AkzoNobel receives Boeing approval for color blending in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- AkzoNobel’s aerospace coatings facility in Dongguan, China, has been qualified by aircraft manufacturer Boeing to color blend the company’s Aerodur 3001 basecoat, said Chemweek.

The certification means the site has been certified by Boeing to blend AkzoNobel’s industry-leading basecoat/clearcoat system, Aerodur 3001/3002, locally in China with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) approval. The Dongguan facility is also now listed on Boeing’s official QPL for BMS10-72 specification.

QPL approval status is an important milestone for the facility, which opened in 2017 to specifically serve the North and South Asian aviation market and deliver cutting-edge technologies faster and more reliably. “We’re proud to receive this certification from Boeing,” says Ron Fattal, AkzoNobel’s Key Account Manager for Boeing. “It’s further recognition of our commitment to putting the needs of our customers at the heart of our product development."

One of the key benefits of the innovative basecoat/clearcoat system is that it dries faster and retains its color and gloss significantly longer than single stage coatings. It also offers superior chemical and stain resistance, flexibility and weathering performance. “Our customers demand the best in terms of both performance and aesthetics,” continues Fattal. “Receiving industry approval of this caliber shows how dedicated we are to putting our customers and their needs first."

The Dongguan site has been open since December 2001, with the Aerospace Coatings facility being added as an expansion in early 2017.

As MRC informed earlier, BASF would expand the capacity of ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The total investment adds about 400 000 tpy to BASF’s production capacity for the corresponding products with an expected investment amount exceeding EUR500 million.

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

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

Akzo Nobel N.V., trading as AkzoNobel, is a Dutch multinational, active in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 55,000 people. Established in 1992 and specializing in sustainable water-based and advanced eco-friendly products, Mapaero operates a production facility in France and has around 140 employees.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo) announced that it has launched a joint research project in pursuit of innovative technology to promote the recycling of plastic waste, working here with Professor TAKAHASHI Tsutomu, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, National University Corporation, said Chemweek.

Plastic waste often includes varying states of the material, meaning that when heat is applied for material recycling, the melted plastic is uneven in terms of fluidity. This in turn results in the regenerated plastic itself being unable to maintain a consistent level of fluidity or quality, limiting its range of possible applications. But with this new joint development project, Mitsui Chemicals aims over the course of the next three years to develop technology that will facilitate in-line measurement and control for the melted plastic's fluidity, which will in turn help to stabilize the quality of the regenerated plastic.

Having established the Corporate Sustainability Division in April 2018, Mitsui Chemicals has been proactive in incorporating corporate sustainability factors into its management and strategies. In this manner, Mitsui Chemicals is working to reform its business models in ways that will help to realize a cohesive society in harmony with the environment, as well as health and well-being in an aging society.

Further, in March 2019, Mitsui Chemicals opened the Design & Solution Center in Niigata Prefecture. By accessing the product development capabilities of domestic affiliate Kyowa Industrial Co., Ltd. - a manufacturer of injection molds - and using these to offer solutions, the aim here is to continually create social value.

Nagaoka University of Technology, meanwhile, was designated in 2018 as the world's Academic Impact hub for Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Hub universities are tasked with leading the way in SDG-related initiatives, with only one university around the world being selected for each goal. An early mover for bringing about a more sustainable world, Nagaoka University of Technology is highly regarded by the UN as a model university for its innovative SDG-related efforts, and is the only East Asian university to be selected as a hub for any of the goals.

As MRC informed before, the company last conducted a turnaround at this cracker from mid-June, 2018, to 11-22 August, 2018.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall PE production totalled 1,712,400 tonnes in the first seven months of 2020, up by 58% year on year. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the greatest increase in the output. At the same time, overall PP production in Russia increased in January-July 2020 by 24% year on year to 1,063,700 tonne. ZapSibNeftekhim accounted for the main increase in the output.

Mitsui Chemicals is a leading manufacturer and supplier of value added specialty chemicals, plastics and materials for the automotive, healthcare, packaging, agricultural, building, and semiconductor and electronics markets. Mitsui Chemicals is a Japanese Chemicals company, a part of the Mitsui conglomerate. The company has a turnover of around 15 billion USD and has business interests in Japan, Europe, China, Southeast Asia and the USA. The company mainly deals in performance materials, petro and basic chemicals and functional polymeric materials.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Euro Chlor (Brussels, Belgium), the European association of chlor-alkali manufacturers, has released its latest strategy for the sustainability of the chlor-alkali industry to 2050, said Chemweek.

The strategy, released at the association’s annual general assembly on Friday, “defines what the sector aims to look like by 2050, as well as the direction planned to ensure that this safe, competitive, and green European chlor-alkali industry will be here for the benefit of Europe in 2050,” it says. The work on the strategy began in the run up to Euro Chlor’s third 10-year Sustainability Program covering 2021-2030, and builds on Cefic’s own mid-century vision, released last year. Euro Chlor is a sector group within Cefic, the European chemical industry association. The 2050 strategy also addresses some future needs of European society in the context of the EU’s Green Deal, it says.

Euro Chlor aims to keep safety as its main priority, as well as stepping up its focus on safe transportation of its members’ products. It also “plans to contribute to Europe’s climate-neutral ambitions by further focusing on its drive for energy efficiency, and more closely investigating its carbon footprint,” it says. This includes determining the chlor-alkali industry’s role in a more electrified, greener future, and “striving for 100% hydrogen utilization,” which will help to keep the industry competitive, it says. It will also “better close the loop in its own production processes, and work together with downstream users to increase circularity in the downstream chlorine value chain,” it adds.

