BASF and Natural Machines partner to deliver solutions for customized personal care face masks

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF and Natural Machines announced their strategic partnership in developing a technology that enables customized face masks and eye patches produced in 3D printers, said the company.

Customization of personal care products is a global trend. To meet this growing need, a combination of product expertise and technical understanding is key. BASF, a leading supplier to the personal care industry, and Natural Machines, a solution provider for kitchen and personal care equipment, build upon their respective innovation know-how: a unique 3D printer and 3D printing knowledge from Natural Machines, and the personal care ingredients from BASF.

With this new solution users can obtain masks that are not only adaptable to individual face sizes, but also allow the incorporation of different benefits in various zones within the mask. "With this partnership we are expanding our personalized cosmetic technologies, and we very much look forward to working with Natural Machines in this promising area. We can build on their experience and expertise of 3D printing to bring this know-how into the personal care market", says Robert Parker, Director, New Business Development at Care Chemicals, BASF.

"Our initial tests proved the potential to print face masks and patches based on BASF ingredients. We continue to focus on adapting the technology, to establish a new approach for personalized face masks for our customers based on bio-based and biodegradable solutions”, says Christina Kohlmann, Senior Manager for Open Innovation Personal Care at Care Chemicals, BASF.

Through this strategic partnership, BASF will exclusively commercialize the technology as a holistic solution to the global personal care industry, comprising of a machine, cartridges, and ingredient mixtures. "Our partnership with BASF will help us to grow our portfolio from the food sector to include the cosmetics industry. We will benefit from BASF’s experience and latest developments in cosmetic ingredients, while leveraging the broad expertise we have built during the last eight years in 3D food printing. At the same time, BASF’s leading position in the personal care market gives us an extraordinary opportunity to commercialize the technology and the device in this space”, says Emilio Sepulveda, CEO of Natural Machines.

BASF and Natural Machines aim to introduce the technology to the market in 2022 globally.

As per MRC, BASF reported a better-than-expected second-quarter net profit as it managed to increase volumes and prices thanks to strong demand. Low commodity prices during the coronavirus pandemic weighed on BASF’s earnings last year, but the German group recorded a rapid recovery so far in 2021 as the global economy picked up faster than expected.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

BASF SE (headquartered in Ludwigshafen) - the world's largest manufacturer of chemical products for the industry, including the extraction and processing of oil and gas; has more than 150 production sites in the world, including a number of production lines in the Russian Federation.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Calumet plans to revamp its existing hydrocracker in Great Falls, Montana refinery to utilize Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex solution to produce 12,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This is a fast-track project and the revamp will be producing renewable diesel in the spring of 2022.

“We are excited to support Calumet as they transition to the production of renewable fuels for the North American markets. Our HydroFlex solution is designed to produce diesel based on renewable feedstock, with a minimal Carbon Intensity (CI score) compared to traditional diesel,” says Henrik Rasmussen, Managing Director, The Americas, Haldor Topsoe.

“We have chosen Haldor Topsoe’s market-leading HydroFlex technology for this exceptional project that will allow us to lead the energy transition economy beginning in the Pacific Northwest. This growth project and our vision to source feedstocks locally will create value for the city of Great Falls; Calumet; the state of Montana; and North American low carbon fuel markets,” says Bruce Fleming, Executive Vice President, Calumet.

As MRC informed earlier, Haldor Topsoe will build a 15,000-tpy hydroprocessing catalyst plant at the company’s existing Bayport production site in Pasadena, Harris County, Texas. The plant will increase production capacity of Topsoe’s TK catalyst family to meet increasing demand, both in traditional refining and for use with Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology for production of renewable diesel and jet fuel. The plant is expected to be fully operational in the first half of 2023.

We remind that in 2019, Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNKH, part of the TAIF Group, and Haldor Topsoe signed a memorandum of intent to implement a methanol production project.

Haldor Topsoe is a global leader in supply of catalysts, technology, and services to the chemical and refining industries. Topsoe aims to be the global leader within carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024. By perfecting chemistry for a better world, the company enable its customers to succeed in the transition towards renewable energy. Topsoe is headquartered in Denmark and serves customers around the globe. In 2020, the company's revenue was approximately DKK 6.2 billion, and it employs around 2,200 employees.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- India's gasoline demand is set to hit a record this fiscal year, with consumption accelerating as more people hit the road for business and leisure travel after easing of COVID-19 curbs, reported Reuters.

Shunning trains, buses and planes, safety-conscious Indians are buying more cars and increasingly using personal vehicles to commute as they embark on 'revenge travel' - flocking to tourist destinations after months of restrictions, despite record high fuel prices.

Annual passenger vehicle sales in India rose by 45% to 264,442 units in July, driven by pent-up demand, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

The stronger-than-expected gasoline consumption growth could prompt Indian refiners to import the fuel or boost gasoil exports in coming months. Indian refineries are traditionally configured to maximise production of diesel, where demand is still below pre-COVID levels, hurt by an uneven economic recovery.

"We may have to import some quantity of petrol if momentum in demand continues," said an official at an Indian state-run refiner, who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

"We cannot increase crude throughput as some refiners have high levels of diesel inventory and export margins for diesel are not attractive."

