Johns Manville (JM), a market-leading manufacturer of glass fiber products and Berkshire Hathaway company, recently announced it will expand its glass fiber operations plant in Etowah, Tenn., to service the increasing needs of the engineered thermoplastics industry.

The North American composite market needs a strong and reliable supply of glass fibers to translate innovations into steady market growth. JM’s operations in North America are ideally located to reliably serve customers across the growing compounding base in the Midwest and Southeast.

“The composites industry is growing steadily and we are convinced that current and future industry trends will continue to drive increasing demand for glass fiber products,” said Brian Sapp, Global Fibers Business Director for JM Engineered Products. “We are making this investment to support our customers’ plans for growth, and we will continue with innovations in technology and product development in fibers to support our customers.”

The planned expansion in Etowah includes a new furnace to support the launch of the next generation of global products for reinforced thermoplastic composites.

“We are confident this investment will continue to show JM’s commitment to this industry and to our customers,” Sapp said.

The new furnace, due to start up in mid-2016, will allow for production growth and flexibility within JM’s product families for polyamides, polyesters and polypropylenes that are used in automotive, electrical and consumer applications.

Wacker Expands Production Capacity for Dispersions in USA

Wacker Chemie AG is expanding its existing vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions production facilities in the United States. The Munich-based chemical company will add a new reactor with an annual capacity of 85,000 metric tons at its Calvert City site, investing an amount of around €50 million in the site’s capacity and infrastructure. This makes the complex the largest of its kind in the Americas. The new reactor is scheduled to come on stream by mid-2015.

The additional annual capacity of 85.000 tons of VAE dispersion will be used for applications in the paints and coatings, adhesives, construction, paper, carpet and nonwoven industries.

“Capacity expansion is essential if we are to meet our customers’ demand for our dispersions over the coming years”, explained Rudolf Staudigl, CEO of Wacker Chemie AG, the reason for the investment. “After extending our dispersions capacities at our sites in South Korea and China in the course of the last two years, we have now pushed ahead with expanding our production in the US, too. Thus, we will be able to keep pace with future market growth and strengthen our leading position in VAE dispersions”, Staudigl said.

Wacker has further added an ethylene pipeline to the Calvert City facility for increasing the long-term reliability of raw material supply at the site. “This investment in our continuous raw-material supply is an important step: it not only makes a key contribution to supply security in the years to come, but also to the cost-efficient production of our dispersions,” explained John Fotheringham, vice president of Dispersions at Wacker Polymers.

Entergy Louisiana to Power Expanded CF Industries Facility

Entergy Louisiana, LLC has signed a five-year agreement to provide an additional 60 megawatts of electricity to power CF Industries' expanding nitrogen facility in Donaldsonville, one of many projects that are part of the industrial renaissance underway in Louisiana.

CF Industries is on track to complete by early 2016 an expansion that will increase its production capacity at the complex by over 40 percent. The agreement for the additional 60 megawatts, which took effect March 1, brings the total load at the plant under contract to Entergy Louisiana to 130 megawatts.

The plant produces urea, urea-ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia for agricultural and industrial customers. With the expansion, the plant will employ more than 450 people, making it a key driver of southeast Louisiana's growing economy.

Attracted by low-cost natural gas, low electricity prices, existing infrastructure, and Louisiana's business-friendly climate, industries are investing billions of dollars to build new plants or expand existing facilities and creating needed jobs for Louisiana residents.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. provide electric service to more than one million Louisiana customers. Additionally, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana provides natural gas service to approximately 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the companies are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation.

Solvay to Build Specialty Polymers PEEK-production Unit in U.S.

Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) is building a new specialty polymers resin unit in the U.S., significantly expanding its production capacity of PEEK (polyether etherketone) and solidifying itself as a leader in the industry with a unique site presence in both the U.S. and in Asia.

The new unit at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers site in Augusta, Georgia, is expected to come on stream in mid-2016 and, combined with the expansion already underway at the site in Panoli, India, raise Solvay’s total PEEK neat resin production capacity to more than 2,500 metric tons worldwide. Collectively, Solvay will invest more than $85 million in these two expansions.

These investments affirm Solvay’s long-term commitment to the industry to keep pace with growing demand for KetaSpire PEEK and AvaSpire PAEK. These two ultra-polymers play a major role in light-weighting, reducing energy consumption and in enabling high performance in demanding applications such as healthcare, electronics, oil & gas, aeronautics and automotive.

