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RELEASED ON 27/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
A lithium-ion battery on a single Mitsubishi Motors Corp Outlander plug-in hybrid overheated last week, the Japanese carmaker said on Wednesday, as the technology faces scrutiny following failures on Boeing Co
787 Dreamliner jets.
The hybrid was being charged for delivery when the battery, which was supplied from joint venture owned by Japan's GS Yuasa Corp, Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsubishi Motors, was found damaged and emitting a strange odour. The incident caused no injuries or damage to the dealership.
Kyoto-based GS Yuasa is also the maker of lithium-ion batteries for the Dreamliner jet, which has been grounded since January after two power packs on separate aircraft overheated.
A Mitsubishi Motors official said at a briefing in Tokyo that the Outlander battery is made in different factory and has a different design from the ones used by Boeing.
Mitsubishi Motors, which has delivered around 4,000 Outlanders and has orders for 8,000 more vehicles, will halt production and deliveries to determine the cause of the problem. The stoppage is estimated to take a week or two, the official said.
SOURCE Reuters News
A lithium-ion battery on a single Mitsubishi Motors Corp Outlander plug-in hybrid overheated last week, the Japanese carmaker said on Wednesday, as the technology faces scrutiny following failures on Boeing Co
787 Dreamliner jets.
The hybrid was being charged for delivery when the battery, which was supplied from joint venture owned by Japan's GS Yuasa Corp, Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsubishi Motors, was found damaged and emitting a strange odour. The incident caused no injuries or damage to the dealership.
Kyoto-based GS Yuasa is also the maker of lithium-ion batteries for the Dreamliner jet, which has been grounded since January after two power packs on separate aircraft overheated.
A Mitsubishi Motors official said at a briefing in Tokyo that the Outlander battery is made in different factory and has a different design from the ones used by Boeing.
Mitsubishi Motors, which has delivered around 4,000 Outlanders and has orders for 8,000 more vehicles, will halt production and deliveries to determine the cause of the problem. The stoppage is estimated to take a week or two, the official said.
SOURCE Reuters News
latribune.fr | 25/03/2013, 17:53 - 317 mots
Un système d'autopartage de voitures électriques du groupe Bolloré, similaire à Autolib, sera déployé au dernier trimestre 2013 à Bordeaux. Le projet impliquera une centaine de véhicules.
Un système d'autopartage de voitures électriques du groupe Bolloré, similaire à Autolib, sera déployé "au dernier trimestre 2013" à Bordeaux et dans quelques communes de l'agglomération, a-t-on appris auprès de la Communauté urbaine de Bordeaux (CUB). Le système, dont le nom reste à définir, avait été présenté le 26 février par Vincent Bolloré à la ville de Bordeaux. Le projet retenu impliquera une centaine de véhicules, répartis dans quarante à cinquante stations.
Huit euros d'abonnement mensuel
Pour s'en servir, l'usager devra payer un abonnement mensuel de huit euros et six euros la demi-heure. Au départ, le système prévoyait pour la seule ville de Bordeaux une centaine de véhicules, 40 stations et 180 bornes de charge, pour un abonnement mensuel de dix euros et un coût de cinq euros par demi-heure. "Les premières réunions de travail avec les représentants du groupe Bolloré ont (...) permis de faire avancer ce dossier", indique dans un communiqué la CUB. Le groupe Bolloré prendra à sa charge l'installation des bornes, ainsi que la mise à disposition des véhicules dans cette première étape, l'objectif étant de développer encore le système fin 2014. Bolloré veut également lancer un projet similaire d'autopartage à Lyon fin 2013 et l'installer à l'étranger.
Doublement des bénéfices
Le groupe français Bolloré a annoncé jeudi dernier un doublement de son bénéfice net (part du groupe) à 669 millions d'euros en 2012, grâce à des plus-values exceptionnelles et après l'intégration globale de Havas dans ses comptes. En 2011, le bénéfice net s'était élevé à 321 millions d'euros, précise le groupe. Le bénéfice opérationnel a progressé de 39% l'an dernier, à 407 millions, grâce à "la forte progression des résultats des activités transport et logistique", la plus importante avec un bénéfice opérationnel de 490 millions, mais aussi "une très bonne performance de l'activité logistique pétrolière" et des activités médias (dont Havas) qui sont passées dans le vert.
http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/automobile/20130325trib000 755914/un-systeme-d-autopartage-de-voitures-electriques-bollore-installe-a-borde aux.html
Par Florent Deligia
Posté le 25/03/2013
Autolo'V ou Blulib', le futur service d'autopartage de Bolloré n'a pas encore de nom pour Lyon. Néanmoins, ces voitures électriques en libre service devraient arriver dès cette fin d'année dans les rues de la ville. Lyon Capitale vous dévoile tous les tarifs du remplaçant de Car2Go en exclusivité, et les différences avec le système parisien.
