DATE : 2015-02-17
Idemitsu Kosan is likely to shut a styrene monomer (SM) plant for maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is likely to be shut in end-March 2015. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Chiba, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 210,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2015-02-13
DSM is in plans to shut its acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in the Netherlands informed that the plant will be shut in May 2015. It is planned to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located at Geleen in the Netherlands, the plant has a production capacity of 275,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2015-02-16
SOURCE LiveMint
DATE : 2015-02-12
BASF is operating its styrene monomer (SM) plant at lower capacity levels.
A Polymerupdate source in Germany informed that though the exact quantum of reduction could not be ascertained, it is the result of a technical issue at the plant following the restart of the plant after a turnaround in early 2015.
Located at Ludwigshafen in Germany, the plant has a production capacity of 550,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2015-02-10
On 4 Feb 2015, Ascend Performance Materials announced that it has developed new railcar, tanker truck and ISO container loading facilities for deliveries of acrylonitrile in North America. This new capability for loading and delivery of acrylonitrile by railcar, tanker truck and ISO container throughout North America complements Ascend's previously existing barge and ship (export) delivery capability. Ascend is now proceeding with customer trials and deliveries throughout North America.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2015-02-10
La reconnaissance de la « dimension nationale » du réseau de recharge Bolloré profitera indirectement àl'usine d'Ergué-Gabéric. Jusqu'ici, la crainte de la panne sèche a freiné les voitures électriques.
Vendredi, les ministères de l'Économie et de l'Écologie ont reconnu « la dimension nationale » du projet déposé le 1er décembre par Vincent Bolloré (Ouest-France de samedi). Le groupe va déployer en 4 ans un réseau de recharge pour les véhicules électriques sur l'ensemble du territoire. Au total 16 000 bornes pour lesquelles l'agrément ministériel dispense l'industriel de redevance d'occupation du domaine public. L'investissement, évalué à 150 millions d'euros, est assuré par le groupe Bolloré. Quel en sera l'impact pour le site finistérien Blue Solutions qui fabrique les batteries électriques des Bluecar à Ergué-Gabéric ?
Automobiliste rassuré
Les bornes électriques destinées à la recharge seront fabriquées dans une usine du groupe à Besançon (Doubs). Et c'est le site Blue Solutions de Vaucresson (Hauts-de-Seine) qui sera le support de ce nouveau développement. La création de 100 emplois est annoncée. Reste que, en rassurant les automobilistes sur les possibilités de « faire le plein » d'électricité, la mise en place de ce réseau ne peut qu'avoir un impact positif sur l'usine qui produit les batteries équipant les Bluecar Bolloré. Sans doute même davantage que le superbonus annoncé par Ségolène Royal, ministre de l'Écologie. Car pour profiter de la prime de 10 000 € (6 300 € précédemment), il faut se débarrasser d'une voiture diesel de plus de 13 ans...
Partenariat avec Renault
Le réseau de recharge sera utilisable par toutes les voitures électriques et les hybrides rechargeables. Pour le moment, le leader français de la voiture électrique est Renault avec Zoe, et la Nissan Leaf, véhicules ciblant le marché des particuliers. De son côté, la Bluecar Bolloré domine l'autopartage. Pourtant, depuis l'accord finalisé entre Renault et Bolloré le 9 septembre dernier, ce qui est bon pour Renault le sera aussi pour les batteries Bolloré. La fabrication des Bluecar, assurée jusqu'à présent en Italie, le sera à partir du second semestre 2015 dans l'usine Renault de Dieppe. Surtout, Bolloré a confié à Renault la réalisation d'une étude de faisabilité sur la fabrication d'un nouveau véhicule urbain « équipé d'une batterie lithium métal polymère ». Il s'agit d'une Bluecar trois places. Reconnaissance de fait de la technologie développée par Bolloré à Ergué-Gabéric. Les autres constructeurs, y compris Renault, ont préféré jusqu'ici la technologie lithium ion.