“This major expansion drive will make Solvay the only player in the industry to produce PEEK at two different sites in two different, growing regions,” says Augusto Di Donfrancesco, president of Solvay’s Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit (GBU). “The new plant in the United States together with the one in India will provide unmatched security of neat resin supply. These investments reinforce our long-term commitment to our customers worldwide.”

The new unit will be located alongside Solvay Specialty Polymers’ existing resin and monomer production units in Augusta, and benefit from the site’s proximity to the GBU’s Research & Innovation center in Alpharetta, Georgia. The new PEEK unit will use the same processes and technologies as Solvay’s well-proven and highly reliable Panoli plant. Together, these units will produce resins with industry-leading consistency and quality that form the foundation for Solvay’s KetaSpire and AvaSpire products.

BioAmber Begins Commissioning of Sarnia Commercial Plant

BioAmber Inc. (NYSE: BIOA), an industrial biotechnology company producing sustainable chemicals, recently announced it has initiated commissioning activities for its 30,000 MT capacity bio-succinic acid plant located in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

Commissioning and start-up is expected to take approximately five months, with the facility being in commercial operation in Q3 2015. The Company expects construction to be completed in two months and it is carrying out commissioning and start-up activities in parallel. The cost of the project continues to track within the original budget estimate of US$125 million +/- 10%.

"This is a significant milestone for BioAmber, which is poised to begin a period of rapid growth," said Jean-Francois Huc, Chief Executive Officer. "During the commissioning phase we will test the plant and get it running section by section, produce bio-succinic acid and qualify it with our customers and begin to sell product that meets specifications. We plan to be in full commercial operation in Q3 2015, by which time we can reliably supply customers including our take-or-pay contracts".

The Sarnia plant will be the world's largest succinic acid manufacturing facility, with an annual nameplate capacity of 30,000 metric tons. BioAmber has signed take-or-pay agreements with Vinmar and PTTMCC (a joint venture between PTT PLC and Mitsubishi Chemical) that represent sales volumes of over 5,000 metric tons in 2015 and 15,000 tons in each of 2016 and 2017. BioAmber has also signed a number of supply agreements with non-binding volume commitments that collectively exceed the available capacity in the plant.

BioAmber’s proprietary technology platform combines industrial biotechnology and chemical catalysis to convert renewable feedstock into sustainable chemicals for use in a wide variety of everyday products including plastics, resins, food additives and personal care products. For more information visit www.bio-amber.com

Dow Invests $6 Billion in U.S. Manufacturing

Dow Chemical is investing $6 billion to enlarge its manufacturing facilities in the United States by 40 percent, based on the assumption low natural gas prices here will persist into the middle of the next decade, a Dow executive said in Chicago recently.

The investment reverses Dow’s vocal exodus from manufacturing in the United States, said Doug May, Dow’s business president of olefins, aromatics, and alternatives, during the recent Kellogg Energy Conference at Northwestern University.

Firms like Dow are emboldened by the news that U.S. natural gas production increased by 4 percent last year, even during a glut that caused low prices that discourage new drilling.

The Michigan Chemical Company’s U.S. expansion remains dwarfed, however, by its $20 billion investment in Saudi Arabia.

“Back in the 2005-2008 time frame, we could not be competitive with our assets here in the U.S., which was the majority of our asset base,” May said. “We had to go find other locations, and we tend to partner with sovereign nations who use their energy resources as leverage to create whole economies. So we’ve got significant assets in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and we’re building out a very large one in Saudi Arabia right now.”

In the U.S., Dow is banking on cheap oil and natural-gas derivatives from shale gas operations to support massive plant expansions in Texas and Louisiana.

“This U-Turn that occurred here in the U.S. has encouraged us to put $6 billion back into the U.S., restarting a cracker we had shut down, to produce ethylene, to build a brand new ethylene cracker in Texas, we’ve also invested in an all-purpose propylene facility, and then we’ve built a host of derivatives around it that serve the packaging industry primarily, for food safety and the consumer durables and automotive industry.”

GEO Opens New Polyaluminum Chloride Facility in Texas

GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (GEO) has recently opened its new state of the art manufacturing facility in Deer Park, TX. Designed to produce highly active polyaluminum chloride (PAC) products, the new plant will serve Texas municipalities in need of improved, cost-effective solutions in clean water practices. The facility is operated by GEO's Water Treatment Chemicals Division.