The expected rise in India's gasoline imports could support Asian refiners' margins for the fuel. The country, which has a refining surplus, has shunned gasoline imports since May and raised gasoil exports by a fifth in July from April, government data showed.

Sluggish diesel demand has forced some refiners to cut crude oil processing as their fuel storage were full. That reduced India's July crude oil imports to their lowest in a year.

Changes in India's fuel demand patterns are crucial for global oil markets as Asia's third-largest economy is seen as the main driver of rising demand for energy over the next two decades, the International Energy Agency said in February.

India's gasoline demand rebound follows that of China, where consumption of the fuel is expected to rise by 11% to 13% this year to a record 3.8 million to 4.1 million bpd.

On the other hand, gasoil consumption - which accounts for two-fifths of refined fuel use in the country and is a barometer of industrial activity - is expected to take well into the fourth quarter or even next year to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

India is also gradually cutting dependence on diesel as it looks to fully electrify its vast railway network by end-2023, allow trucks to carry more weight, and increase power generation capacity from cleaner fuel sources.

As MRC informed eearlier, India plans to force refineries and fertilizer plants to use some green hydrogen, junior oil minister Rameswar Teli said in late August, as Asia's third-largest economy strives to reduce carbon emissions.

We remind that Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will build the nation's first 'green hydrogen' plant at its Mathura refinery, as it aims to prepare for a future catering to the growing demand for both oil and cleaner forms of energy.

We also remind that Indian refiners, anticipating a lifting of US sanctions, plan to make space for the resumption of Iranian imports by reducing spot crude oil purchases in the second half of the year. The world's third-largest oil consumer and importer halted imports from Tehran in 2019 after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 accord and re-imposed sanctions on the OPEC producer over its disputed nuclear programme.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Material supplier Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Inc. has named Todd Glogovsky as its new president and chief operating officer, said Canplastics.

Glogovsky, who joined the Fowlerville, Mich.-based compounding company in 2017 and was formerly the executive vice president of sales and technology, has over 30 years of plastics experience, including as managing director for a South American compounding business.

Glogovsky also has over 15 years of senior management experience, including strategic development, and has held positions related to sales, technology, operations and research and development throughout his career.

"In Todd’s four years with the company, he has made a significant impact on our business strategy and product growth,” said John W. Moyer, senior executive officer of Asahi Kasei Corp. “Todd’s extensive background and experience is an asset to our entire organization; he has proven himself as an effective leader who prioritizes both internal and external relationships. His efforts will play a critical role in advancing both APNA and Asahi Kasei toward our 2024 mid-term plan goals."

As per MRC, Asahi Kasei Chemicals (AKC), a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Corporation, kept capacity utilization at its acrylonitrile (ACN) plant in Mizushima, Japan, at a regular level in August following the completion of planned preventive measures. So, repair work at this enterprise with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes per year was started on May 16 this year and ended on 16 July. Thus, they continued for two months.

According to the ICIS-MRC Price Report, ABS imports to Russia grew by 40% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period last year and amounted to 20,900 tonnes against 15,000 tonnes. The share of South Korean supplies fell to 56% (11,800 tonnes) against 60% (9,000 tonnes) a year earlier.

Asahi Kasei Corporation, founded in May 1931, is a Japanese chemical company. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and has offices and subsidiaries throughout Japan, as well as in China, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Germany.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The engine of the US offshore energy industry struggled to recover from Hurricane Ida as a lack of crews, power and fuel left companies unable to fully assess the damage to offshore facilities, reported Reuters.

Ports were reopening and some pipelines restarted as companies completed post-storm evaluations. However, larger hurdles remained for offshore producers and some refiners that struggled to get enough power to begin restarts.

Five days after the hurricane churned through offshore oil and gas fields, the extent of the damage to key facilities was still unknown. Crews have not returned to three-quarters of the evacuated platforms and more than 90% of production remained offline, government data showed.

The White House sought to ease regional fuel shortages, authorizing the release of 1.5 million barrels of crude oil to Exxon Mobil to produce gasoline. Four large refineries in the state remain shut.

Fuel and power shortages have hampered recovery. About 860,000 homes and businesses in the state lacked power. More than a third of gasoline stations in Louisiana were without fuel, according to tracking firm GasBuddy.

The shortages included aviation fuel for helicopters that conduct post-hurricane aerial evaluations and ferry workers to and from platforms. Ida's winds crushed fuel depots and helicopter pads used by transport firms.

Royal Dutch Shell, the largest Gulf of Mexico producer, has resumed just 20% of its usual production, the company said. An offshore facility that connects three large oil production basins was damaged by the storm, though the extent of it was not immediately clear, it said.

Pipeline operator Enbridge said it continues to evaluate its Gulf of Mexico facilities and offshore production remained shut. Damages to offshore oil facilities could cost insurers about USD1 billion, estimated CoreLogic.

Overall Gulf of Mexico output declined by 240,000 barrels, according to government data, an unusual reversal. Production restarts are taking longer than after past storms, analysts said, in part because of the extent of infrastructure damage.

As MRC informed before, Shell found evidence of building damage at its 230,611-bpd Norco, Louisiana refinery. But sources familiar with plant operations did not know the extent of the damage or time needed to make the repairs. Shell is awaiting the restoration of external electrical power to the Norco refining and chemical plant complex.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
MRC