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Released on 11/12/12
Lanxess has developed a range of iron oxides for the production
of cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. The products have good morphological
characteristics and high reactivity. The latest development is a technical
iron oxide, Bayoxide E B 90. The products will contribute to the production
of batteries. The global market potential for batteries for electromobility
alone is expected to reach EUR 20 bn in 2020. The success of a battery is
also influenced by cathode technology.
Source Chemie Aktuell
Lanxess has developed a range of iron oxides for the production
of cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. The products have good morphological
characteristics and high reactivity. The latest development is a technical
iron oxide, Bayoxide E B 90. The products will contribute to the production
of batteries. The global market potential for batteries for electromobility
alone is expected to reach EUR 20 bn in 2020. The success of a battery is
also influenced by cathode technology.
Source Chemie Aktuell
Released on 17/12/12
Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. (KKPC) is likely to shut operations at its acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) plant.
Located at Ulsan in South Korea, the NBR plant has a production capacity of 80,000 mt/year.
The plant, according to a Polymerupdate source in South Korea, will be taken off-stream on December 17, 2012, owing to weak market demand and will remain shut for around one month.
Source PolymerUpdate
Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. (KKPC) is likely to shut operations at its acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) plant.
Located at Ulsan in South Korea, the NBR plant has a production capacity of 80,000 mt/year.
The plant, according to a Polymerupdate source in South Korea, will be taken off-stream on December 17, 2012, owing to weak market demand and will remain shut for around one month.
Source PolymerUpdate
Released on 18/12/12
Japan's Sumitomo Chemical has acquired a majority interest in US pesticide maker MGK, the companies said on Tuesday.
Sumitomo has been a shareholder of Minnesota-based MGK since 1989.
"MGK will remain focused on its core business strategies under Sumitomo Chemical, said MGK president Steve Gullickson.
The Gullickson family, majority shareholders for four generations, remains a minority shareholder in MGK.
Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
MGK, one of the first companies to commercially develop naturally-derived pyrethrum into insecticide, becomes a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical.
MGK and its subsidiaries employ 250 people at its facilities in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia.
Source ICIS News
Japan's Sumitomo Chemical has acquired a majority interest in US pesticide maker MGK, the companies said on Tuesday.
Sumitomo has been a shareholder of Minnesota-based MGK since 1989.
"MGK will remain focused on its core business strategies under Sumitomo Chemical, said MGK president Steve Gullickson.
The Gullickson family, majority shareholders for four generations, remains a minority shareholder in MGK.
Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
MGK, one of the first companies to commercially develop naturally-derived pyrethrum into insecticide, becomes a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical.
MGK and its subsidiaries employ 250 people at its facilities in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia.
Source ICIS News
FMC Corporation Signs Licensing, Distribution and Services Agreements with GAT Microencapsulation AG
Released on 17/12/12
FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) announced today that its Agricultural Products Group has signed a perpetual, global licensing agreement, along with distribution and services agreements with GAT Microencapsulation AG covering a range of advanced crop protection products and proprietary formulation technologies.
Under the agreement, FMC will access GAT Microencapsulation AG's complete library of intellectual property, which includes a portfolio of registered products, proprietary formulation technologies, and new products in development. FMC will be the main distributor of GAT Microencapsulation AG's current product portfolio in virtually all global markets. GAT Microencapsulation AG will supply the products to be sold, as well as new materials for products FMC commercializes in the future. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"Over the years, FMC's innovation and collaboration initiatives have delivered impressive crop protection technologies. We are pleased to be adding to our portfolio GAT Microencapsulation's products and proprietary formulation technologies. With their research and development expertise, product registration experience, and key location in central Europe, we have found an important new strategic partner that will help us achieve our Vision 2015 goals," said Mark Douglas, president, FMC Agricultural Products.
About GAT Microencapsulation AG
GAT Microencapsulation AG is an agrochemical company specializing in the development, registration and manufacture of advanced plant protection products. GAT has developed innovative and cost-effective technologies for the formulation of agrochemicals, most notably microencapsulation. The company's intellectual property in these technologies is based upon a complex combination of international patents.