CEO and President Kenneth A. Ghazey said, "GEO has looked forward to commissioning this plant and making this capital investment in Texas to deliver cost-effective specialty chemical products that help our customers there meet increasingly stringent regulatory standards."

The new plant is designed specifically to manufacture aluminum-based coagulants for water treatment solutions. It sits on a 108-acre site that also manufactures GEO's Glycine product line. This Deer Park facility will be the second site in GEO's portfolio to make the new highly active PAC products; the other is located in Chattanooga, TN. Currently, GEO owns and operates 16 water treatment centers throughout the southeast United States and has assisted thousands of municipal water treatment systems in North America.

"We are very experienced in customized water treatment solutions and are now able to further open up the Texas water marketplace and to serve municipalities with superior water treatment products," said Scot Lang, GEO's Senior Vice President for the Water Treatment Chemicals Division. "By building this revolutionary manufacturing process, new highly active PAC products can improve coagulation for cleaner water. I am pleased to announce the plant is fully operational."

The proven benefits of polyaluminum chloride are reducing overall water treatment costs when compared to traditional alum, ferric and PAC programs, and effectively removing the water turbidity, color, heavy metals and trace organic compounds. GEO's reputation as an industry leader in the specialized area of water treatment allows for better results in basin turbidity and top of filter values; TOC, DOC, SUVA, THM and HAA5 optimizations; coagulation to assist membrane operation and to limit fouling; and application of coagulants to minimize cost.

Yara and BASF to Build Ammonia Plant in Freeport, Texas

Yara International and BASF Group have agreed to build a world-scale ammonia plant at BASF’s site in Freeport, Texas. The plant will use hydrogen as raw material, reducing capital expenditures (capex), maintenance and carbon dioxide emissions significantly.

“I am very pleased to announce this highly value creating project together with BASF. The use of hydrogen as raw material reduces capex, maintenance and carbon dioxide emissions significantly. This project will further strengthen Yara’s position in the global ammonia market and increase our footprint in the United States. I would like to thank BASF for putting trust in Yara and we look forward to a long and good relationship,” said Torgeir Kvidal, President and CEO of Yara International.

“Through the joint investment with Yara, we can take advantage of world-scale production economics and the attractive raw material costs in the United States. We will thus strengthen our Freeport Verbund and the competitiveness of our polyamide 6 value chain in the region. We look forward to a successful partnership with Yara,” said Wayne T. Smith, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for the Chemicals segment.

The ammonia plant will be owned 68 percent by Yara and 32 percent by BASF and located on BASF’s site in Freeport. The plant will have a capacity of about 750,000 metric tons per year. Each party will off-take ammonia from the plant in accordance with its equity share. Total capital investment for the plant is estimated at USD 600 million. Yara will in addition build an ammonia tank at the BASF terminal bringing Yara’s total investment to USD 490 million. BASF will in addition upgrade its current terminal and pipeline assets.

The hydrogen technology reduces capex and maintenance significantly compared to a traditional natural gas based ammonia plant. The technology also allows for lower carbon dioxide emissions. A long-term supply agreement for nitrogen and hydrogen has been signed with Praxair Inc., the largest industrial gases company in North America, linking the feedstock variable cost to the advantageous natural gas prices available at the U.S. Gulf Coast.

KBR, Inc., Houston, Texas, has been awarded a fixed price turnkey contract for the engineering, procurement and construction. The plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. Yara will manage construction of the plant while BASF will operate the plant and the export terminal.

Praxair Gulf Coast Expansion to Serve Freeport, Texas, and Supply New Yara/ BASF Ammonia Project

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) has signed a 20-year agreement to supply approximately 170 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen and 2,000 tons per day of nitrogen to a new 750,000 metric tons per year ammonia complex being built by a new entity formed by Yara and BASF.

To help fulfill the raw material requirements of this world-scale ammonia project located in Freeport, Texas, Praxair is investing more than $400 million to add hydrogen and nitrogen production capacity and extending its Gulf Coast pipeline systems approximately 46 miles from Texas City to the Freeport area. Praxair’s pipeline systems are supported by multiple hydrogen and air separation plants and product storage capabilities including Praxair’s innovative 2.5 billion standard cubic foot high-purity hydrogen storage cavern. The pipeline extensions are scheduled to be in operation in 2016 and the supply to the complex is expected to start in late 2017.

