DATE : 2014-09-06
Tianjin Dagu Chemical is in plans to restart its styrene monomer (SM) plant. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is planned to be restarted next week. It was shut on August 20, 2014 for maintenance turnaround.
Located in Tianjin, China, the plant has a production capacity of 500,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2014-09-09
Qilu Petrochemicals is in plans to shut a styrene monomer (SM) plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is planned to be shut in early October 2014. The plant is expected to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Qilu, China, the plant has a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2014-09-13
Daqing Petrochemical is in plans to shut an acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is planned to be shut in mid-September 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around 15 days.
Located in Heilongjiang province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 80,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2014-09-14
Taiyo Oil is in plans to restart a styrene monomer (SM) following maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is likely to be restarted on October 1, 2014. It was shut on August 19, 2014 for maintenance turnaround.
Located at Ube in Japan, the plant has a capacity of 370,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2014-09-11
Styrindo Mono Indonesia (SMI) is on schedule to shut its No. 2 styrene monomer (SM) plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in Indonesia informed that the plant will be shut in mid-September 2014. It is expected to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located at Merak in Indonesia, the plant has a production capacity of 250,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2014-09-15
The joint venture (JV) between Germany’s BASF, US-based Cargill and Denmark’s Novozymes has produced an absorbent polymer using bio-based acrylic acid as feedstock, said the companies on Monday.
According to chemical major BASF, the JV has achieved a “milestone” in their joint development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials.
“The team has demonstrated the successful conversion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), to glacial acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers. Moreover they have selected the process for further scale-up,” said BASF.
BASF initially plans to use the bio-based acrylic acid to manufacture superabsorbent polymers.
“After just 18 months we have selected the preferred process to convert 3-HP into glacial acrylic acid. Now we are working full force on the set-up of a small integrated pilot plant until the end of this year,” said Teressa Szelest, vice president, global hygiene business, at BASF.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-08-29
Japan’s Mitsubishi Rayon Co (MRC) plans to shut its 107,000 tonne/year acetone cyanohydrin-based methyl methacrylate (MMA) line in Otake on 10 September for its bi-annual maintenance, a company source said on Friday.
The turnaround is expected to be completed around end-October, the source added.
The company also runs two 55,000 tonne/year butane-based MMA lines at the same site.
SOURCE Icis News
Date: 2014-09-11
BASF starts up butadiene extraction plant in Antwerp
- Production capacity of 155,000 metric tons per year
- Securing BASF’s internal supply of butadiene in Europe
- Taking advantage of opportunities on the external market
- Strengthening of Antwerp Verbund site
Ludwigshafen, Germany and Antwerp, Belgium – September 11, 2014 – BASF today announced the start-up of a new butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The plant has an annual production capacity of 155,000 metric tons.
The plant in Antwerp is BASF’s second butadiene extraction plant in Europe. BASF already operates a butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with an annual production capacity of 105,000 metric tons. With the plant in Antwerp, BASF is more than doubling its production capacity for butadiene in Europe.
“This plant secures our internal supply with butadiene at competitive costs,” said Dr. Uwe Kirchgäßner, head of BASF’s regional business unit Basic Petrochemicals Europe. “In addition, it enables us to take advantage of opportunities on the external market and strengthens our market position in Europe.”
The butadiene will be extracted from crude C4, a product from the steam cracker. “With the new plant we are further developing the integration of the C4 value chain in Antwerp,” said Wouter de Geest, CEO of BASF Antwerpen NV. “This important investment strengthens the Verbund at the Antwerp site.”
Butadiene is a raw material that can be used to produce synthetic rubber, among other applications. The tire industry is one of the main consumers of butadiene. Other applications for butadiene include plastics production and paper chemicals.