About FMC Corporation
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial, environmental and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. In 2011, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.4 billion. The company employs approximately 5,500 people throughout the world, and operates its businesses in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.
Source PR Newswire - FMC Official Press Release
FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) announced today that its Agricultural Products Group has signed a perpetual, global licensing agreement, along with distribution and services agreements with GAT Microencapsulation AG covering a range of advanced crop protection products and proprietary formulation technologies.
Under the agreement, FMC will access GAT Microencapsulation AG's complete library of intellectual property, which includes a portfolio of registered products, proprietary formulation technologies, and new products in development. FMC will be the main distributor of GAT Microencapsulation AG's current product portfolio in virtually all global markets. GAT Microencapsulation AG will supply the products to be sold, as well as new materials for products FMC commercializes in the future. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"Over the years, FMC's innovation and collaboration initiatives have delivered impressive crop protection technologies. We are pleased to be adding to our portfolio GAT Microencapsulation's products and proprietary formulation technologies. With their research and development expertise, product registration experience, and key location in central Europe, we have found an important new strategic partner that will help us achieve our Vision 2015 goals," said Mark Douglas, president, FMC Agricultural Products.
About GAT Microencapsulation AG
GAT Microencapsulation AG is an agrochemical company specializing in the development, registration and manufacture of advanced plant protection products. GAT has developed innovative and cost-effective technologies for the formulation of agrochemicals, most notably microencapsulation. The company's intellectual property in these technologies is based upon a complex combination of international patents.
About FMC Corporation
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial, environmental and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. In 2011, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.4 billion. The company employs approximately 5,500 people throughout the world, and operates its businesses in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.
Source PR Newswire - FMC Official Press Release
Released on 14/12/12
SKC Corp has scheduled a month-long shutdown of its 175,000 tonne/year propylene oxide (PO)/styrene monomer (SM) plant in Ulsan, South Korea, in March 2013 for maintenance, a company source said on Friday.
“We will be having a four week regular shutdown for the [PO/SM] plant for preventive maintenance,” said the source.
“Government officials will also be coming to inspect and check the facility,” the source added.
Maintenance is typically scheduled once every 3-4 years for the PO/SM plant.
SKC Corp will also shut its 150,000 tonne/year hydrogen oxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) plant for two weeks in March, the company source said.
The source said the electrical transformer that provides voltage step-down for the HPPO plant will be undergoing regular maintenance for two weeks and no electricity will be available to power the plant at the time.
Market sources estimate that the shutdowns will result in a loss of at least 20,000 tonnes of PO production in March.
SKC Corp is the sole PO producer in South Korea.
Source ICIS News
SKC Corp has scheduled a month-long shutdown of its 175,000 tonne/year propylene oxide (PO)/styrene monomer (SM) plant in Ulsan, South Korea, in March 2013 for maintenance, a company source said on Friday.
“We will be having a four week regular shutdown for the [PO/SM] plant for preventive maintenance,” said the source.
“Government officials will also be coming to inspect and check the facility,” the source added.
Maintenance is typically scheduled once every 3-4 years for the PO/SM plant.
SKC Corp will also shut its 150,000 tonne/year hydrogen oxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) plant for two weeks in March, the company source said.
The source said the electrical transformer that provides voltage step-down for the HPPO plant will be undergoing regular maintenance for two weeks and no electricity will be available to power the plant at the time.
Market sources estimate that the shutdowns will result in a loss of at least 20,000 tonnes of PO production in March.
SKC Corp is the sole PO producer in South Korea.
Source ICIS News
Released 14/12/12
‘Instead of paying millions to patent attorneys, to translators and in administrative fees, Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises will instead be able to use the money to develop their products’
After 40 years of debate and diplomacy, a historic agreement to establish a single, harmonised European patent system has been achieved.
The compromise deal was voted through on Tuesday 10 December by a large cross-party majority of members of the European Parliament (MEPS), after the Council approved the plan on Monday.