“This is an opportunity for Praxair to build out its presence in Freeport, Texas, one of the largest chemical complexes in the western hemisphere,” said Eduardo Menezes, executive vice president, Praxair. “Praxair’s ability to capture and process by-product hydrogen generated by multiple crackers that are being installed in the Gulf Coast and add this product to the hydrogen produced by our on-purpose steam methane reformer facilities to reliably deliver high-purity hydrogen was critical for this award. We are excited to be a part of this project and to be working alongside Yara and BASF.”

Speaking on behalf of the newly-formed entity, Yara International President and Chief Executive Officer Torgeir Kvidal said, “Praxair has been working closely with us to ensure this project becomes a reality. There have been several advantages to working with Praxair including their long history of providing supply reliability along with the infrastructure and industrial gas innovations we need to run a world-class ammonia plant with a low-carbon footprint.”

Praxair operates over 50 hydrogen production facilities and seven hydrogen pipeline systems worldwide. Refinery and chemical customers globally benefit from Praxair’s complete portfolio of large-volume industrial gases, cylinder gases and specialized technologies and services.

Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 250 company with 2014 sales of $12.3 billion, is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide.

Honeywell Begins Full-scale Production of Low-GWP Material

Honeywell has started full-scale commercial production of a low global-warming-potential (GWP) material at its facility in Baton rouge, LA. The new material, called by the industry designation HFO-1234ze, is used as an aerosol propellant, insulating agent and refrigerant.

ASIA

AkzoNobel Breaks Ground on New Specialty Chemicals Plant in China

AkzoNobel’s Specialty Chemicals business recently broke ground on a new alkoxylation facility in Ningbo, China, bringing the company’s total investment in the strategic multi-site to more than €400 million.

As well as contributing to AkzoNobel’s position as one of the leading surfactant producers in China, the new facility also creates a more sustainable footprint in the region and will enable the company to better serve its customers.

The Ningbo multi-site covers around 50 hectares and accommodates production for chelates, ethylene amines, ethylene oxide, organic peroxides and Bermocoll cellulose derivatives. Surface Chemistry’s latest investment will increase annual capacity by nearly 18,000 tons, mainly catering for domestic demand in China.

As well as contributing to AkzoNobel’s position as one of the leading surfactant producers in China, the new facility also creates a more sustainable footprint in the region. The added alkoxylation capacity (the process of reacting a fatty amine with ethylene oxide to make ethoxylated amines) will enable the company to better serve its customers in the agrochemical, oilfield and personal care markets.

BASF, Petronas Chemicals to build 2-EHAcid plant in Malaysia

German chemicals company BASF and Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd announced recently that they will build a major new production plant for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid (2-EHAcid).

The new facility will be located at the site of their existing joint venture, BASF Petronas Chemicals, in Kuantan, Malaysia. Construction is anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2015.

2-EHAcid is a chemical intermediate that is used as a compound in the production of synthetic lubricants as well oil additives. It is also used for functional fluids such as automotive coolants, metal salts for paint dryers, plasticizers, stabilizers and catalysts, and has other applications in various industries.

BASF already operates a 2-EHAcid production plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

"With this new plant, we are responding to our customers' growing demands in Asia Pacific. Through this additional capacity BASF will become one of the leading suppliers for high purity 2-EHAcid in the region," said Stefan Blank, president of BASF's Intermediates division.

The new plant in Kuantan will be the first in Southeast Asia to produce 2-EHAcid, the two companies said. It will have an annual capacity of 30,000 metric tons, with production expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2016.

BASF Petronas Chemicals is also building an Integrated Aroma Ingredients Complex at its Kuantan site for the manufacturing of citronellol and L-menthol, as well as citral and its precursors, which are widely used in the flavor and fragrance industries.The partners are investing $500 million to set up the aroma ingredients complex and it is scheduled to start operating in 2016.

AkzoNobel Performance Coatings Adds Capacity in Indonesia

AkzoNobel Performance Coatings has announced plans to invest €2.5 million to expand its plant in Cikarang, Indonesia.

The investment will add capacity to help meet growing demand for the company’s International brand products, which are supplied by the Protective Coatings and Marine Coatings businesses. The project is expected to be completed by April 2015.

"The local market has been expanding over the last three years," explained Mauricio Bannwart, Managing Director of AkzoNobel's Protective Coatings business. "Further growth is now anticipated as Indonesia seeks to improve its position in the petrochemical and power sectors, while an improvement in marine new build is also anticipated."

