Chemical Engineering December 2014 - 61

Economic Indicators
Business news
Plant watch
Momentive to construct two
formaldehyde plants in Louisiana
november 10, 2014 - momentive specialty
chemicals inc. (columbus, ohio; www.
momentive.com) plans to build two new
formaldehyde plants in geismar and
Luling, La., with operations expected to begin
in early 2016 and late 2015, respectively.
With an investment of approximately $66
million, the new plants will add formaldehyde
capacity of more than 400,000 metric
tons per year (m.t./yr).
KBR awarded FEED contract for butadiene
expansion project in Saudi Arabia
november 6, 2014 - KBr inc. (Houston;
www.kbr.com) has been awarded a frontend
engineering design (Feed) contract by
saudi Basic industries corp. (saBic) for the
debottlenecking and expansion of saBic's
Petrokemya butadiene extraction plant in
al Jubail, saudi arabia. the plant currently
has a butadiene capacity of 123,000 m.t./
yr, which will be significantly expanded with
this project.
Evonik opens new plant for functionalized
polybutadienes in Germany
november 3, 2014 - evonik industries ag
(essen, germany; www.evonik.com) has
opened a new plant for hydroxyl terminated
polybutadiene (HtPB) in marl, with a production
capacity of several thousand metric
tons per year. evonik's HtPB will have the
brand name Polyvest Ht, and will primarily be
used in sealing compounds and adhesives.
AkzoNobel begins operations at
Dubai powder coatings plant
november 4, 2014 - akzonobel (amsterdam,
the netherlands; www.akzonobel.
com) has started operations at its new powder
coatings plant in dubai. the plant will
target growing regional demand for powder
coatings, particularly from the architectural
sector, as well as functional products used in
the oil-and-gas and construction markets.
Vencorex to expand isocyanates in
the U.S., France and Thailand
october 30, 2014 - Vencorex (saint-Priest,
France; www.vencorex.com) is planning to
increase its capacity for aliphatic isocyanates
with several projects worldwide, including:
an expansion of monomer capacity in
Pont de claix, France by 70,000 m.t./yr; a new
derivative unit with 12,000 m.t./yr initial capacity
in rayong, thailand; and investment
in new U.s. production facilities for waterborne
polyurethane coatings in Freeport, tex.
DSM to build polymerization
plant for polyamide 6 in Georgia
october 29, 2014 - royal dsm (Heerlen, the
netherlands; www.dsm.com) will build a
new polymerization plant in augusta, ga. the
plant, which will become part of dsm's engineering
Plastics business group, will manufacture
high-viscosity polyamide 6 polymer
for film grades used in flexible food packaging
and other segments. construction of the
plant is scheduled to start in early 2015, with
completion targeted for mid-2016.
BASF to increase production capacity for
t-butylamine plant in Nanjing
october 28, 2014 - BasF se (Ludwigshafen,
germany; www.basf.com) will expand the
production capacity of its existing production
plant for t-butylamine (tBa) at the
nanjing chemical industry Park in china.
the company plans to increase tBa production
capacity by 60%, from 10,000 to 16,000
m.t./yr. the expansion is expected to come
onstream in early 2015.
Westlake to expand capacity for ethanebased
ethylene in Louisiana
october 24, 2014 - Westlake chemical
corp. (Houston; www.westlake.com) will expand
its ethylene capacity and make other
capital improvements in Lake charles, La.
with an investment in excess of $330 million.
the expansion is expected to be completed
in late 2015 or early 2016, and will increase
ethane-based ethylene capacity by approximately
113,000 m.t./yr.
Chemtura expanding antioxidant
capacity in Italy, Canada and Taiwan
october 20, 2014 - chemtura corp.
(Philadelphia, Pa.; www.chemtura.com) is
increasing capacity at three production
sites for alkylated diphenyl amine (adPa)
liquid antioxidants. in 2015, the company
plans to increase capacity at its elmira, ont.,
canada site by 20%, its Latina, italy site by
25%, and its Kaohsiung, taiwan site by 10%.
Mergers and acquisitions
Vertellus increases life-sciences
presence with Pentagon acquisition
november 3, 2014 - Vertellus (indianapolis,
ind.; www.vertellus.com), a producer of
pyridine and pyridine derivative chemicals,
has purchased Pentagon chemicals Ltd., a
manufacturer of fine and specialty chemicals
used in the life-sciences industry. the
transaction is expected to boost the earnings
of Vertellus' specialty materials division
by approximately 20%.
Trelleborg acquires coated fabrics
specialist company Uretek Archer
november 3, 2014 - trelleborg's engineered
fabrics operation in the U.s. (spartanburg,
s.c.; www.trelleborg.com), has acquired the
assets and businesses of coated fabrics specialists
Uretek archer LLc group (new Haven,
conn.; www.uretek.com). the transaction
will broaden trelleborg's range of urethanecoated
fabrics, says the company.
BASF and Toda Kogyo form JV for
cathode-active materials
october 30, 2014 - BasF se and toda Kogyo
corp. (tokyo, Japan; www.todakogyo.co.jp)
will form a joint venture (JV) for cathode active
materials (cam) in tokyo. the JV will operate
under the trade name BasF toda Battery
materials, LLc. closing of the agreement and
the launch of operations is expected in February
2015. the new JV will have a combined
production capacity for cam and cam precursors
of around 18,000 m.t./yr.
Nippon Shokubai to divest its
polyester business to Takiron
october 30, 2014 - nippon shokubai co.
(osaka, Japan; www.shokubai.co.jp) will
transfer all shares of its subsidiary, nippon
Polyester co., to takiron co., Ltd. (tokyo; www.
takiron.co.jp). Final agreements will be signed
after negotiations of transfer conditions.
Clariant divests its Energy Storage
business to Johnson Matthey
october 29, 2014 - clariant ag (muttenz,
switzerland; www.clariant.com) has
agreed to divest its energy storage business
to Johnson matthey Plc. (London; www.
matthey.com). the total sale amounts to
$75 million.closing of the transaction is expected
in early 2015.
AkzoNobel exits paper chemicals market
with divestment of Eka Synthomer JV
october 22, 2014 - akzonobel n.V. has
divested its 50% JV share in eka synthomer
oy to synthomer for €5 million, following strategic
review of the company's portfolio. eka
synthomer is a non-consolidated JV based
in Finland that produces and sells styrenebutadiene
latex products for the paper
and board industry.
■
Mary Page Bailey
For additional news as it develops, please visit www.chemengonline.com
December 2014; VOL. 121; NO. 12
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ChemiCal engineering www.Chemengonline.Com DeCemBer 2014 63

http://www.momentive.com http://www.dsm.com http://www.trelleborg.com http://www.uretek.com http://www.kbr.com http://www.basf.com http://www.todakogyo.co.jp http://www.evonik.com http://www.westlake.com http://www.shokubai.co.jp http://takiron.co.jp http://www.clariant.com http://www.akzonobel http://www.chemtura.com http://www.matthey.com http://www.vencorex.com http://www.vertellus.com http://www.chemengonline.com http://www.Chemengonline.Com

Chemical Engineering December 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering December 2014