Some formalities remain, but the path is clear for the system to come into effect on 1 January 2014. The promise from the European commission is that as a result the cost of filing a patent will fall 87% from Euro 36,000 today to Euro 4,725.
Both MEPs and the commission have positioned the deal as an important plank in the single European market and as a sign of their commitment to help small technology-based companies. This was perhaps best-expressed by Cecilia Wikström MEP, of Sweden’s Folkpartiet who said: ‘Instead of paying millions to patent attorneys, to translators and in administrative fees, Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises will instead be able to use the money to develop their products.’
The reduction in costs will come as a result of a new language regime and a unified legal structure. At present, a patent granted by the European Patent Office in Munich must be translated into the language of every country in which it is to be registered. From 2014, patents in English, French or German, will automatically be valid in all the 25 countries that have signed up to the system. The commission will bear the costs of translating patents from other EU languages into English, French or German on behalf of SMEs (small and medium enterprises), universities and publicly-funded research institutes.
Meanwhile, the unified legal system will make it easier and cheaper to defend or contest pRSC atents. Under the current law this must be done country by country, but when the single patent comes into force all cases will go to the Court of First Instance (‘Tribunal d'instance’) in Paris, France. This will have subsidiary courts in London and Munich specialising in patents involving chemistry and life sciences, and engineering and physical sciences respectively.
The court was separated into three seats to satisfy the competing claims of the French, UK and German governments. However, this has the virtue of building on and maintaining existing expertise according to German MEP Klaus-Heiner Lehne, chair of the legal committee that worked on the structure of the unified patent court.
Although all appeals will be heard by the Court of Justice of the EU, the single patent will not be an EU system because Spain and Italy declined to join following a terminal disagreement on the three language regime. Instead, the new patent is to be set up under ‘enhanced co-operation’, a legislative pathway used when agreement falls just shy of unanimity.
In a related development on Tuesday, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice, Yves Bot, issued his opinion on a challenge by Italy and Spain to the use of enhanced co-operation, concluding that their objections have no legal basis.
Source RSC Chemistry World
‘Instead of paying millions to patent attorneys, to translators and in administrative fees, Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises will instead be able to use the money to develop their products’
After 40 years of debate and diplomacy, a historic agreement to establish a single, harmonised European patent system has been achieved.
The compromise deal was voted through on Tuesday 10 December by a large cross-party majority of members of the European Parliament (MEPS), after the Council approved the plan on Monday.
Some formalities remain, but the path is clear for the system to come into effect on 1 January 2014. The promise from the European commission is that as a result the cost of filing a patent will fall 87% from Euro 36,000 today to Euro 4,725.
Both MEPs and the commission have positioned the deal as an important plank in the single European market and as a sign of their commitment to help small technology-based companies. This was perhaps best-expressed by Cecilia Wikström MEP, of Sweden’s Folkpartiet who said: ‘Instead of paying millions to patent attorneys, to translators and in administrative fees, Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises will instead be able to use the money to develop their products.’
The reduction in costs will come as a result of a new language regime and a unified legal structure. At present, a patent granted by the European Patent Office in Munich must be translated into the language of every country in which it is to be registered. From 2014, patents in English, French or German, will automatically be valid in all the 25 countries that have signed up to the system. The commission will bear the costs of translating patents from other EU languages into English, French or German on behalf of SMEs (small and medium enterprises), universities and publicly-funded research institutes.
Meanwhile, the unified legal system will make it easier and cheaper to defend or contest pRSC atents. Under the current law this must be done country by country, but when the single patent comes into force all cases will go to the Court of First Instance (‘Tribunal d'instance’) in Paris, France. This will have subsidiary courts in London and Munich specialising in patents involving chemistry and life sciences, and engineering and physical sciences respectively.
The court was separated into three seats to satisfy the competing claims of the French, UK and German governments. However, this has the virtue of building on and maintaining existing expertise according to German MEP Klaus-Heiner Lehne, chair of the legal committee that worked on the structure of the unified patent court.