Source: BASF website
Date: Sep 11, 2014
Eastman Chemical Co (EMN.N) said it will buy Taminco Corp (TAM.N) for $1.8 billion to get a key chemical used in products for the food, agricultural and water treatment markets. Taminco's shares rose 11 percent to $26.55, topping the offer price of $26 per share, after Eastman also gave the company 30 days to solicit alternative proposals. Eastman's shares also rose. "There is a lot of optimism due to the terms of the transaction that another bidder might emerge," Suntrust Robinson Humphrey analyst James Sheehan said. Eastman's offer has the blessings of the board of both companies and that of Apollo Global Management (APO.N), Taminco's largest shareholder with a 53.7 percent stake. The deal will add alkylamines to Eastman's portfolio. Alkylamines are a key ingredient to make agricultural chemicals, animal feed additives, personal care and water treatment products, among other things. Eastman, which has been making acquisitions to expand its portfolio of specialty chemicals, said it would also assume $1 billion in debt. This year, Eastman has already announced plans to buy window films maker Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, and BP's (BP.L) aviation turbine business to expand its specialty fluids business. Eastman expects Taminco to add more than 35 cents per share to profit in 2015 and more than 60 cents in 2016. It expects synergies to be about 5 percent of Taminco's 2013 sales. Taminco, spun off from Belgium-based biopharmaceutical and specialty chemical company UCB SA (UCB.BR) in 2003, reported net sales of $1.2 billion in 2013. Eastman posted net sales of $9.4 billion in 2013 and earned $7.44 per share from continuing operations. Eastman said it will fund the deal with available cash and debt financing and expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter this year. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is Taminco's financial adviser, while Citigroup is Eastman's adviser. Shares of Taminco, which went public in 2013, rose to an all-time high of $26.80. Eastman's shares rose nearly 2 percent, before shedding half its gains to trade at $83.99 in afternoon trading.
Source:Reuters
September 11, 2014
TOKYO, September 11, 2014_Ube Industries, Ltd. today announced that its Thai subsidiary, UBE Fine Chemicals (Asia) Co., Ltd., will open a production facility for polycarbonate diol (PCD) to meet rising global demand. The new facility is designed to manufacture 3,000 tonnes of PCD annually and is scheduled to start production in October 2015.
The completion of the new production facility in Thailand will bring the UBE Group's annual production capacity up to 11,000 tonnes, including 2,000 tonnes in Japan, 6,000 tonnes in Spain, and the 3,000 tonnes in Thailand. With the addition of the new facility, the UBE Group will strengthen its global supply network as the largest manufacturer of PCD in the world.
PCD is one of Ube Industries' core products in the fine chemicals segment. It is mainly used as a polyol component in the principal raw material in high-grade polyurethane. In comparison with conventional polyurethane products that are based on polyester and polyether, PCD-based polyurethane offers superior performance in resistance to heat, hydrolysis, oil, and weather (UV). It also excels in many other ways, including when used as a high-grade material with a smooth texture. For these reasons, demand for PCD-based polyurethane has been growing rapidly in recent years.
Applications for PCD-based polyurethane are expanding as more and more users recognize it as a highly functional new material suitable in a wide range of fields, including automotive, furniture, building materials, coatings for electronic devices, artificial leather, adhesives, and other products.
In addition to its high durability, which helps to save resources, there is also growing demand for PCD as a raw material for environmentally responsible water-based paints that use polyurethane dispersion (PUD) technology. These paints contain no solvents and fill a need in an environment of increasingly strict regulation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Since the UBE Group itself manufactures the principal components used to make PCD-1,6-hexanediol and dimethyl carboxylate (DMC)-its PCD is highly cost competitive. The Group will also focus on developing new grades of PCD that meet the needs of users and on providing customer support, by pursuing enhanced global technical cooperation among its operations in Japan, Spain, and Thailand. The Group intends to make the most of these strengths to take advantage of market growth and reinforce its position as the world's top PCD manufacturer.
Source: UBE website
Date: Sept 8, 2014
FMC has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Cheminova, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Denmark-based company Auriga Industries, for $1.8 billion. The transaction, which is expected to close in early 2015, is subject to approval from Auriga’s shareholders and relevant competition authorities.
Cheminova, which was initially established in 1938, currently has a product portfolio of more than 60 active ingredients, as well as a pipeline of products currently under development. The company has more than 2,300 product registrations globally, with its products currently sold in more than 100 countries. Cheminova operates subsidiaries in 24 countries worldwide.
FMC expects this acquisition to significantly broaden its Agricultural Solutions business, expanding its product portfolio and improving its position in certain markets. Cheminova’s direct market access in Europe combined with a strong position in Latin America is expected to boost FMC’s presence in these regional markets.
