Industry: Specialty polymers

AMERICAS Dow to build R&D facility in Texas Dow Chemical plans to build a new R&D facility at Lake Jackson, TX, near its largest manufacturing site at Freeport, TX. The Texas Innovation Center will house laboratory facilities and technical expertise centers to enable ongoing innovation that supports the commercialization of solutions across high-growth end-use markets […]

AMERICAS Axiall partners with Lotte for a cracker Axiall and Lotte Chemical have signed a preliminary agreement for a 50/50 joint venture for the construction of a 1,000 KTA ethane cracker in Louisiana. The cracker, which would be fed by shale gas, could begin operations in 2018, subject to the project approval by the companies’ […]

AMERICAS Kraton Performance Polymers to merge with SB copolymers unit of LCY Chemical Corp Kraton Performance Polymers Inc. is merging with the styrenic block copolymers business of LCY Chemical Corp to create a new materials firm, which will have annual sales of over USD 2 billion. LCY is the third largest SBC producer with plants […]

AMERICAS Nova starts petrochemical utilization of Marcellus shale NOVA Chemicals has started the consumption of ethane sourced from Marcellus Shale Basin at its Corunna, Ontario cracker. NOVA initiated the consumption of the new feedstock in late December 2013, as a part of the project to revamp its Corunna, Ontario cracker to utilize up to 100% […]

AMERICAS Axiall chooses Louisiana for the cracker and derivatives project Axiall has chosen Louisiana for a USD 3 billion ethane cracker and derivatives plant. Axiall is considering potential partners for this project in which Axiall expects to invest about USD 1 billion. The new plant could begin operations in 2018. Comments: Axiall, formed after the […]

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Süd-Chemie launches improved PDH catalyst for Catofin technology Süd-Chemie, a Clariant subsidiary, says that its “breakthrough” catalyst used in the Lummus Catofin propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology has been successful in delivering a significant increase in propylene selectivity, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. The new catalyst, introduced just more than a year ago, has delivered a […]

AMERICAS FlexPO 2012 CMR Inc. recently concluded its 21st annual FlexPO conference. The conference was conducted over two days in downtown Houston, TX, and featured speakers from across the globe. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Balaji Singh, President of CMR. Dr. Balaji Singh welcomed all the delegates and introduced the main theme for the […]

AMERICAS FlexPO 2012 CMR Inc. recently concluded its 21st annual FlexPO conference. The conference was conducted over two days in downtown Houston, TX, and featured speakers from across the globe. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Balaji Singh, President of CMR. Dr. Balaji Singh welcomed all the delegates and introduced the main theme for the […]

AMERICAS Shell selects site near Monaca, Pittsburgh for petrochemical refinery Shell Oil Co. has chosen a site near Pittsburgh for a major, multi-billion-dollar petrochemical refinery that could create thousands of construction jobs and provide a huge economic boost to the region. Shell has signed a land option agreement with Horsehead Corp. to evaluate a site […]

AMERICAS Ethylene XXI financing completion is expected by end of April Negotiations for a financing package for the Ethylene XXI complex planned by Braskem and Grupo Idesa for Coatzacoalcos, Mexico are expected to be making good progress, with final formal closing expected by the end of April. Ethylene XXI would include a 1,050 KTA ethylene […]

AMERICAS Eastman to acquire Solutia for USD 4.7 billion Eastman Chemical has reached an agreement to acquire Solutia for about USD 4.7 billion in cash and stock. Eastman expects the purchase to create a leading specialty chemical maker and offer the opportunity to grow its presence in Asia. Solutia shareholders will receive USD 22/share in […]