Although all appeals will be heard by the Court of Justice of the EU, the single patent will not be an EU system because Spain and Italy declined to join following a terminal disagreement on the three language regime. Instead, the new patent is to be set up under ‘enhanced co-operation’, a legislative pathway used when agreement falls just shy of unanimity.
In a related development on Tuesday, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice, Yves Bot, issued his opinion on a challenge by Italy and Spain to the use of enhanced co-operation, concluding that their objections have no legal basis.
Source RSC Chemistry World
Released on 14/12/12
Sumitomo Chemical plans to incubate new businesses with combined annual sales of some 150 bn yen ($1.80 bn) by fiscal 2015 in the sectors of environment and energy, information and communications technology, and life sciences.
Under environment and energy, the company had decided to increase its output capacity in Singapore for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with high vinyl acetate content and will promote the EVA as encapsulating material for silicon solar cells. The company plans to commercialize and expand its sapphire substrates for light-emitting-diode lighting and raw material alumina; high-thermal-conductivity resins; silicon/gallium nitride epitaxial wafers for power semiconductor devices and organic-LED lighting.
Sumitomo will also foster its businesses in diesel particulate filters and carbon dioxide scrubbers. It is aiming for a one-fourth share of the global DPF market with the Q3 2013 startup of a production facility in Poland.
Under information and communications technology, the company will focus on next-generation polarizing plates for liquid crystal displays and polymer-OLED displays. It will review the components of the polarizing plates to gain a cost advantage and reduce thickness and weight. Besides setting up a mass-production plant in Osaka for polymer-OLED materials for flat-screen televisions, it will upgrade the materials and make provisions for expected demand growth.
With these businesses and its planned commercialization of organic thin film solar cells, organic semiconductors and lithium-ion-battery cathode materials, Sumitomo projects that its annual sales from new businesses will amount to 300 bn-400 bn yen by fiscal 2020.
Source Japan Chemical Web
Sumitomo Chemical plans to incubate new businesses with combined annual sales of some 150 bn yen ($1.80 bn) by fiscal 2015 in the sectors of environment and energy, information and communications technology, and life sciences.
Under environment and energy, the company had decided to increase its output capacity in Singapore for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with high vinyl acetate content and will promote the EVA as encapsulating material for silicon solar cells. The company plans to commercialize and expand its sapphire substrates for light-emitting-diode lighting and raw material alumina; high-thermal-conductivity resins; silicon/gallium nitride epitaxial wafers for power semiconductor devices and organic-LED lighting.
Sumitomo will also foster its businesses in diesel particulate filters and carbon dioxide scrubbers. It is aiming for a one-fourth share of the global DPF market with the Q3 2013 startup of a production facility in Poland.
Under information and communications technology, the company will focus on next-generation polarizing plates for liquid crystal displays and polymer-OLED displays. It will review the components of the polarizing plates to gain a cost advantage and reduce thickness and weight. Besides setting up a mass-production plant in Osaka for polymer-OLED materials for flat-screen televisions, it will upgrade the materials and make provisions for expected demand growth.
With these businesses and its planned commercialization of organic thin film solar cells, organic semiconductors and lithium-ion-battery cathode materials, Sumitomo projects that its annual sales from new businesses will amount to 300 bn-400 bn yen by fiscal 2020.
Source Japan Chemical Web
Released on 14/12/12
Farmers organisation from five states today demanded that government should provide them advanced technologies like GM (Genetically Modified) crops to raise yield and ensure better income.
"The government has allowed cultivation of BT Cotton, which has helped farmers. We want that GM technology should be allowed in other crops like paddy, maize and vegetables," said Jaipal Reddy, President, Pratap Rudra Farmers Federation from Andhra Pradesh.
The representatives of Nagaraju Rythu Samakhya (Andhra Pradesh), Progressive Pro-technology Farmers Federation (Tamil Nadu), Naujawan Kisan Club (Punjab), Kisan Club (Haryana) and Shetkari Sangathan (Maharashtra) also voiced their concerns demanding that field trials of GM crops should not be banned.