In 2013, Cheminova’s agrochemical sales reached $1,101 million, an increase of 7.2% from the 2012 outcome. FMC’s sales in 2013 increased by 21.7% from 2012 to reach $2,146 million.
FMC also announced that it plans to pursue the sale of its Alkali Chemicals division, with the sale expected to be completed by mid-2015. FMC Lithium will be retained as a separate operating segment.
Source: P Mc Dougall
Date: Sept 4, 2014
Sorry, Sacramento: Tesla Motors has chosen Nevada as the site for its proposed $5 billion battery plant.
The state's governor, Brian Sandoval, will announce the deal Thursday afternoon at a news conference in Nevada's capital, Carson City, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement.
In winning the contract, Nevada beat out California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to host the factory where Tesla, in partnership with Japanese electronics giant Panasonic, will build the lithium ion batteries for its electric vehicles.
Tesla had previously said the “gigafactory” could employ as many as 6,500 people by 2020. But the company has also said it could eventually have several factories, possibly in different states.
The move is a blow to Sacramento, where legislators and the governor’s office had lobbied hard to convince the Palo Alto-based automaker to build its battery factory near its other Bay Area facilities.
“I’m devastated for the 6,500 families who won’t have the chance at these jobs unless they move to Nevada,” said State Sen. Ted Gaines, a Republican representing the Sacramento suburb of Rocklin. “Tesla is a California-born company that the state has invested heavily in, and we want it to succeed. It makes complete sense for it to expand right here, close to its headquarters, yet they are headed out of state.”
Gaines called the move to Nevada “a clear indictment of our business climate,” and said Tesla’s decision was a strong signal to legislators “about how hard they have made it to operate here.”
Tesla declined to expand upon Nevada’s announcement of a press conference, which said only that Sandoval would have “a major economic development announcement.”
“We are in ongoing discussions,” said Tesla spokesman Simon Sproule. “We look forward to joining the governor and members of the Legislature in Carson City tomorrow.”
It was not clear whether the factory would be built on a site near Reno that Tesla has already leased and begun clearing. Construction at that site appeared to be underway earlier this summer but was halted some time ago.
Tesla's only current production automobile is the Model S, an electric sedan with a base price of $71,000 and an average transaction price just over $100,000. The company plans to put its Model X SUV onto the market some time next year, at about the same price.
But the company’s founder and CEO Elon has said it would use the increased production of batteries in its new factory to drive production of a lower-priced Model 3 “mass market” electric car. Tesla has said it could market such a car at under $40,000.
“This is a critical step in Elon Musk’s long-term goal of creating a viable, high-volume electric car,” said Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer. “The battery pack makes up a sizable portion of any electric car’s total price, but if Tesla can reduce the cost of this component with its own factory, it has a real shot at producing a $30,000 electric car with a 200-plus mile range.”
The company has had soft sales for 2014, having sold 12,200 units in the U.S., down 1% from 2013. Musk told investors earlier this year that preparing its California car factory for Model X production, as well as continued slow production of batteries, might result in lower vehicle production this year.
But Musk said Tesla would eventually be able to make as many as 300,000 cars annually — and at a 30% cost reduction — once it fully ramps up battery production. He said the company would be producing cars at an annualized rate of 100,000 per year by the end of 2015.
“This is all about the Model 3,” said Thilo Koslowski, automotive practice leader at the technology research company Gartner. “The factory will not have a huge influence on the Model S or Model X, but they need to offer cars at a better price point. That will really ensure the longevity of this company.”
California, in particular Gov. Jerry Brown, had lobbied hard to persuade Musk to build his battery factory in the state, where Tesla has its headquarters and where it already builds its popular but expensive vehicles.
The governor's pitch to Tesla had included the waiver of some environmental protection laws and a number of tax breaks that could have been worth as much as $500 million, or about 10% of the project's total cost.
The governor's Office of Business and Economic Development has been conferring for months with Tesla brass. The parties even came up with draft legislation, which quickly became controversial.
The 35-page proposal called for waiving large portions of the landmark California Environmental Quality Act to speed construction to meet Tesla's timetable for getting its battery factory running by 2017.
Gaines and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), were coauthors of a proposed Tesla incentive bill that would have put the package of incentives into law.
But the legislative session ended August 31 without any forward motion on the bill.
