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology to produce 457,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene for a new petrochemicals complex in Ceyhan, Turkey, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Ceyhan Polipropilen Uretim is a joint venture of Ronesans Holding and the Algerian national energy company Sonatrach S.p.A. The new unit will be used to supply propylene for production of polypropylene (PP), which is used to make a wide variety of plastic products that are growing in demand globally.

Honeywell UOP will provide technology licensing and customized basic engineering design, services, equipment, catalysts and adsorbents for the plant. When completed, this will be the first propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit to operate in Turkey.

"There is growing demand in the region for propylene to make plastics, and that propylene has historically been a byproduct of refining fuels, or a product of naphtha cracking," said Bryan Glover, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP’s Petrochemicals and Refining Technologies business. "The Oleflex technology produces a high yield of propylene from propane derived from natural gas, and Ceyhan is an ideal location for this technology because it’s close to the main consumers of polypropylene in Turkey."

The new unit will enable Ceyhan Polipropilen to manufacture polypropylene domestically, reducing Turkey’s dependence on imports from manufacturers in the Middle East and Western Europe. Turkey accounts for half the total demand for polypropylene in the region. Demand for polypropylene in Turkey is expected to grow at about 2.5% annually over the next decade.

UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology converts propane to propylene through catalytic dehydrogenation. The technology is designed to have a lower cash cost of production and higher return on investment when compared to competing dehydrogenation technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions, minimal water usage and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system help minimize its impact on the environment. The independent reactor and regeneration design of the Oleflex technology helps maintain stable operations with high onstream reliability.

Oleflex technology has been selected for a majority of dehydrogenation projects globally since 2011, including applications for propane, isobutane (iC4) and mixed propane and isobutane feeds.

Turkey imported more than 2 million metric tons of polypropylene in 2017. The new plant is expected to reduce Turkish imports of polypropylene by 25%, and offset approximately USD13 billion in imported petrochemicals, representing a third of Turkey’s foreign trade deficit in manufacturing.

As MRC wrote previously, in December 2019, Honeywell announced that Shandong Binhua New Material Co., Ltd. will use Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology to produce 600,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene for a proposed plant in China.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.

Honeywell UOP is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Honeywell UOP is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions, a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.
MRC