En juin 2012, l'arrêt du service d'autopartage Car2Go a laissé plus de 3000 utilisateurs orphelins. Ils peuvent se réjouir, un nouveau système arrivera dans les rues de Lyon avant la fin de l'année 2013. Au revoir les Smarts, elles sont remplacées par des voitures électriques du Groupe Bolloré. Le service est déjà connu à Paris sous le nom d'Autolib' mais ne pourra pas se nommer ainsi à Lyon puisque la marque est déjà prise. Ainsi, le groupe Bolloré aimerait l'appeler Blulib', en référence au nom de la Blucar, tandis que Gilles Vesco, adjoint nouvelle mobilité et nouveaux modes de vie urbains à la ville de Lyon pousserait pour le nom Autolo'V, pour faire le lien avec Vélo'v. Dans tous les cas, Gérard Collomb aura le dernier mot.
Des différences avec le système parisien
Les "Autolo'V" se distingueront de leurs homologues parisiennes sur plusieurs points. Deux types de véhicules seront proposés : la Blucar de Bolloré et la Renault Twizy. Les deux modèles seront rouge et noir pour rappeler les couleurs de la ville. Autre différence majeure, il s'agira d'un service en one way avec stations, c’est-à-dire qu’il sera possible de garer sa voiture n’importe où et pas seulement dans les espaces dédiés, à condition de la ramener dans une station à la fin. Dès lors, il sera permis de garder la même voiture pendant un long arrêt, à condition de payer 6 euros par heure (avec un maximum de 2 heures, ce service étant réservé aux abonnés Premium). Enfin, des stations équipées de bornes rechargeront les véhicules avec de l’électricité issue de la filière renouvelable, grâce à un accord entre le groupe Bolloré et la Compagnie nationale du Rhône.
Des tarifs variables en fonction des abonnements
130 voitures seront mises à disposition avant la fin de l'année, ainsi que 50 stations de 5 places. Ces dernières pourront chacune accueillir quatre voitures Autolo’V, mais également le véhicule électrique d’un particulier qui aurait besoin de le recharger (moyennant un abonnement mensuel). En 2014, 120 nouvelles voitures et 50 stations supplémentaires seront déployées, dont 20 à Villeurbanne, soit un total de 250 véhicules en ville et 500 places (dont 100 pour les particuliers).
Les tarifs du service d'autopartage dépendront de la formule choisie :
- avec la formule à la semaine (gratuite) : la minute sera facturée 30 centimes, soit 9 euros la demi-heure et 18 euros l’heure.
- avec la formule mensuelle (19,90 euros par mois) : la minute sera facturée 23 centimes, soit 7 euros la demi-heure et 14 euros l’heure.
- avec la formule à l'année (96 euros par an) : la minute sera facturée 20 centimes, soit 6 euros la demi-heure et 12 eurors l'heure.
Les anciens utilisateurs de Car2Go bénéficieront de 3 mois d’abonnement gratuit, les abonnés Vélo’V d’un mois (dotations en cas de souscription à un abonnement Premium). Dans tous les cas, les 15 premières minutes sont dues même si la voiture est utilisée moins longtemps (20 minutes à Paris). Il est possible de réserver un véhicule 30 minutes à l’avance, ainsi que la borne d’arrivée (60 minutes avant). Il faudra cependant débourser 1 euro pour réserver une Autolo’V, les abonnés Premium disposant de 50 réservations gratuites. "Autolo'v" devrait être inauguré avant la fin de l'année 2013.
http://www.lyoncapitale.fr/Journal/univers/Actualite/Transports/Apres-Velo-V-voi ci-Autolo-V-Autolib-de-Bollore-a-Lyon-les-tarifs-les-differences-avec-Paris
RELEASED ON 04/03/2013 (DD/MM/YY)
Turkish petrochemical producer Petkim Petrokimya Holding will increase Acrylonitrile (ACN) production at its Aliaga plant, sources said on Sunday.
The company currently produces about 90,000 tonnes/year at the plant, one source said on the sidelines of the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC). By year end, ACN production will increase to about 110,000 tonnes/year.
Almost all of the ACN production will be used domestically for the acrylic fibre (AF) market, sources said.
Hosted by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the IPC continues through Tuesday.
Source : Icis News – for internal use only
Turkish petrochemical producer Petkim Petrokimya Holding will increase Acrylonitrile (ACN) production at its Aliaga plant, sources said on Sunday.
The company currently produces about 90,000 tonnes/year at the plant, one source said on the sidelines of the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC). By year end, ACN production will increase to about 110,000 tonnes/year.