The launch of the mid-century strategy, originally planned for earlier this year, was postponed until the AGM due to COVID-19, says the association. Euro Chlor’s annual technology conference is planned to be held on 4-6 May 2021, where an update on the strategy’s progress will be given, it says. Euro Chlor has 38 producing members operating 60 manufacturing locations in 19 countries in Europe, representing 97% of all European production capacity.

Europe’s chlor-alkali industry completed the phase-out of mercury-cell technology at Europe’s chlorine plants in 2018, with an ongoing program to dispose safely of the liquid mercury via conversion into mercury sulfide and safe storage in salt mines by the end of 2022. At the end of 2018, Euro Chlor members reported 2,947 metric tons of liquid mercury on site, with 1,146 metric tons being converted in 2018. This means we are on target to meet the 2022 deadline,” Baune noted.

As MRC informed earlier, Russia's output of chemical products rose in June 2020 by 2.6% year on year. However, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 4.9% in the first six months of 2020. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the output in January-June. Production of benzene was 106,000 tonnes in June 2020, compared to 110,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 721,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 3.9% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- KBR and Johnson Matthey (JM), announced that they have signed an alliance agreement to license a groundbreaking ammonia-methanol co-production process that combines their market-leading ammonia and methanol technologies, said the company.

The co-production process is based on well-proven technologies utilizing KBR's proprietary PURIFIER™ ammonia process and JM's methanol process. Both KBR's ammonia technology and JM's methanol technology showcase a long history, deep experience, continuous improvements and leading-edge performance. Since the 1960s, KBR has licensed, engineered or constructed more than 244 ammonia plants worldwide. JM has supplied the methanol industry with leading technology and catalysts for over 45 years and has licensed over 100 grassroots methanol plants during this period.

As MRC informed earlier, Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group Co. (Baofeng Energy) has selected KBR's proprietary cracker technology for its new methanol-to-olefins (MTO) project to be built in Ningxia, China. Under the contracts, KBR will provide process technology licensing and process design packages for Baofeng Energy's 500,000-t/y coal-to-olefins facility and its 500,000-t/y C2-C5 comprehensive utilization project.

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

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and solutions across the asset and program life cycle within the government services and technology sectors. KBR employs approximately 28,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Johnson Matthey is a global leader in science that enables a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers' products and in 2020 we received the London Stock Exchange's Green Economy Mark, given to companies that derive more than 50% of revenues from environmental solutions. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet's natural resources.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dow has agreed to sell three of its chemical storage terminals on the US Gulf Coast for USD620 million to a joint venture (JV) between Vopak (Rotterdam, Netherlands) and investment firm BlackRock (New York, New York), said Chemweek.

The transaction includes marine and storage terminal operations and assets at Dow’s sites at Plaquemine and St. Charles, Louisiana; and Freeport, Texas, Dow says. The cash proceeds will be used for “value-enhancing opportunities consistent with Dow’s capital-allocation priorities” and demonstrates the company’s “continued evaluation of non-revenue-generating assets across its global portfolio,” it says.

The sale to the newly established Vopak Industrial Infrastructure Americas (VIIA) JV, owned equally by Vopak and BlackRock’s worldwide energy and power infrastructure fund, is expected to close before the end of this year, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions in the US and EU.

Dow and VIIA will enter into long-term service agreements for storage and infrastructure services at the terminals. “Dow expects Vopak’s terminal expertise and capabilities will deliver additional operational efficiencies and opportunities for growth,” says Vopak. The long-term agreements will ensure “reliable and cost-advantaged services for existing Dow businesses at the in-scope sites,” according to Dow. Normal operations will continue throughout the divestment process, it says. All three terminals are situated alongside active Dow production complexes. VIIA and Dow “are working closely to ensure a seamless transition,” Vopak states.

The total storage capacity of the terminals is 852,000 cubic meters. Dow’s terminal at St. Charles is the largest with 73 chemical storage tanks with a combined capacity of 409,000 cu meters, with its terminal at Plaquemine incorporating 30 tanks with 303,000 cu meters of storage capacity for chemicals and refined products in total, Vopak says. The terminal at Freeport has 53 tanks with a total chemicals storage capacity of 140,000 cu meters, it says. The three assets also include 16.4 hectares of expansion land, 36 vessel berths, multiple pipeline connections, and rail and truck racks, Vopak adds.

The announcement demonstrates Dow’s “ongoing commitment to applying a best-owner mindset, supported by rigorous benchmarking, and a focus on disciplined capital allocation,” says Dow CEO Jim Fitterling. “The transaction will enable Dow to deploy cash towards value-enhancing opportunities in our core businesses consistent with our capital-allocation priorities including ensuring safe and reliable operations and paying down additional debt,” he says. In July, Dow announced the USD310-million sale of its rail infrastructure and assets at six sites in North America to Watco Companies (Pittsburg, Kansas). That deal is also expected to close during the fourth quarter.

Vopak already provides logistics partner services at several Dow locations worldwide. Vopak is “dedicated to contributing to the long-term success of Dow’s US Gulf Coast business,” says Vopak CEO Eelco Hoekstra. Describing the acquisition as a “unique expansion opportunity,” Hoekstra says the deal “fits perfectly into Vopak’s growth strategy for industrial terminals." Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor to Dow, with Mayer Brown providing legal support.

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

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.
MRC