Davantage de bornes pour recharger. Un industriel automobile reconnu pour fabriquer et faire évoluer la Bluecar. Autant de conditions réunies pour de nouveaux développements de l'usine Blue Solutions à Ergué-Gabéric.
SOURCE Ouest France
DATE : 2015-02-09
UK-based methyl methacrylate (MMA) producer Lucite International has declared force majeure (FM), the company confirmed on Monday.
Market sources indicated that the producer had declared FM on MMA on 6 February, but the date and the reasons behind the declaration have not yet been confirmed by the supplier.
It is not clear when the FM will be lifted.
Lucite International has the capacity to produce 200,000 tonnes/year of MMA from its Cassel facility, in Billingham, England.
MMA is used in the manufacture of acrylic sheet, surface coatings, emulsion polymers and adhesives.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2015-02-06
Nippon Steel Chemicals is in plans to restart its No 3 styrene monomer (SM) plant.
A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is in plans to be restarted on February 20. It is presently under a maintenance turnaround.
Located in Oita, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 230,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2015-02-04
Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical has restarted an acrylonitrile (ACN) line following maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the line restarted on January 31, 2015. It was under a month-long maintenance turnaround.
Located in Shanghai, China, the line has a production capacity of 260,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2015-02-04
Thailand’s SGC-Dow Chemical plans to shut its 300,000 tonne/year styrene monomer (SM) plant for maintenance in the second half of February, a source close to the company said. The unit, located in Map Ta Phut, is scheduled to restart by the end of March.
Meanwhile, the company’s 200,000 tonne/year polystyrene (PS) unit at the same location, will also have a maintenance shutdown in March.
The other SM producer in Thailand is IRPC.
SOURCE : Icis News
DATE : 2015-02-04
Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Corp (FPC) is expected to soon restart its 280,000 tonne/year acrylonitrile (ACN) plant in Mailiao after a scheduled maintenance, a company source said on Thursday.
“The plant will be restarted in upcoming one or two days,” the source said.
The plant was shut around 10-11 january for a scheduled turnaround.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2015-01-04
China’s Shanghai Petrochemical has restarted its 130,000 tonne/year acrylonitrile (ACN) line in early this month after an unexpected turnaround, a company source said on Thursday.
“The plant was restarted on 1 February, and it is running very well now,” the source said without disclosing the plant’s current run rate.
The plant in Shanghai was shut down on 20 january due to a mechanical problem.
Shanghai Petrochemical's downstream 139,000 tonne/year acrylic fibre (AF) plant at the site is running at 70% of capacity, the source said.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2015-02-03
The technology for the 500-kta EBSM plant will be provided through an agreement with Badger Licensing LLC
French engineering firm Technip was awarded a contract by Qingdao Soda Ash Industrial New Material & Technology Company to provide the technology, engineering, selected critical equipment and technical services for a 500 kilo tonne per annum (KTA) ethylbenzene styrene monomer (EBSM) plant to be located in Dongjiakou Port Industrial Zone Park, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China. The plant’s products will be used for manufacturing a broad range of plastics.
Technip’s operating centre in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, will execute the project.
The technology for the plant will be provided through an agreement with Badger Licensing LLC - a joint venture of Technip and ExxonMobil Chemical Company.
Stan Knez, senior vice president, Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology, commented, “This project will be one of the largest ethylbenzene styrene monomer plants in China, and the second 500 KTA EBSM plant in China utilising Badger’s technology. Badger’s superior technology, coupled with Technip’s reputation, experience and competitive offering were key factors in this award. "
With a closely integrated technology and project delivery organisation, Technip is widening its portfolio of leading onshore solutions.
Styrene monomer, with a worldwide capacity of over 30 million metric tonnes per annum, is a precursor to the production of a variety of polymer derivatives, including polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR).