News of the expansion comes after AkzoNobel recently invested a total of €5 million to add capacity for both its Marine Coatings and Protective Coatings businesses in Singapore and Sunshine, Australia.

Commenting on the new projects, Conrad Keijzer, the company's Executive Committee member responsible for Performance Coatings, said: "Our business in Asia has experienced double-digit annual growth during the last five years. These expansions will ensure that we are well positioned to meet customer demand going forward. By focusing our investment at key sites we are achieving economies of scale, allowing us to continuously improve our operational productivity."

EUEA

SNC-Lavalin Awarded Fluegas-Treatment Contract in Romania

SNC-Lavalin (Montreal, Canada; www.snclavalin.com) has been awarded a second engineering and procurement contract by Azomures, for a new gas emissions treatment facility at a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizer production plant in Târgu Mures, Romania.

The contract will be carried out by the company’s Fertilizer team, a division of the Mining & Metallurgy business unit, and the facility is expected to be in full operation in early 2016. As part of the contract, SNC-Lavalin will provide the process design, basic and detailed engineering services, equipment, training and assistance during the commissioning and start-up stages.

Azomures, part of the Ameropa group, is one of the leading fertilizer producers in Romania, supplying more than 10 million metric tons of fertilizer to its customers around the world each year.

The new facility will treat emissions from Azomures’ NPK fertilizer production plant. Once in full operation, the facility is expected to treat a total of 183,000 Nm3/h of polluted air. NPK fertilizers, also known as complex fertilizers, are one of the most commonly used chemical fertilizers.

BASF Expands Its Capacity for Specialty Amines in Ludwigshafen

BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) is significantly expanding its production capacity for about 20 specialty amines at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen. The company will therefore invest a double-digit million euro amount in expanding current production facilities, which are planned to go on stream gradually by early 2017. The specialty amines are especially used for the manufacturing of coatings, lubricants, crop protection products and pharmaceuticals. With this investment, BASF strengthens its worldwide amine production network with plants in Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide, Germany, in Antwerp, Belgium, in Geismar, Louisiana and in Nanjing, China.

In March and April 2014, BASF announced the construction of two new multiple product plants for the manufacturing of specialty amines at the BASF Verbund sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany and Nanjing, China, where startup is planned for 2015.

With about 200 different amines, BASF has the world’s most diverse portfolio of this type of chemical intermediates. Along with alkyl-, alkanol-, alkoxyalkylamines, the company offers heterocyclic and aromatic as well as specialty amines. The range is completed by an expanding portfolio of chiral amines of high optical and chemical purity. The versatile products are used mainly to manufacture process chemicals, pharmaceuticals and crop protection products, as well as cosmetic products and detergents. They also serve to produce coatings, special plastics, composites and special fibers.

Evonik Agreement to Acquire Monarch Catalyst in India

Evonik Industries AG, Essen (Germany) intends to strengthen its global catalysts business. On March 11, 2015, Evonik has signed an agreement with Monarch Catalyst Pvt. Ltd., Dombivli (India) to acquire 100% of the company’s shares. The transaction is expected to close during the first half year of 2015 after the required approvals have been received. The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

Evonik with its Business Line Catalysts is a global leader in producing specialty catalysts, custom catalysts and catalysts components for the Life Sciences & Fine Chemicals, Industrial & Petrochemical and Polyolefines market segments. This bolt-on acquisition in India with annual sales in the low double-digit million € range complements Evonik’s leading positions in activated base metal catalysts and precious metal catalysts. Monarch’s global oils & fats hydrogenation catalysts business is a broadening of the Evonik catalysts portfolio. Monarch Catalyst has about 300 employees.

Avendus Capital Pvt. Ltd. was the sole financial advisor to Monarch Catalyst for the transaction.

Arkema Expands Specialty Polymer (PEKK) Production Capacities in France and U.S.

Arkema is actively developing its new Kepstan® PEKK (Poly-Ether-Ketone-Ketone) ultra high performance polymer with applications in the fields of carbon fiber composites and 3D printing. Success in these fields has prompted Arkema to increase its production capacities in France now and in the United States in the near future.

In order to meet growing demand in carbon fiber composites and in 3D printing, Arkema announces that it is to double its production capacities in France by the first half of 2016.

Furthermore, the Group plans to build a worldscale PEKK production plant on its Mobile site (Alabama, United States) that would be scheduled to come on stream in the second half of 2018.