Almost all of the ACN production will be used domestically for the acrylic fibre (AF) market, sources said.
Hosted by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the IPC continues through Tuesday.
Source : Icis News – for internal use only
RELEASED ON 22/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Wisconsin agriculture officials say corn herbicides containing isoxaflutole can't be sold or used in Wisconsin.
Lori Bowman is director of the Bureau of Agrichemical Management. She says there's been some recent misinformation that led agribusinesses and farmers to believe otherwise. Bowman says "Balance", "Corvus", and other products with this active ingredient are not registered for sale or use in Wisconsin.
Isoxaflutole containing pesticides were originally registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the early 2000s for use in some states. But, Wisconsin was not one of the states because of concerns about surface and groundwater contamination and potential effects on other crops, including vegetables.
The company that makes the products, Bayer CropScience, recently withdrew its application to register the products in Wisconsin.
SOURCE Associated Press Newswires
RELEASED ON
18/03/2013
(DD/MM/YY)
TOYOTA Motors is seeking joint development with materials manufacturers to advance its development of biological fuel cells that generate electricity using methanol as feedstock and enzymes as catalyst, as the development of special materials for these fuel cells' electrolytes and electrodes is considered indispensable to a big breakthrough and early practical application.
The company had already substantially upgraded performance by optimizing enzyme and electrode compositions and is now aiming for energy density of 400 Wh/kg, which is equal to or greater than the energy densities of lithium-ion batteries and polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
Instead of vehicles, which require high power output, the automaker is targeting commercialization in application segments in which power requirements are low or that require high energy density for prolonged power generation, since biological fuel cells' ability to generate power is inferior to those of other fuel cells.
Source : Japan Chemical Web – for internal use only
TOYOTA Motors is seeking joint development with materials manufacturers to advance its development of biological fuel cells that generate electricity using methanol as feedstock and enzymes as catalyst, as the development of special materials for these fuel cells' electrolytes and electrodes is considered indispensable to a big breakthrough and early practical application.
The company had already substantially upgraded performance by optimizing enzyme and electrode compositions and is now aiming for energy density of 400 Wh/kg, which is equal to or greater than the energy densities of lithium-ion batteries and polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
Instead of vehicles, which require high power output, the automaker is targeting commercialization in application segments in which power requirements are low or that require high energy density for prolonged power generation, since biological fuel cells' ability to generate power is inferior to those of other fuel cells.
Source : Japan Chemical Web – for internal use only
RELEASED ON 22/03/2013 (DD/MM/YY)
Supercapacitors replace lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries replace nickel metal hydride and lead acid batteries. There are side stories of course. Some supercapacitors replace electrolytic capacitors and others create new applications. However, in this article, we concentrate on replacing lithium-ion batteries.Supercapacitors replace lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries replace nickel metal hydride and lead acid batteries. There are side stories of course. Some supercapacitors replace electrolytic capacitors and others create new applications. However, in this article, let us concentrate on replacing lithium-ion batteries.
Why supercapacitors replace batteries today
So far, supercapacitors have replaced batteries in such applications as backup for electrics and electronics, from CMOS circuits to wind turbine blade control, opening bus doors in an emergency and making brakes work when regenerative braking fails. Despite much higher price, they were used because of reliability and long life. However, later applications reflect the bias of the market for both lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors towards larger sizes as electrical engineering becomes the biggest sector for both. Think hybrid and pure electric vehicles, land, water and air, grid storage and renewable energy. Supercapacitors enable reuse of the dropping and turning energy of material handling equipment from cranes to forklifts and soon we shall add frequent stop start of elevators. Lithium-ion batteries are simply not up to the job here, with the rapid charge and discharge. Recapturing the linear energy of trains and trams is still sometimes done using lithium-ion batteries but supercapacitors are now the preferred option because of performance, reliability and life. For some time, small supercapacitors have been used in aircraft, including the Airbus 380, without incident.
Examples
Let us consider some specific recent examples of supercapacitors being used instead of lithium-ion batteries. All fuel cell vehicles need a large storage device to manage start-up and frequent load variation because fuel cells are really only a rather expensive range extender: they do not replace the engine. The Riversimple car uses a supercapacitor for this instead of the lithium-ion battery used by almost everyone else. It is because it performs better and is hassle free - it has much longer life and better reliability. However, the fuel cell vehicle makers are looking at the half-way house that is now commonplace with pure electric vehicles where use of a supercapacitor across the lithium-ion battery extends its short life somewhat and improves performance. Indeed, the MAN urban hybrid bus, like the majority, and the Sinautec pure electric bus dispense with lithium-ion batteries altogether by using supercapacitors. Here the primary driver of the decision is usually cost-over-life. Time and time again we now hear that the high upfront cost of supercapacitors is rarely of concern beyond the private car as long as cost-over-life is much improved because that is what concerns the companies and governments operating them. they also value less hassle.