The Supreme Court appointed five-member Technical Expert Committee on GM (genetically modified) crops has recommended a 10-year moratorium on all field trials of GM crops.
"We need high-yielding varieties. The government should either provide or get it from some other place," Reddy said.
Pointing out that farming community in other developed and developing nations have access to advanced technologies like GM crops, Reddy demanded that Indian farmers should also get these new technologies in the agricultural sector.
"The advanced technology would not only cut cost of production, but also boost production and productivity, which in turn will increase farmers income," he said.
Source Press Trust of India
Farmers organisation from five states today demanded that government should provide them advanced technologies like GM (Genetically Modified) crops to raise yield and ensure better income.
"The government has allowed cultivation of BT Cotton, which has helped farmers. We want that GM technology should be allowed in other crops like paddy, maize and vegetables," said Jaipal Reddy, President, Pratap Rudra Farmers Federation from Andhra Pradesh.
The representatives of Nagaraju Rythu Samakhya (Andhra Pradesh), Progressive Pro-technology Farmers Federation (Tamil Nadu), Naujawan Kisan Club (Punjab), Kisan Club (Haryana) and Shetkari Sangathan (Maharashtra) also voiced their concerns demanding that field trials of GM crops should not be banned.
The Supreme Court appointed five-member Technical Expert Committee on GM (genetically modified) crops has recommended a 10-year moratorium on all field trials of GM crops.
"We need high-yielding varieties. The government should either provide or get it from some other place," Reddy said.
Pointing out that farming community in other developed and developing nations have access to advanced technologies like GM crops, Reddy demanded that Indian farmers should also get these new technologies in the agricultural sector.
"The advanced technology would not only cut cost of production, but also boost production and productivity, which in turn will increase farmers income," he said.
Source Press Trust of India
Released on 13/12/12
Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) is in the process of restarting its 515,000 tonne/year mixed-feed I-4 No 1 cracker at Map Ta Phut, a company source said on Thursday.
“The restart failed earlier, so we are trying to restart today [Thursday],” the source said.
The cracker was shut down on 19 November on some mechanical issues and it was expected to restart on 13 December, according to an earlier story from ICIS.
PTTGC’s other cracker at the site – a 400,000 tonne/year I-4 No 2 ethane cracker – is currently operating at around 90% of capacity, according to the source.
Source ICIS News
Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) is in the process of restarting its 515,000 tonne/year mixed-feed I-4 No 1 cracker at Map Ta Phut, a company source said on Thursday.
“The restart failed earlier, so we are trying to restart today [Thursday],” the source said.
The cracker was shut down on 19 November on some mechanical issues and it was expected to restart on 13 December, according to an earlier story from ICIS.
PTTGC’s other cracker at the site – a 400,000 tonne/year I-4 No 2 ethane cracker – is currently operating at around 90% of capacity, according to the source.
Source ICIS News
Released on 07/12/12
Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd announces that NA Industries Inc (NAII), a subsidiary in the USA, re-started an operation of its old superabsorbent polymer (SAP) plant in order to supplement the production quantity. The restarted plant at at Chattanooga, TN, USA, will operate at a capacity of 40,000 tonnes/y from Dec 2012 to Dec 2013. The plant was previously closed as NAII built a new SAP plant with a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes/y using the latest technology next to the acrylic acid plant of American Acryl, a 50-50 jv company owned by NAII and Arkema Inc at Houston, TX, USA. The new plant started commercial operation since Jun 2012 in order to enhance its competitiveness of SAP.
Source Nippon Shokubai company Reports
Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd announces that NA Industries Inc (NAII), a subsidiary in the USA, re-started an operation of its old superabsorbent polymer (SAP) plant in order to supplement the production quantity. The restarted plant at at Chattanooga, TN, USA, will operate at a capacity of 40,000 tonnes/y from Dec 2012 to Dec 2013. The plant was previously closed as NAII built a new SAP plant with a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes/y using the latest technology next to the acrylic acid plant of American Acryl, a 50-50 jv company owned by NAII and Arkema Inc at Houston, TX, USA. The new plant started commercial operation since Jun 2012 in order to enhance its competitiveness of SAP.