PEKK stands out from the PAEK (Poly-Aryl-Ether-Ketone) family by its extensive range of processing technologies and excellent thermomechanical behavior.

PEKK complements Arkema’s range of thermoplastic resins and broadens their range of applications in the aerospace, energy and electronics sectors, in which Arkema is already highly present through its Rilsan® (PA11) and Kynar® (PVDF) specialty polymers, as well as its Elium® acrylic resins.

Arkema, a global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, has operations in close to 50 countries, 19,000 employees and research centers in North America, France and Asia. Arkema generates pro forma annual revenue of €7.6 billion, and holds leadership positions in all its markets with a portfolio of internationally recognized brands.

Wacker Builds New Production Plant for Specialty Monomers in Burghausen

Wacker Chemie AG is currently building a new plant for specialty monomers with an annual capacity of 3,800 metric tons at its Burghausen site. The Group has budgeted around €8 million for this. The specialty monomers vinyl neodecanoate and vinyl laurate are key raw materials for the manufacture of specific dispersible polymer powders. The plant is scheduled for start-up in the second quarter of 2015. This new development allows Wacker to meet increasing demand for high-quality polymeric binders and strengthens its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of dispersible polymer powders.

Wacker aims to meet the globally rising demand for its dispersible polymer powders, which is driven by worldwide trends such as urbanization, renovation and energy efficiency. With the construction of the new plant for specialty monomers, the Munich-based chemical Group is creating the necessary capacity to independently secure the supply of key raw materials for the manufacture of the powders at its Burghausen site over the long term. The specialty monomers vinyl neodecanoate and vinyl laurate confer special properties on Wacker’s dispersible polymer powders, such as hydrophobicity.

Wacker has been producing dispersible polymer powders as binders for dry-mix mortars in Burghausen, Germany, since 1957 and, today, is a global technology and market leader in this field. VINNAPAS® dispersible polymer powders find use in various construction applications such as tile adhesives, self-leveling flooring compounds, plasters, repair mortars, external thermal insulation composite systems and cementitious waterproofing membranes. They enhance important end-product properties, such as adhesion, cohesion, flexibility and flexural strength. Water retention, processing properties and weatherability benefit from VINNAPAS®, too.

Wacker Polymers is a leading producer of state-of-the-art binders and polymeric additives based on polyvinyl acetate and vinyl acetate copolymers.

Victrex to Construct U.K. Polymer Innovation Center

Victrex plc (Thornton Cleveleys, U.K.; www.victrex.com), a leader in high-performance polyaryletherketone (PAEK) polymers is planning to increase its global technology leadership with the construction of a major Polymer Innovation Center in northern England. Financial assistance for the project has come in the form of $2 million in grant funding from the U.K. government’s Regional Growth Fund, subject to satisfactory due diligence, which recognizes the vital, rapidly accelerating importance of high performance polymers in the global marketplace.

“Victrex is continuing to invest in cutting-edge technological leadership in advanced polymers,” commented John Grasmeder, technical director at Victrex. “Improved application performance at the same or reduced cost is a common objective that we’re helping our customers to address across industries. The aircraft industry, for example, is now embracing newly-developed technology for major cost and weight savings combined with accelerated assembly times. That’s just one example among hundreds.”

High performance polymers based on PAEK, including Victrex PEEK, are increasingly being sought out for this and other demanding applications in industry sectors that include consumer electronics, automotive, energy, and medical. At the same time, Victrex is helping manufacturers to meet the need for demanding, more efficient processing techniques, in order to save costs and speed up time-to-market. In a fast-moving market which thrives on continuous advances in research & development (R&D), the planned Polymer Innovation Center will increase capacity to turn lab concepts – engineers’ dreams – into real-world solutions and processes that can sustain mass production. The facility will enable the scaling up of new products and applications to full commercialization for Victrex’s global customers.

Victrex has always maintained a relatively large investment in R&D and the Polymer Innovation Center will sustain that theme. In 2014, Victrex invested over $23 million, 6% of sales, into its R&D programs. The new investment, together with funding from the UK government´s Regional Growth Fund, will build on that record, while also recognizing the future jobs potential for the northwest of England, where Victrex’s headquarters are based. The project is expected to help in the creation of over 80 direct and indirect jobs over the next 10 years and could ultimately see a total $24.6 million investment.