Troublesome life of rechargeable batteries
Electrification of public transport reflects concern about causing local noise and air pollution and seeking a green image. Indeed, these are now very strong drivers of the purchase of hybrid and pure electric aircraft, boats, industrial and commercial vehicles, whether they use lithium-ion batteries or supercapacitors or both. Nonetheless, let us pause a moment on that statement. The supercapacitors last for the life of the vehicle but the lithium-ion batteries do not. The cost of replacing the lithium-ion batteries is so huge, at over $10,000 even in a pure electric car, that it is likely that the vehicle will often be destroyed after the four to eight year life of that battery and a new vehicle will be bought prematurely rather than the old vehicle be fitted with a very expensive new battery. It is the opposite of green. Increasingly, such a situation, triggered by the short life of expensive lithium-ion batteries, will be questioned by industrial and commercial vehicle operators. Indeed, Renault pointed out at the EVVC meeting in Brussels this week that the poor resale value of pure electric cars and lack of any official resale price is inhibiting growth in sales. That is closely related to the lithium-ion battery problem.
Lithium-ion batteries have been replaced by supercapacitors in power tools in space stations and some on earth because the frequent but much faster charging needed is tolerable in the interests of reliability and life. The same happened with the new Toyota Formula One hybrid racing car because of reliability and performance.
So where are we now?
Supercapacitors are taking a tiny market share from lithium-ion ion batteries, partly by being placed across them so less battery is needed and that battery lasts longer as in the Bolloré Bluecar, the Mazda pure electric sports car and many pure electric buses in China. Dismissed as insignificant by lithium-ion battery manufacturers, that trend is accelerating and we actually have a disruptive technology here. The reasons for using large supercapacitors and their variants continue to be mainly reliability, performance and life but nowadays cost-over-life is increasingly cited as the primary source of payback.
What next?
The important sea change in 2013 is designers increasingly noticing that supercapacitors are safer than large lithium-ion batteries with a smaller percentage of fires and toxicity and failures to work in life-threatening situations and the gap is widening. Attention is turning to alternatives. There are many reasons for this. As a US Senate committee put it, a rechargeable battery is like a living thing with very complex, poorly understood chemistry, considerable unpredictability and swelling and shrinking during use can assist in self-destruction. Often it cannot be fully discharged for safety in a vehicle accident or for safe shipment for example and life is relatively unpredictable. By contrast, supercapacitors are electrostatic devices that do not change shape during use. While it is wide of the mark to say they last forever, because anything containing a liquid has a finite life, it is true that supercapacitors are often guaranteed for up to ten years and they typically last for twenty years or more. They can be fully discharged for safety and they are more easily made to consistent quality standards.
Supercapacitors continue to be improved faster than lithium-ion batteries where toxic flammable electrolytes largely remain and are the fuel of the fires. By contrast, IDTechEx Research analysis shows that toxic, flammable acetonitrile was in the past used by almost all supercapacitor manufacturers but now only 51% use it exclusively, a figure dropping every year.Non-flammable aqueous electrolytes are used by most of the new entrants, so we shall soon have most suppliers offering non-flammable supercapacitor electrolyte. Lithium-ion battery proponents can only look on in envy at this.
Source : IDTechEx
Supercapacitors replace lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries replace nickel metal hydride and lead acid batteries. There are side stories of course. Some supercapacitors replace electrolytic capacitors and others create new applications. However, in this article, we concentrate on replacing lithium-ion batteries.Supercapacitors replace lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries replace nickel metal hydride and lead acid batteries. There are side stories of course. Some supercapacitors replace electrolytic capacitors and others create new applications. However, in this article, let us concentrate on replacing lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries have been replaced by supercapacitors in power tools in space stations and some on earth because the frequent but much faster charging needed is tolerable in the interests of reliability and life. The same happened with the new Toyota Formula One hybrid racing car because of reliability and performance.
Supercapacitors continue to be improved faster than lithium-ion batteries where toxic flammable electrolytes largely remain and are the fuel of the fires. By contrast, IDTechEx Research analysis shows that toxic, flammable acetonitrile was in the past used by almost all supercapacitor manufacturers but now only 51% use it exclusively, a figure dropping every year.Non-flammable aqueous electrolytes are used by most of the new entrants, so we shall soon have most suppliers offering non-flammable supercapacitor electrolyte. Lithium-ion battery proponents can only look on in envy at this.