Source Nippon Shokubai company Reports
Released on 13/12/12
Materials technology group Umicore and the Evonik Group subsidiary Evonik Litarion GmbH have announced a business relationship for the supply of lithium-ion cathode materials. Evonik selected Umicore as the supplier of cathode materials for large format Li-ion batteries that are used in electric vehicles and in energy storage systems for stationary applications.
Evonik manufactures battery cell components for large format Li-ion batteries in Kamenz, Germany. Li-ion rechargeable batteries are seen as one of the most promising solutions for advanced energy storage systems in electric vehicles.
Umicore’s Cellcore®MX, a Li-ion NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) cathode material, offers an engineered material solution to optimize electric vehicle requirements of power, energy, safety and battery cycle life.
Dr. Henrik Hahn, Spokesman of the Board of Management of Evonik Litarion GmbH, commented: "Through its materials know how, extensive production capacity, sustainable sourcing and manufacturing process, Umicore serves for us as an ideal partner for our business."
Dr. Kurt Vandeputte, Senior Business Director for Umicore’s Rechargeable Battery Materials business unit commented: "We are delighted to be selected by a major producer in the emerging European market for large format lithium ion rechargeable batteries. This is a strong signal of recognition for our expertise and it reinforces our long-term commitment towards Li-ion technology as an enabler for electrified transportation. This agreement with Evonik underlines the attractiveness of our product, our quality management systems, production capabilities and close customer relationships."
Umicore is a global materials technology group. It focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are centred on four business areas: Catalysis, Energy Materials, Performance Materials and Recycling. Each business area is divided into market focused business units offering materials and solutions that are at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life.
Umicore generates the majority of its revenues and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean technologies, such as emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries and photovoltaics, fuel cells, and recycling. Umicore’s overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life.
The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base; it generated a turnover of €14.5 billion (€2.3 billion excluding metal) in 2011 and currently employs some 14,600 people.
Source EVONIK Official Press Release
Materials technology group Umicore and the Evonik Group subsidiary Evonik Litarion GmbH have announced a business relationship for the supply of lithium-ion cathode materials. Evonik selected Umicore as the supplier of cathode materials for large format Li-ion batteries that are used in electric vehicles and in energy storage systems for stationary applications.
Evonik manufactures battery cell components for large format Li-ion batteries in Kamenz, Germany. Li-ion rechargeable batteries are seen as one of the most promising solutions for advanced energy storage systems in electric vehicles.
Umicore’s Cellcore®MX, a Li-ion NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) cathode material, offers an engineered material solution to optimize electric vehicle requirements of power, energy, safety and battery cycle life.
Dr. Henrik Hahn, Spokesman of the Board of Management of Evonik Litarion GmbH, commented: "Through its materials know how, extensive production capacity, sustainable sourcing and manufacturing process, Umicore serves for us as an ideal partner for our business."
Dr. Kurt Vandeputte, Senior Business Director for Umicore’s Rechargeable Battery Materials business unit commented: "We are delighted to be selected by a major producer in the emerging European market for large format lithium ion rechargeable batteries. This is a strong signal of recognition for our expertise and it reinforces our long-term commitment towards Li-ion technology as an enabler for electrified transportation. This agreement with Evonik underlines the attractiveness of our product, our quality management systems, production capabilities and close customer relationships."
Umicore is a global materials technology group. It focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are centred on four business areas: Catalysis, Energy Materials, Performance Materials and Recycling. Each business area is divided into market focused business units offering materials and solutions that are at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life.
Umicore generates the majority of its revenues and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean technologies, such as emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries and photovoltaics, fuel cells, and recycling. Umicore’s overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life.
The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base; it generated a turnover of €14.5 billion (€2.3 billion excluding metal) in 2011 and currently employs some 14,600 people.