Solvay Signs Exclusive Global License Agreement with Revolymer to Bolster Performance of Organic Peroxide Eureco

Solvay announces it has signed a global license agreement with British polymer technology company Revolymer to exclusively apply its encapsulation technology to boost the performance of Solvay’s organic peroxide Eureco^TM used in detergents and other applications.

Solvay’s Eureco is based on 6-phthalimido-peroxyhexanoic acid (PAP), and is already well-known by the consumer and professional markets for its effectiveness in removing stubborn stains, bleaching in compact product formulations, getting rid of malodour and in killing germs, bacteria and fungi on both textiles and hard surfaces.

The first product to benefit from Revolymer’s innovative technology will be Eureco RP103, which does not contain the toxic boric acid and is an upgraded version of Solvay’s Eureco granules. Thanks to its strength and effectiveness Eureco RP103 can be used in minor quantities, contributing to the overall compactness of products.

Apart from laundry detergents and dishwasher machine tablets, this exclusive global license agreement also addresses veterinary, pharmaceutical or health care applications.

Eureco RP103 will be commercialized by Solvay’s GBU Peroxides from 2015 onwards.

Solvay Peroxides Global Business Unit is a worldwide market and technology leader in Hydrogen Peroxide. Providing functional qualities such as bleaching, oxidation or disinfection, it delivers innovative products and tailored services to the pulp, chemicals, aquaculture, food, mining, waste water treatment, home care and textile industries.

Air Liquide to Build, Own and Operate World’s Largest Oxygen Production Unit for Sasol in South Africa

Air Liquide and Sasol, an international integrated energy and chemicals company, have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of large quantities of industrial gases to Sasol’s Secunda site (around 140 km East of Johannesburg). Air Liquide will invest around € 200 million for the construction of the largest Air Separation Unit (ASU) ever built, with total capacity of 5,000 tonnes of oxygen per day (equivalent to 5,800 tonnes per day at sea level), a milestone in the history of industrial gas production.

Air Liquide and Sasol have a long partnership history as the Group has already provided several ASUs on this site over the last 40 years. This contract represents an important step forward in this partnership as it is the first time that Sasol will outsource its oxygen needs to a specialist of industrial gas production at its Secunda site. The oxygen provided by Air Liquide will be used by Sasol for the production of synthetic fuels.

Air Liquide will design, build, own and operate this new ASU, bringing Sasol its world class expertise in oxygen supply. The Air Liquide Engineering and Construction teams will bring their state-of-the-art technologies for this very large ASU, thereby providing benchmark efficiencies, reliability and safety while increasing production capacities.

The new ASU expected to be commissioned by December 2017 will also add for Air Liquide a new source of oxygen and argon to supply the growing industrial gas market in South Africa.

Technip Awarded Substantial Contract for New Fertilizer Unit in Slovak Republic

Technip was awarded by Duslo a.s. a substantial (€250 to €500 million) contract on lumpsum turnkey basis to develop the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a new ammonia production unit in the existing fertilizer complex located in Sal’a, Slovak Republic.

Based on Haldor Topsoe last generation technology, the new unit will have a capacity of 1,600 tons per day of ammonia. It will incorporate the most advanced engineering and technological solutions for minimum energy consumption and reduction of pollutants emissions. Haldor Topsoe is a world leader in catalysis and surface science.

Technip’s operating center in Rome, Italy, will execute the contract, scheduled to be starting up at the beginning of 2018.

Marco Villa, Technip Region B President, commented: “This award reinforces the long-lasting relationship between Technip and Haldor Topsoe, the global market leader in ammonia technology and catalysts, and confirms Technip’s leading position in the fertilizer sector. In line with the European energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction policies, this new fertilizer unit will be executed with the highest standards in terms of technology, efficiency and environmental protection”. Technip Region B is composed of Italy, Greece, Eastern Europe/Russia, South America and Canada and Middle East Onshore-Offshore.

MERGERS/ ACQUISITIONS

Daikin Acquires Refrigerant Business in Europe from Solvay S. A.

Daikin Industries, Ltd. has decided to acquire the refrigerant business in Europe of major Belgian chemical group Solvay S.A. to expand business in Europe for refrigerants, air conditioning, and automotive applications. The acquired business’s primary location is in Frankfurt, Germany, and the company posted 2013 sales of EURO 53 million with approximately 80 employees.

In Europe, due to the F-gas Regulation, conversion to refrigerants that have a lower environmental impact is an important goal. Daikin strives to fulfill its responsibility as the only company manufacturing both refrigerant and HVAC equipment, endeavoring to contribute to the mitigation of global warming through the promotion of widespread use of refrigerants having lower global warming potential (GWP) and minimum environmental impact.