Source : IDTechEx
RELEASED ON 21/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
New class of chemistry for soybean growers helps fight resistant weeds, including Palmer amaranth and waterhemp
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 21, 2013 – BASF’s Crop Protection division announced today the federal registration of Zidua® herbicide in soybeans. Growers battling tough-to-control, small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses will now have the longest-lasting residual control of today’s toughest weeds.
According to 10 years of research and field trials, the residual weed control provided by Zidua herbicide lasts up to two weeks longer than other herbicides currently on the market, which helps protect growers’ yield potential.1 Research also shows Zidua herbicide provides up to 10 percent better performance than other residual herbicides in controlling Palmer amaranth and waterhemp.2
“Zidua herbicide provides growers with a new class of chemistry and is an excellent product on its own, but can also be used effectively with Kixor® herbicide technology,” said Greg Armel, Ph.D., Technical Market Manager, BASF. “Soybean growers can now combine the fast, effective burndown and enhanced residual control benefits of Kixor with the residual control of Zidua herbicide for long-lasting weed control.”
Zidua herbicide can be tank-mixed with Kixor herbicide technology products to form a preplant and preemerge combination that combats tough, resistant weeds with up to three different sites of action. Zidua herbicide can also be applied with a range of use rates, allowing soybean growers to select the best rate for their specific needs, based on soil textures in their fields.
Zidua herbicide also sets a new standard for flexibility. As the only solo pyroxasulfone product on the market, Zidua herbicide affords a wide application window from fall through early preplant to early post-emergence. This window provides adaptability to a wide range of weed control needs and allows for precise placement of Zidua herbicide for the most effective weed control.
“Zidua herbicide has the ability to dramatically enhance operational efficiencies for soybean growers with use rates that are as much as 10 times lower than those of other residual herbicides,” Armel said.
Zidua herbicide is currently labeled for use in corn and soybeans. Future label expansions are being developed for use in cotton and wheat, and being evaluated for uses in sunflowers, mint, peanuts and other crops.
SOURCE BASF Official Press Release
New class of chemistry for soybean growers helps fight resistant weeds, including Palmer amaranth and waterhemp
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 21, 2013 – BASF’s Crop Protection division announced today the federal registration of Zidua® herbicide in soybeans. Growers battling tough-to-control, small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses will now have the longest-lasting residual control of today’s toughest weeds.
According to 10 years of research and field trials, the residual weed control provided by Zidua herbicide lasts up to two weeks longer than other herbicides currently on the market, which helps protect growers’ yield potential.1 Research also shows Zidua herbicide provides up to 10 percent better performance than other residual herbicides in controlling Palmer amaranth and waterhemp.2
“Zidua herbicide provides growers with a new class of chemistry and is an excellent product on its own, but can also be used effectively with Kixor® herbicide technology,” said Greg Armel, Ph.D., Technical Market Manager, BASF. “Soybean growers can now combine the fast, effective burndown and enhanced residual control benefits of Kixor with the residual control of Zidua herbicide for long-lasting weed control.”
Zidua herbicide can be tank-mixed with Kixor herbicide technology products to form a preplant and preemerge combination that combats tough, resistant weeds with up to three different sites of action. Zidua herbicide can also be applied with a range of use rates, allowing soybean growers to select the best rate for their specific needs, based on soil textures in their fields.
Zidua herbicide also sets a new standard for flexibility. As the only solo pyroxasulfone product on the market, Zidua herbicide affords a wide application window from fall through early preplant to early post-emergence. This window provides adaptability to a wide range of weed control needs and allows for precise placement of Zidua herbicide for the most effective weed control.
“Zidua herbicide has the ability to dramatically enhance operational efficiencies for soybean growers with use rates that are as much as 10 times lower than those of other residual herbicides,” Armel said.
Zidua herbicide is currently labeled for use in corn and soybeans. Future label expansions are being developed for use in cotton and wheat, and being evaluated for uses in sunflowers, mint, peanuts and other crops.
SOURCE BASF Official Press Release
RELEASED ON 21/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Shanghai Secco Petrochemical Company Limited has started piling works for its new No.2 butadiene unit and acrylonitrile unit, this marks that the company’s petrochemical project (3rd phase) has commenced construction and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.
The third phase project includes a 260,000t/a acrylonitrile unit, 90,000t/a butadiene extraction unit, as well as an ethylene unit.
SOURCE China Chemical Industry News
Shanghai Secco Petrochemical Company Limited has started piling works for its new No.2 butadiene unit and acrylonitrile unit, this marks that the company’s petrochemical project (3rd phase) has commenced construction and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.
The third phase project includes a 260,000t/a acrylonitrile unit, 90,000t/a butadiene extraction unit, as well as an ethylene unit.
