Chemical Engineering November 2013 - 175

Economic Indicators
Business neWs
Plant Watch
Novozymes and Beta Renewables open
advanced biofuels facility in Italy
October 9, 2013 - Novozymes (Copenhagen,
Denmark; www.novozymes.com), a
producer of industrial enzymes, and Beta
Renewables, opened what is said to be the
world's largest advanced biofuels facility,
located near Crescentino, Italy. The plant will
be the world's first to produce bioethanol
from agricultural residues via enzymatic
conversion at a commercial scale. This facility
is designed to produce 75 million L/yr
of bioethanol.
Technip and Zachry awarded
polyethylene project in the U.S.
October 3, 2013 - Technip (Paris, France;
www.technip.com) and Zachry Industrial
(San Antonio, Tex.; www.zhi.com), in
a partnership called Gulf Coast Partners,
have been awarded a contract to design
and build two polyethylene (PE) plants for
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP in
Old Ocean, Tex. The scope of work includes
the design, supply and installation of two
500,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) PE
plants, along with the related offsites, utilities
and railyard. Detailed design has started
and on-site mobilization will commence in
the first half of 2014.
Solvay to build large bicarbonate
plant in Thailand
September 30, 2013 - Solvay S.A. (Brussels,
Belgium; www.solvay.com) plans to build
Southeast Asia's largest sodium bicarbonate
plant. Located in Thailand, and with a
total capacity of 100,000 m.t./yr, this new
facility is planned for startup in the first half of
2015. Solvay's investment in the plant
will be €20 million.
PPG to invest $60 million
in new coatings facility in Russia
September 30, 2013 - PPG Industries (Pittsburgh,
Pa.; www.ppg.com) has announced
plans to invest $60 million in a new manufacturing
facility and commercial operation for
its coatings businesses in the Lipetsk region
of Russia. The company anticipates project
completion in the second half of 2015. The
facility will manufacture both industrial and
performance coatings. In addition to the
manufacturing hub, the facility will include a
new warehouse and distribution center, as
well as offices and technical laboratories.
Henkel opens world's largest
adhesives factory in China
September 18, 2013 - Henkel AG & Co.
(Düsseldorf, Germany; www.henkel.com)
has inaugurated what is said to be the
world's largest adhesives factory in Shanghai.
The new factory will be the central production
site for industrial adhesives in the
Asia-Pacific region. Production capacity is
expected to reach up to 428,000 m.t./yr
of adhesives.
Chandra Asri awards contract for
naphtha cracker expansion to Toyo
September 17, 2013 - PT Chandra Asri Tbk
(Jakarta, Indonesia; www.chandra-asri.
com) has signed a cooperation contract
for engineering, procurement and construction
with Toyo Engineering Corp. for
the expansion of Chandra Asri's naphtha
cracker, increasing its capacity by about
43%. The expansion will also increase the
production capacity of petrochemical
products. Ethylene capacity will be 860,000
m.t./yr, increased from the previous capacity
of 600,000 m.t./yr. Propylene production
will be increased to 470,000 m.t./yr, up from
150,000 m.t./yr. The investment cost for the
expansion is estimated to be $380 million.
Mergers and acquisitions
Dow sells Unipol polypropylene licensing
and catalyst business to W.R. Grace
October 11, 2013 - W. R. Grace & Co. (Columbia,
Md.; www.grace.com) has agreed
to acquire the assets of the Unipol Polypropylene
Licensing and Catalysts business
of The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.;
www.dow.com) for a cash purchase price
of $500 million. The transaction is expected
to close by year-end, pending regulatory approvals.
Dow had previously announced its
intent to divest this business in March 2013.
Solvay to acquire California-based
Chemlogics for $1.345 billion
October 7, 2013 - Solvay S.A. has signed an
agreement to acquire privately held Chemlogics
(Paso Robles, Calif.) for $1.345 billion.
With expertise in friction reducers, non-emulsifiers
and extraction technologies, the company
serves the needs of the oil-and-gas
industry's stimulation and cementing segments.
The completion of the transaction,
expected before the end of 2013, is subject
to customary closing conditions, including
U.S. anti-trust clearance.
Kemira acquires Canadian specialty
chemicals provider Soto Industries
September 20, 2013 - Kemira Oyj (Helsinki,
Finland; www.kemira.com) has signed an
agreement to acquire Soto Industries Inc., a
privately owned company headquartered
in Vancouver, Canada. Soto is a specialty
chemicals and services supplier to the
pulp-and-paper industry. The parties have
agreed not to disclose the transaction price.
BASF announces cash offer to acquire
biotechnology company Verenium
September 20, 2013 - BASF SE (Ludwigshafen,
Germany; www.basf.com) says that
its U.S. affiliate, BASF Corp., has agreed to
commence a cash tender offer for all of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the
biotechnology company Verenium Corp.
(San Diego, Calif.) for $4.00 per share. The
enterprise value is approximately $62 million.
Verenium generated sales of $57 million
in 2012. The acquisition is expected to close
in the fourth quarter of 2013. The transaction
has been unanimously approved by the
Boards of Directors of both companies. ■
Mary Page Bailey
For additional news as it develops, please visit www.che.com
November 2013; VOL. 120; NO. 11
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FOR MORE ECONOMIC INDICATORS, SEE NEXT PAGE
ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com november 2013 175
Airgas to acquire Encompass Gas
Group, a gas supply company
October 7, 2013 - Airgas, Inc. (Radnor, Pa.;
www.airgas.com) announced that it has
reached a definitive agreement to acquire
the assets and operations of The Encompass
Gas Group, Inc., headquartered in
Rockford, Ill. Encompass is one of the largest
privately owned suppliers of industrial,
medical, and specialty gases and related
accessories in the U.S., generating approximately
$55 million in annual sales in 2012.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The transaction was expected to close on
November 1, subject to regulatory approval
and satisfaction of other customary
closing conditions.
Clariant acquires organic pigment
business, invests in new plant in China
September 30, 2013 - Clariant (Muttenz,
Switzerland; www.clariant.com) announced
that it has acquired the organic
pigment business of Jiangsu Multicolor Fine
Chemical Co., Ltd (JMC). JMC is a supplier
of several types of high-performance pigments
and pigment preparations in China.
Additionally, as part of this project, Clariant
will build a pigment plant in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu
Province, China.

http://www.henkel.com http://www.airgas.com http://www.novozymes.com http://www.chandra-asri http://www.technip.com http://www.zhi.com http://www.clariant.com http://www.kemira.com http://www.grace.com http://www.solvay.com http://www.dow.com http://www.basf.com http://www.ppg.com http://www.che.com http://www.Che.Com

Chemical Engineering November 2013

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