Source EVONIK Official Press Release
Released on 13/12/12
Styrolution's 485,000 tonne/year styrene plant in Texas City, Texas, should remain down until January following a small controlled fire, the company said on Thursday.
The fire occurred on Wednesday, according to the company.
A source with the company said the fire was observed by unit operations and was immediately extinguished.
There were no injuries or personnel exposures.
Repairs are currently underway but the unit is expected to remain down until January, according to the company.
Source ICIS News
Styrolution's 485,000 tonne/year styrene plant in Texas City, Texas, should remain down until January following a small controlled fire, the company said on Thursday.
The fire occurred on Wednesday, according to the company.
A source with the company said the fire was observed by unit operations and was immediately extinguished.
There were no injuries or personnel exposures.
Repairs are currently underway but the unit is expected to remain down until January, according to the company.
Source ICIS News
Released on 14/12/12
Kemira Oyj signed an agreement today to sell its food and pharmaceutical businesses together with its acetate based chemicals business to Niacet (Niagara Falls, USA). These businesses are a part of Kemira's ChemSolutions segment. All shares of Kemira ChemSolutions BV, including the manufacturing site in Tiel (NL), will be transferred from Kemira Oyj to Niacet Corp. The other businesses of the ChemSolutions segment, including the chemical, feed and de-icing business, which are linked to Kemira's formic acid production in Oulu (Finland), will stay within Kemira.
The businesses sold have a combined revenue of approximately EUR 50 million. 90 employees will be transferred to Niacet as part of the transaction which is expected to close on January 31, 2013.
The agreed transaction price is EUR 82 million and will impact Kemira's cash flow positively in the first quarter of 2013. Kemira will undertake a non-recurring write-down related to the transaction of approximately EUR 18 million, impacting Kemira's reported EBIT in the fourth quarter of 2012.
- In accordance with its strategy, Kemira focuses on products and applications for water quality and quantity management. ChemSolutions's food, pharmaceutical and acetate based chemicals businesses are not part of our core business. There are more synergies for these businesses with Niacet's current portfolio and Niacet is committed to develop the business further, said Wolfgang Büchele, Kemira's President and CEO.
We are currently a leading producer of propionates and acetates in the US focusing on the bakery and pharmaceuticals industry. The agreed deal fits perfectly into our strategy to become a global player in the chosen industries. This is a very exciting opportunity for Niacet and we believe it will position us for continued success and growth both in Niagara Falls and at our new facility in the Netherlands, once the agreement is finalized, said Kelly Brannen, Co-Managing Director of Niacet. To assure a seamless transition for customers and to welcome the Tiel employees to the Niacet family, Larry Montani, Co-Managing Director of Niacet, will relocate to Tiel.
Source Kemira Official Press Release through REUTERS
Kemira Oyj signed an agreement today to sell its food and pharmaceutical businesses together with its acetate based chemicals business to Niacet (Niagara Falls, USA). These businesses are a part of Kemira's ChemSolutions segment. All shares of Kemira ChemSolutions BV, including the manufacturing site in Tiel (NL), will be transferred from Kemira Oyj to Niacet Corp. The other businesses of the ChemSolutions segment, including the chemical, feed and de-icing business, which are linked to Kemira's formic acid production in Oulu (Finland), will stay within Kemira.
The businesses sold have a combined revenue of approximately EUR 50 million. 90 employees will be transferred to Niacet as part of the transaction which is expected to close on January 31, 2013.
The agreed transaction price is EUR 82 million and will impact Kemira's cash flow positively in the first quarter of 2013. Kemira will undertake a non-recurring write-down related to the transaction of approximately EUR 18 million, impacting Kemira's reported EBIT in the fourth quarter of 2012.
- In accordance with its strategy, Kemira focuses on products and applications for water quality and quantity management. ChemSolutions's food, pharmaceutical and acetate based chemicals businesses are not part of our core business. There are more synergies for these businesses with Niacet's current portfolio and Niacet is committed to develop the business further, said Wolfgang Büchele, Kemira's President and CEO.