SOURCE China Chemical Industry News
RELEASED ON 21/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
President Barack Obama has proposed a $2 billion boost to research funding over 10 years to encourage development of vehicle-related energy technologies, such as advanced electric vehicles, fuel cells, biofuels, and natural gas. The goal, he told scientists at Argonne National Laboratory on March 15, is to “shift our cars and trucks entirely off oil.”
The proposed funding would come from royalty revenues paid by oil and gas developers drilling in federal waters of the outer continental shelf. These fossil-fuel revenues would go into an Energy Security Trust, which the President proposed in his State of the Union address last month. The concept was developed by a coalition that includes retired military leaders seeking to enhance U.S. national security through breakthrough transportation technologies.
At Argonne, Obama also touched on his yet-to-be-released budget for 2014. He said it would include some $40 million in research for natural gas production, which would be a part of a $375 million investment in cleaner energy from fossil fuels, and a $25 million prize for the first natural gas combined-cycle power plant that integrates carbon capture and storage.
The President also called for changes to ease oil and gas permitting and development on federal lands. Yet he also urged an end to the century-old mix of tax breaks and subsidies that benefit oil companies, a proposal that Congress has repeatedly refused to support.
SOURCE Chemical & Engineering News
President Barack Obama has proposed a $2 billion boost to research funding over 10 years to encourage development of vehicle-related energy technologies, such as advanced electric vehicles, fuel cells, biofuels, and natural gas. The goal, he told scientists at Argonne National Laboratory on March 15, is to “shift our cars and trucks entirely off oil.”
The proposed funding would come from royalty revenues paid by oil and gas developers drilling in federal waters of the outer continental shelf. These fossil-fuel revenues would go into an Energy Security Trust, which the President proposed in his State of the Union address last month. The concept was developed by a coalition that includes retired military leaders seeking to enhance U.S. national security through breakthrough transportation technologies.
At Argonne, Obama also touched on his yet-to-be-released budget for 2014. He said it would include some $40 million in research for natural gas production, which would be a part of a $375 million investment in cleaner energy from fossil fuels, and a $25 million prize for the first natural gas combined-cycle power plant that integrates carbon capture and storage.
The President also called for changes to ease oil and gas permitting and development on federal lands. Yet he also urged an end to the century-old mix of tax breaks and subsidies that benefit oil companies, a proposal that Congress has repeatedly refused to support.
SOURCE Chemical & Engineering News
PHILADELPHIA, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) broke ground today on its new world-class microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand. The company will invest more than $100 million in the region's first fully integrated colloidal MCC manufacturing and blending site to supply the growing Asia market with FMC's industry-leading MCC.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111101/NE97440LOGO )
"Today is very exciting for FMC as we answer the call of our customers and the marketplace to help meet the growing demand for innovative food and beverage products in Asia," said Mike Smith, vice president and global business director, FMC BioPolymer, at today's ground breaking ceremony. "This state-of-the-art site, which increases our global MCC capacity for the food industry by 35 percent, will allow us to more easily and quickly supply the Asian marketplace with our MCC products and the tailored blends we deliver to meet customer needs."
The new facility is expected to come on line in late 2014 and will be fully integrated with MCC production, blending, packaging and warehousing. The Thailand facility will initially manufacture colloidal MCC, which is widely used as a key ingredient in food and beverages. However, the facility's design will allow for future volume expansion and the manufacture of different product lines for both the food and pharmaceutical markets.
"We are continuing to invest in a great business to grow with our Asian customers," said Michael Wilson, president, FMC Specialty Chemicals Group. "Our new advanced food laboratory at the FMC Singapore Technical Center, which opened last year, along with the company's new Asia Innovation Center in Shanghai, scheduled to open late this year, plus this new manufacturing facility, are all symbols of our long-term commitment to support our growing customer base in this region."
The new Rayong, Thailand, plant is FMC's third MCC manufacturing facility. The company recently completed expansion at its BioPolymer MCC sites in Newark, Delaware, U.S., and Cork, Ireland. The Rayong plant will incorporate FMC's high standards of safety and environmental protection and has been recognized for its sustainability efforts by the Thailand National Innovation Agency.
FMC is also investing to broaden its line of food ingredients with the recent acquisitions of natural colors and pectin companies, making FMC the only company that integrates both texturants and colors for the food industry.
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 2012, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.7 billion. The company employs approximately 5,700 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 .
