SABIC shuts Netherlands Olefins 4 cracker on technical issues

(ICIS) -- SABIC's Olefins 4 cracker at Geleen in the Netherlands is off line because of unresolved technical problems, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday. ⌠We are experiencing some technical issues with Olefins 4 which started 25 January, said the spokeswoman. The cracker was shut down on Wednesday, 26 January.

The company was still investigating the cause of the problems, but was working hard to resolve them as soon as possible.

Olefins 4, which has a nameplate capacity of 660,000 tonnes/year of ethylene according to ICIS data, is one of two crackers operated by SABIC at the site.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Biotech developer and manufacturer of renewable bio-based chemicals, Myriant Technologies Inc. has closed a US$60 mln strategic equity investment from PTT Chemical Group (PTT Chemical), Thailand's largest petrochemical producer. Myriant will utilize the investment for the ongoing development of its bio-based high-value chemicals technology, as well as to help fund the rapid commercialization of its succinic acid platform, including construction of a succinic acid plant in Lake Providence, Louisiana.

The investment includes the signing of the Head of Agreement for the establishment of a joint venture between PTT Chemical and Myriant for deploying Myriant's technology in Southeast Asia. By combining PTT Chemical's R&D capabilities and Myriant's sophisticated technology, the joint venture will further drive technologies for the manufacturing of green chemicals using the abundant high quality bio-based feedstock available in Thailand and the Asian region.

MRC

(Zacks) -- Specialty chemical manufacturers Solutia Inc. is expected to post double digit earnings growth in both 2010 and 2011. Solutia manufactures a diverse group of chemicals including Saflex, an interlayer for laminated glass which is used in the solar industry, CPFilms aftermarket window films, the Flexsys family of chemicals for the rubber industry, and Skydrol aviation hydraulic fluid.

The company is the world's only single source supplier of EVA, TPU and PVB solar encapsulants.

Because of strong growth in the Chinese solar industry, Solutia announced in Dec 2010 that it would expand its current operations at its Suzhou, China facility to include additional production lines in support of Vistasolar ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant. It currently produces Vistasolar encapsulants in Germany.

Solutia is a global company, operating in 50 locations outside of the United States. It derives the majority of its sales from outside of the United States.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- The world's first biodegradable polyethylene foam is to be launched by Nomaco Engineered Foam Solutions. Unlike competing biodegradable products, NomaGreen foam is not starch-based or bio-based, and will meet all performance requirements for packaging foam without any worry of exposing it to moisture, heat, light or mechanical stress.

A third party independent laboratory was utilized to test to the foam to ensure it meets ASTM D-5511 standards for biodegradability. Results showed that after 120 days in the lab, Nomagreen achieved 49% biodegradation. The proprietary formulation allows the foam to biodegrade naturally without having to sacrifice any of the excellent performance characteristics that standard polyethylene foam provides. NomaGreen's biodegradation process only occurs when the foam is placed in a microbe-rich environment, such as a landfill.

MRC

(PRW) -- Global car parts group International Automotive Components Group (IAC) is reported to be preparing to resume production later this year at a former interior components plant in Plzen Prestice, Czech Republic.

According to a Czech environmental impact assessment, the Luxembourg-based group intends to install new injection moulding machines in the former plant. There, it will turn out polypropylene door panel parts for vehicle builders Skoda and Volkswagen, reports the East European Nov-Ost industry news portal.

It reported that IAC wants to add new injection moulding capacity at the relaunched interior trim plant where it already has 4 - 6 injection presses. Annual capacity in this operation is set to reach 660 tpa of moulded PP parts.

MRC