Badger’s ethylbenzene and styrene technologies have been licensed more than 30 and 50 times, respectively, for plants around the world SOURCE Business Standard
DATE : 2015-02-02
FMC Corporation today announced it has acquired all global rights to a novel, proprietary herbicide from Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., andIhara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. The new herbicide is highly effective in controlling broadleaf weeds and will be initially developed for use in corn, cereals, soybeans and sugarcane in key countries around the world.
"We are very pleased about the prospects of this new molecule given its potential across many crops, application flexibility and co-mixture opportunities," said Mark Douglas, president, FMC Agricultural Solutions. "This acquisition continues our strategic partnership with Kumiai and Ihara, two premier research companies that have developed a rich chemistry pipeline for new crop protection products that are critical for increased food production.
"FMC's global organization will develop the full potential of this new chemistry, part of a robust pipeline of six new active ingredients that includes other herbicides, insecticides and fungicides," said Douglas. "This core pipeline of new active ingredients is complemented by our development of biological crop protection products, seed treatment technologies and new formulations with strong sustainability profiles."
Kumiai and Ihara discovered the chemistry in their research laboratories and partnered with FMC during the last two years to evaluate and develop the commercial potential for this new active ingredient. FMCowns all intellectual property rights to the new molecule. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., began business when the agricultural chemical industry entered the modern era. Kumiai is proud that its corporate history parallels the agricultural chemical industry in Japan. Since formation in 1949, Kumiai has made significant contributions such as development of the first synthesized agricultural chemicals in Japan that have helped farmers realize bountiful harvests.
About Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Since establishment in 1965, Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. has played a major role in the fine chemicals industry, in areas such as agrochemicals, agrochemical / pharmaceutical intermediates, and curing agents for urethane polymers. Ihara is primarily engaged as a manufacturer of proprietary active ingredients for agrochemical products, as well as contract manufacturing for customers.
About FMC Corporation
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. In 2013, FMChad annual sales of approximately $3.9 billion. The company employs approximately 6,000 people throughout the world, and operates its businesses in three segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions, FMC Health and Nutrition, and FMC Minerals.
SOURCE NewsWires
DATE : 2015-01-30
A major analysis of one of the world's most fiercely disputed medicines, Roche's Tamiflu, has found it cuts flu symptoms by a day and can help some patients avoid hospital treatment and complications.
But the drug can also have side effects, including nausea and vomiting, which should be balanced against its benefits, researchers who led the study said.
Published in The Lancet on Friday, the pooled analysis included data from all previously published and unpublished trials of Tamiflu, which has been the subject of intense scientific debate for years.
The drug, known generically as oseltamivir, is an anti-viral which was stockpiled and widely used by governments during the 2009/2010 H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic. It is approved by regulators worldwide and is on the World Health Organization's "essential medicines" list.
A high-profile analysis led by the Cochrane review concluded last year that Tamiflu's benefits were slim and were outweighed by adverse side effects. Researchers who led that study accused governments of throwing money "down the drain" by buying the drug for stockpiles.
The Lancet study, led by Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Stuart Pocock of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, analysed data from nine trials comparing Tamiflu with placebo for 4,328 adults with laboratory-confirmed seasonal flu.
They found it reduced the duration of symptoms by 21 percent compared with placebo, from 123 to 98 hours, and significantly cut the risk of hospitalisations and flu complications such as pneumonia.
"The safety and effectiveness of oseltamivir has been hotly debated, with some researchers claiming there is little evidence that (it) works," Monto said in a comment about the findings.
He said this analysis found "compelling evidence" of Tamiflu's benefits, adding: "Whether the magnitude of these benefits outweigh the harms of nausea and vomiting needs careful consideration."
Peter Openshaw, a respiratory infections expert at Imperial College London who was not involved in either analysis, said they showed Tamiflu "is not a perfect drug but does what you might expect of an antiviral given relatively late in the course of an acute infection".
Annual sales of Tamiflu, which Roche has always defended as effective, hit almost $3 billion in 2009, mainly due to use during the pandemic. They have since declined, although a bad flu season in the United States pushed sales up in the last quarter of 2014.
SOURCE Reuters