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Act of 1995: Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning specific factors described in FMC Corporation's 2012 Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. FMC Corporation does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal obligation to the contrary. Historical information is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
SOURCE FMC Corporation
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=117919&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1798770 &highlight =
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111101/NE97440LOGO )
"Today is very exciting for FMC as we answer the call of our customers and the marketplace to help meet the growing demand for innovative food and beverage products in Asia," said Mike Smith, vice president and global business director, FMC BioPolymer, at today's ground breaking ceremony. "This state-of-the-art site, which increases our global MCC capacity for the food industry by 35 percent, will allow us to more easily and quickly supply the Asian marketplace with our MCC products and the tailored blends we deliver to meet customer needs."
The new facility is expected to come on line in late 2014 and will be fully integrated with MCC production, blending, packaging and warehousing. The Thailand facility will initially manufacture colloidal MCC, which is widely used as a key ingredient in food and beverages. However, the facility's design will allow for future volume expansion and the manufacture of different product lines for both the food and pharmaceutical markets.
"We are continuing to invest in a great business to grow with our Asian customers," said Michael Wilson, president, FMC Specialty Chemicals Group. "Our new advanced food laboratory at the FMC Singapore Technical Center, which opened last year, along with the company's new Asia Innovation Center in Shanghai, scheduled to open late this year, plus this new manufacturing facility, are all symbols of our long-term commitment to support our growing customer base in this region."
The new Rayong, Thailand, plant is FMC's third MCC manufacturing facility. The company recently completed expansion at its BioPolymer MCC sites in Newark, Delaware, U.S., and Cork, Ireland. The Rayong plant will incorporate FMC's high standards of safety and environmental protection and has been recognized for its sustainability efforts by the Thailand National Innovation Agency.
FMC is also investing to broaden its line of food ingredients with the recent acquisitions of natural colors and pectin companies, making FMC the only company that integrates both texturants and colors for the food industry.
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 2012, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.7 billion. The company employs approximately 5,700 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 .
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Act of 1995: Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning specific factors described in FMC Corporation's 2012 Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. FMC Corporation does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal obligation to the contrary. Historical information is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
SOURCE FMC Corporation
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=117919&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1798770 &highlight =
DRT announces its acquisition of Société Béarnaise de Synthèse (SBS), a company specialized in acrolein-based synthesis intermediates.
This acquisition allows DRT to ensure users of acrolein derivatives not only a choice of supplier but also the certainty working with Mourenx plant that drastic conditions impose by production, handling and transport of these products will be fully respected.
The acquisition also expands DRT's portfolio of ingredients for the fragrance sector and adds a new area of know-how that opens the door to new markets (pharmaceuticals, industry, etc.).
"We saw this acquisition as a real opportunity on two counts," explains Laurent Labatut, Chairman and CEO, DRT. "First of all, by taking over SBS, DRT is saving 12 jobs and keeping a unique body of know-how in France; it also opens up new prospects for the Group to ensure our continued development over the long term," he added.
Based in Mourenx (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) on the SOBEGI site, SBS produces acrolein derivatives used in fragrances, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. SBS employs 12 people at its production plant (6,000 tons capacity on a 10,000 m² site). The company reported net sales of €3.2 million for 2012 and is now the only firm in Europe whose expertise covers the entire acrolein process for these here above applications. SBS today becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of DRT.
http://www.drt.fr/en/the-news/drt-announces-its-acquisition-of-societe-bearnaise -de-synthese-from-pcas.html
Posted by
David Hsieh
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on December 26, 2012 |
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Since Q2’12, the LCD TV panel market has witnessed a shift in screen sizes, with new models focused on 28”, 29”, 39”, 43”, 48”, 50”, 58”, and 60” displays. The rise of the new sizes has become the hottest topic in the LCD TV market. According to the Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report , these new LCD TV panel sizes accounted for 12% of total LCD TV panels shipped in Q3’12, up from 5% in Q1’12 and 8% in Q2’12. We forecast that the share of these new sizes will stabilize in Q4’12 before passing 15% in 1H’13, based on panel makers’ shipment plans. We expect the new sizes to change the LCD TV panel supply in 2013.
Changes in the product mix of the LCD TV panel makers will be driven by some of the panel makers are moving to produce the most efficient sizes, regardless of the market demand. After a period of losses, panel makers will prioritize profit margins to survive. So, while the end market might prefer 32” which is comparatively cheaper, panel makers may have to cut 32” panel allocation in order to produce 39”, which has a higher panel price and in better production efficiency.
2012-2013 LCD TV Panel Shipment Plans
Source: Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report
The largest change will be in 32”, the supply of which will fall from 94M in 2012 to 79M in 2013. The decrease is due to a product mix shift in Gen 6 and 8 fabs, with panel makers planning to produce more 39” on Gen 6 and 46” or 55” on Gen 8. Meanwhile, 26” will be replaced by 28/29”, which will be increased by 7M. Both 39” and 50” sizes are quite popular in many regions, and panel makers plan to ship 15M 39” panels and 12M 50” panels in 2013, substantial growth from 2012. Capacity on Gen 6 and 7 lines will be allocated to produce the 39” and 50”, respectively. Finally, panel makers are determined to expand the larger size LCD TV market, with 50” and larger panel shipments expected to increase from 20M in 2012, to 34M in 2013. Such growth would also be critical to consuming a large amount of LCD capacity in area terms.