Despite that, Gaines said the state still could be a contender for an additional Tesla battery plant, if there is to be one.
“As frustrated as I am, we want to keep those doors open and hope that a second location will be here in California,” he said.
Marc Lifsher contributed to this report from Sacramento.
Source: LA times
Date: Sept 4, 2014
Lockheed Martin has acquired Sun Catalytix for an undisclosed sum. Included in the acquisition is Sun Catalytix's intellectual property, its business contracts, research and production facilities, and its 25 employees. Sun Catalytix will now operate under the name of "Lockheed Martin Advanced Energy Storage," and will be be a sub-division of Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control business unit. The press release states that Sun Catalytix was working on "the design, synthesis and electrochemical testing of a novel energy storage chemistry derived from low-cost, earth-abundant materials," but exactly what the energy storage chemistry is remains an open question.
Sun Catalytix's initial technology was based on an "artificial leaf" technology developed by Daniel Nocera while at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The artificial leaf produced hydrogen and oxygen from water in the presence of light. The company received an exclusive license in 2009 to commercialize the technology, and raised $18.5 million. However, in 2013 the company decided to to pursue flow batteries instead, and has since filed several patents surrounding hydrogen bromide (HBr) flow batteries as well asmetal-ligand electrolyte chemistries.
If Sun Catalytix is still pursuing HBr flow batteries, the acquisition could be beneficial for Lockheed Martin, as HBr shows commercial potential, but has only seen one commercial project from EnStorage (see the April 30, 2014 LRESJ). HBr flow batteries utilize the cheapest of all commercial electrolytes, and are more than an order of magnitude cheaper than vanadium-based electrolytes, whose expense means they represents 38% of those battery system costs (see the report "Grid Storage Battery Cost Breakdown: Exploring Paths to Accelerate Adoption"). However, one of the most-important yet often-ignored cost components of flow batteries is that of integrators bringing a completed system online, which a large player like Lockheed is well-suited to address.
However, it is unclear if Sun Catalytix is indeed still pursuing HBr flow batteries – indeed, based on Lux Research's interviews with other flow battery players, it seems the company has pivoted yet again. If Sun Catalytix is in fact pursuing an alternative metal-ligand electrolyte chemistry, then the value that Lockheed brings is less clear: This new electrolyte and resulting flow battery would still be in need of significant technical development before a commercial system is ready for Lockheed to deploy. Clients should track whether Lockheed brings an Hbr flow battery system to market quickly based on its new acquisition, or whether the project will require years of further incubation for the metal-ligand work.
Source: Lux Research
Date: September 4, 2014
Already distributing Birla Carbon Specialty Black products in different regions, this new agreement in SEE and Poland will further extend the service provided by IMCD to the existing customer base and enhance the opportunity to actively penetrate these markets and explore new potential applications.
“IMCD is delighted to build on its successful partnership with Birla Carbon in Europe” comments Barry Ferguson, IMCD International Product Manager. “Birla Carbon is the largest carbon black manufacturer in the world. Our expansion into SEE and Poland will enable us to provide enhanced technical solutions and added value to our customers, as well as further strengthening our offering to the market in SEE and Poland.”
Source: IMCD website
Date: Sept. 4, 2014
Bayer CropScience has announced a series of investments to enhance its business operations in the USA. The company has stated that it aims to invest a total of $1 billion in the country between 2013 and 2016 to improve its research and development capabilities as well as its production capacities.
As part of this, the company has announced the opening of a new $80 million integrated research and development facility in West Sacramento, California. This site, which will also serve as the global headquarters for the company’s Biologicals business, features R&D facilities for the development of biological crop protection products, as well as a Vegetable Seeds research building. In addition, the facility will also include greenhouses.
In addition, the company has also invested in capacity expansions at its sites in Muskegon, Michigan and Kansas City, Missouri, whilst a new plant has been constructed in Mobile, Alabama for the production of the herbicide Liberty (glufosinate).
The company has also announced a significant investment in its Seeds business in the country, with a new research and development facility being opened in Memphis, Tennessee. This $17 million facility will focus on the development of new traits for cotton and soybeans. The company also plans to invest around $90 million in its cotton research and development laboratory in Lubbock, Texas.
Source: P Mc Dougall