Acquiring Solvay will enable Daikin to fully enter the refrigerant business in Europe, inheriting in addition a sound production base on the continent which will help it achieve the above purpose. Daikin will also further expand its product lineup to include the automotive refrigerant sold by Solvay as it aims in 2018 for sales in the global refrigerant market of 30 billion yen.

Daikin will be formulating concrete efforts in fiscal year 2015 that include recovery and reuse of refrigerant gas and the development of sustainable automotive refrigerant.

Today, Daikin already offers a variety of fluorinated materials worldwide through its subsidiary Daikin Chemical France S.A.S., which is located in Lyon, France, as well as through its bases in Japan and China. In particular, Daikin has been supplying European automotive manufacturers with advanced fluorinated materials addressing fuel permeation regulations and turbocharger applications among others.

With this acquisition, Daikin also intends to solidify its relationship with European automotive manufacturers and further expand sales of fluorinated materials to this industry by accelerating product development that precisely meets customer needs.

Johnson Matthey Completes Acquisition of Battery Materials Business from Clariant

Johnson Matthey recently announced that it completed the acquisition of the battery materials business of Clariant AG (Clariant) for US $75 million. This completes the transaction which was first announced on 29th October 2014.

Commenting on the transaction, Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey said: “The further strengthening of our battery technologies capability is a key milestone in the development of our New Businesses Division.

"It marks an important step in Johnson Matthey’s long term strategy to establish new businesses in adjacent markets with strong growth potential that align with our technology competences.”

CEO of Clariant, Hariolf Kottmann, said "The divestment of the Energy Storage business with its LFP technology is part of our focused portfolio management and reallocating capital towards our core areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Energy, Natural Resources, and Plastics and Coatings,"

Polypore Sells Energy Storage Segment for $2.2B to Asahi Kasei and Separations Media Segment to 3M for $1B

Polypore International, Inc. (NYSE:PPO), a manufacturer of microporous membranes based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is selling both its business segments: Energy Storage and Separations Media.

Japan's Asahi Kasei Corp., a chemical manufacturer with businesses in the health care, construction materials and electronics sectors, will pay $2.2 billion to buy the energy storage business of Polypore after the Separations Media segment is sold to 3M Co. for $1 billion.

Asahi Kasei said that the combination of their lithium-ion battery separator businesses will help them develop more sophisticated technology.

Before that deal closes, Polypore International Inc. will sell its separations media segment (Membrana) to 3M, with proceeds from that deal going to Asahi Kasei. Polypore’s Separations Media business is a leading provider of microporous membranes and modules for filtration in the life sciences, industrial and specialty segments. Polypore’s Separations Media business is expected to give 3M new technology and about $210 million in annual sales.

The two deals have been approved by the boards of directors of all three companies, but Polypore shareholders still need to vote.

Overview of the Contemplated Transactions

The transaction is consistent with Asahi Kasei’s medium-term strategic management initiative, “For Tomorrow 2015,” focused on Environment & Energy, Residential Living, and Health Care.

The Energy & Environment focus is on sophisticated energy storage material solutions, especially in automotive applications, against a backdrop of increasing motorization in emerging countries and heightening worldwide demand for eco-friendly cars such as electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Further growth is expected from the increasing need for high-performance stationary energy storage systems to enable more efficient utilization of renewable energy.

Polypore is a compelling fit with Asahi Kasei’s electronic materials business, led by Asahi Kasei’s Hipore™ lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) separator with applications in energy storage for both consumer electronics and automotive applications.

Polypore has established an excellent global platform for its LIB separator business, with production plants in the U.S., South Korea, and China, and products that complement Asahi Kasei’s strategies and objectives. The combination of the LIB separator businesses of the two companies will enable the further development of more sophisticated products, which will contribute to the advancement of LIB technology and performance and lead to accelerated growth and value creation. Furthermore, the addition of Polypore’s lead-acid battery separator business, which has production plants in the U.S., Thailand, France, Germany, India, and China, will reinforce Asahi Kasei’s energy storage material businesses as a comprehensive supplier of a wide range of materials that meet diverse energy solution needs.

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. is acting as financial advisor to Asahi Kasei, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is acting as Asahi Kasei’s legal counsel. Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as financial advisor to Polypore and Jones Day acted as legal advisor to Polypore.

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