For LCD TV panel buyers, it will be very challenging in 2013 to secure panel supply in certain sizes, while preventing inventory to accumulate in other sizes, as the end market demand might be quite different. Allocation as well as inventory control will be higher priority than panel pricing, while availability of some sizes will be more important than panel technology or quality. The value chain relationships between panel makers and TV brands might be more complicated in 2013, as TV brands might have to qualify new panel suppliers quickly and adjust allocation of the existing suppliers in order to secure supply of certain sizes.
Since Q2’12, the LCD TV panel market has witnessed a shift in screen sizes, with new models focused on 28”, 29”, 39”, 43”, 48”, 50”, 58”, and 60” displays. The rise of the new sizes has become the hottest topic in the LCD TV market. According to the Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report , these new LCD TV panel sizes accounted for 12% of total LCD TV panels shipped in Q3’12, up from 5% in Q1’12 and 8% in Q2’12. We forecast that the share of these new sizes will stabilize in Q4’12 before passing 15% in 1H’13, based on panel makers’ shipment plans. We expect the new sizes to change the LCD TV panel supply in 2013.
Changes in the product mix of the LCD TV panel makers will be driven by some of the panel makers are moving to produce the most efficient sizes, regardless of the market demand. After a period of losses, panel makers will prioritize profit margins to survive. So, while the end market might prefer 32” which is comparatively cheaper, panel makers may have to cut 32” panel allocation in order to produce 39”, which has a higher panel price and in better production efficiency.
2012-2013 LCD TV Panel Shipment Plans
Source: Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report
The largest change will be in 32”, the supply of which will fall from 94M in 2012 to 79M in 2013. The decrease is due to a product mix shift in Gen 6 and 8 fabs, with panel makers planning to produce more 39” on Gen 6 and 46” or 55” on Gen 8. Meanwhile, 26” will be replaced by 28/29”, which will be increased by 7M. Both 39” and 50” sizes are quite popular in many regions, and panel makers plan to ship 15M 39” panels and 12M 50” panels in 2013, substantial growth from 2012. Capacity on Gen 6 and 7 lines will be allocated to produce the 39” and 50”, respectively. Finally, panel makers are determined to expand the larger size LCD TV market, with 50” and larger panel shipments expected to increase from 20M in 2012, to 34M in 2013. Such growth would also be critical to consuming a large amount of LCD capacity in area terms.
For LCD TV panel buyers, it will be very challenging in 2013 to secure panel supply in certain sizes, while preventing inventory to accumulate in other sizes, as the end market demand might be quite different. Allocation as well as inventory control will be higher priority than panel pricing, while availability of some sizes will be more important than panel technology or quality. The value chain relationships between panel makers and TV brands might be more complicated in 2013, as TV brands might have to qualify new panel suppliers quickly and adjust allocation of the existing suppliers in order to secure supply of certain sizes.
RELEASED ON 21/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
South Korea’s LG Chem plans to shut its styrene monomer (SM) units this weekend for scheduled maintenance, a source close to the company said.
The company operates the 200,000 tonne/year No 1 and 300,000 tonne/year No 2 facilities at Yeochun.
The shutdown is planned for 20 days and the units are expected to be restarted in mid-April.
The company has another 160,000 tonne/year unit in Daesan which has been scheduled for a turnaround in October this year.
Other SM producers in south Korea include Samsung Total Petrochemicals and SK Energy.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
South Korea’s LG Chem plans to shut its styrene monomer (SM) units this weekend for scheduled maintenance, a source close to the company said.
The company operates the 200,000 tonne/year No 1 and 300,000 tonne/year No 2 facilities at Yeochun.
The shutdown is planned for 20 days and the units are expected to be restarted in mid-April.
The company has another 160,000 tonne/year unit in Daesan which has been scheduled for a turnaround in October this year.
Other SM producers in south Korea include Samsung Total Petrochemicals and SK Energy.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
RELEASED ON 20/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Shanghai Secco has shut one of two acrylonitrile (ACN) lines for maintenance. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the line was shut on March 18, 2013. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one week. Located in Shanghai, the plant has a production capacity of 130,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Shanghai Secco has shut one of two acrylonitrile (ACN) lines for maintenance. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the line was shut on March 18, 2013. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one week. Located in Shanghai, the plant has a production capacity of 130,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update