Bayer MaterialScience inaugurated its Colour Competence and Design Center near New Delhi

(Plastemart) -- Bayer MaterialScience has now inaugurated its Colour Competence and Design Center in Greater Noida, near New Delhi. This new center provides products and solutions for polycarbonate compounds, ranging from color matching and small-scale production, to the broad range of technical services to support injection-molding and compounding processes. This enables customers to adapt quickly to fast-evolving trends, and explore new options for color, surfaces, geometries and design, while leveraging Bayer MaterialScience's global expertise and extensive know-how of the local markets.


MRC

Texas officials investigating Shintech water emissions

(Plastics News) -- Texas environmental officials searched Shintech Inc.'s PVC plant in Freeport, Texas, on Jan. 26 after receiving a complaint that the plant allegedly was emptying unsafe wastewater into the nearby Brazos River.


Officials seized numerous items from the plant during the search, including log books, wastewater reports and personnel files. The plant ranks as North America's largest PVC production facility, with annual capacity of more than 3 billion pounds.


In a Jan. 28 news release, officials with Houston-based Shintech said that the firm ⌠continues to cooperate with authorities in their investigation of certain aspects of our Freeport manufacturing operations.


The search warrant was issued after an investigator with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality met with four individuals ≈ a former employee and three others ⌠closely associated with Shintech ≈ who claimed that plant management had bypassed pH and turbidity meters, allowing untreated wastewater to discharge into a channel that led to the Brazos River.


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Chevron Phillips fined $400,000

(PLASTICS NEWS) -- Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP will pay a fine of more than $400,000 for alleged violations at the firm's petrochemicals plant in Baytown, Texas.


Chevron Phillips -- based in The Woodlands -- was assessed the $422,320 fine for excess emissions from a flare and improper maintenance of monitoring equipment at the site, which is known as the Cedar Bayou plant. The fine was issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.


A spokeswoman with the Austin, Texas-based TCEQ said that Chevron Phillips did not appeal the fine. Chevron Phillips officials could not be reached for comment.


The firm makes polyethylene, ethylene, propylene and other petrochemical products at the site, which ranks as the largest of its 34 facilities.


MRC

India equipment supplier Jagmohan completes expansion

(PLASTICS NEWS ) -- Pushed by growth in India's plastics packaging sector, Indian blow molding equipment maker Jagmohan Pla-Mach Pvt Ltd has expanded its facility in Maharastra. The expansion commenced in January 2010 and concluded in January 2011. The plant now can produce 10 blow molding machines per month, up from six previously.

The company manufactures a range of blow molding machines capable of making products from 200 liters to 3000 liters. The firm is also working on a blow molding line capable of making 5,000 liter products that is likely to be launched in 2011.


MRC

Cella named president of Chevron Phillips

(PLASTICS NEWS) -- Peter Cella has been named president and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC, effective Feb. 8. He replaces Greg Garland, who joined ConocoPhillips as senior vice president, exploration & production, Americas.


Cella joins Chevron Phillips from BASF Corp., where he served most recently as senior vice president, petrochemicals. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University.


MRC