We are currently a leading producer of propionates and acetates in the US focusing on the bakery and pharmaceuticals industry. The agreed deal fits perfectly into our strategy to become a global player in the chosen industries. This is a very exciting opportunity for Niacet and we believe it will position us for continued success and growth both in Niagara Falls and at our new facility in the Netherlands, once the agreement is finalized, said Kelly Brannen, Co-Managing Director of Niacet. To assure a seamless transition for customers and to welcome the Tiel employees to the Niacet family, Larry Montani, Co-Managing Director of Niacet, will relocate to Tiel.
Source Kemira Official Press Release through REUTERS
Released on 13/12/12
A decision-making Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved, with specific additional controls, an application to allow a number of herbicides to be used to control aquatic pest plants.
The application by the Agricultural Reassessment Group (ARG) was made on behalf of 12 regional councils, as well as the Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, Land Information New Zealand and Mighty River Power. The application related to herbicides containing one of four active ingredients: haloxyfop-R-methyl; imazapyr isopropylamine; metsulfuron-methyl; or triclopyr triethylamine. These herbicides are approved for use on land in New Zealand and are used by the applicant group to control a range of pest plant species. Many pest plants also inhabit aquatic environments. The ARG sought approval for the application of these substances onto or into water for the control of aquatic pest plants.
Twenty-eight submissions were received on the application, with eight submitters requesting to be heard. A hearing was held before the Committee in Hamilton on 31 October.
After weighing the evidence of all submitters, the Committee decided that agrichemical control, using the substances in the application, was more likely to achieve the benefits of controlling aquatic pest plants than other means of controlling them, and concluded there would be significant benefits to New Zealand from the application of these substances onto or into water, subject to controls.
The Committee noted in its decision that the information provided included a number of data gaps, meaning EPA staff were unable to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the application of these substances onto or into water. The Committee therefore considered additional controls were necessary to manage potential risks to human health, the environment and the relationship between Maori and the environment, and the uncertainty associated with the effects of the application of the substances onto or into water.
Source EPA
A decision-making Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved, with specific additional controls, an application to allow a number of herbicides to be used to control aquatic pest plants.
The application by the Agricultural Reassessment Group (ARG) was made on behalf of 12 regional councils, as well as the Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, Land Information New Zealand and Mighty River Power. The application related to herbicides containing one of four active ingredients: haloxyfop-R-methyl; imazapyr isopropylamine; metsulfuron-methyl; or triclopyr triethylamine. These herbicides are approved for use on land in New Zealand and are used by the applicant group to control a range of pest plant species. Many pest plants also inhabit aquatic environments. The ARG sought approval for the application of these substances onto or into water for the control of aquatic pest plants.
Twenty-eight submissions were received on the application, with eight submitters requesting to be heard. A hearing was held before the Committee in Hamilton on 31 October.
After weighing the evidence of all submitters, the Committee decided that agrichemical control, using the substances in the application, was more likely to achieve the benefits of controlling aquatic pest plants than other means of controlling them, and concluded there would be significant benefits to New Zealand from the application of these substances onto or into water, subject to controls.
The Committee noted in its decision that the information provided included a number of data gaps, meaning EPA staff were unable to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the application of these substances onto or into water. The Committee therefore considered additional controls were necessary to manage potential risks to human health, the environment and the relationship between Maori and the environment, and the uncertainty associated with the effects of the application of the substances onto or into water.
Source EPA
Released on 12/12/12
Flint Hills Resources (FHR) was in the process of restarting its Port Arthur cracker in Texas after a planned turnaround, market sources said on Wednesday.
The 621,000 tonne/year ethylene unit was taken off line in late September, according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
An FHR spokesperson declined to comment on the restart.
Source ICIS News
Flint Hills Resources (FHR) was in the process of restarting its Port Arthur cracker in Texas after a planned turnaround, market sources said on Wednesday.
The 621,000 tonne/year ethylene unit was taken off line in late September, according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
An FHR spokesperson declined to comment on the restart.
Source ICIS News