Vietnam Polystyrene expands EPS plant capacity

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Vietnam Polystyrene is likely to expand the production capacity of its expandable polystyrene (EPS) plant, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Vietnam informed that the capacity of the plant is planned to be raised to 50,000 mt/year by end-April 2014.

Located in Vietnam, the plant has a production capacity of 40,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previusly, Jiangsu Leasty Chemical restarted its EPS plant on February 20, 2014. It was shut on January 10, 2014 for maintenance turnaround. Located in Jiangsu province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 350,000 mt/year.

We remind that EPS imports into the Russian market fell in 2013 by 16% from 2012 and totalled 71,700 tonnes. Russian companies have been reducing purchasing in foreign markets for the third consecutive year. China is the largest supplier of imported EPS to the Russian market and accounts for more than 45% of the total imports. Chinese EPS imports totalled 32,500 tonnes in 2013 (imports from China fell by 18% last year).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Responding to a market need for a suitable material to use in hand-held and other electronic medical device housings that is tough and resistant to aggressive cleansers and disinfectants, Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, is expanding its Eastman Tritan copolyester portfolio for the medical market with the introduction of Tritan copolyester MXF121, as per the company's press release.

In addition to its chemical resistance and toughness benefits, Eastman Tritan copolyester MXF121 meets flame resistance safety ratings established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Tritan MXF121 is a bisphenol A (BPA)-free alternative to polycarbonate (PC) and PC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) that can stand up to today’s aggressive disinfectants and withstand the stresses of daily use and handling.

"Eastman Tritan copolyester MXF121 can help enhance product value by providing greater product durability and reduced product failure," said Gopal R. Saraiya, global segment leader, medical devices, Eastman. "Tritan MXF121 offers exceptional chemical resistance for a wide variety of medical electronic device housings that may come into contact with these cleansers and disinfectants."

As MRC informed previuosly, Eastman Chemical Company has recently enhanced its medical packaging portfolio with Eastalite copolyester, the company’s first opaque offering, which is styrene-free and can be a sustainable alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS). The material complements the company’s other medical packaging copolyester offerings: Eastman Eastar 6763 and Tritan MP100.

Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Ningbo Fortune Petrochemical Co. Ltd., a Chinese petrochemical producer, has selected UOP’s C3 Oleflex process technology to convert propane to propylene, a high-value monomer used in plastics production, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This is the 18th license for UOP’s Oleflex technology worldwide since the beginning of 2011 as petrochemical producers move to meet the growing, global demand for light olefins. This is a repeat technology selection and strong endorsement for UOP’s propylene technology by Ningbo Fortune’s parent company Oriental Energy Co., Ltd. Oriental Energy is the primary investor in Zhangjiagang Yangzi River Petrochemical Co., Ltd., which announced in 2012 that it will license C3 Oleflex technology for a separate project at Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, China.

"Demand for propylene is expected to continue to be strong globally, especially in China," said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of UOP’s Process Technology and Equipment business unit. "UOP is helping (to) meet high demand with this proven technology and has licensed Oleflex to 12 Chinese propylene producers."

Ningbo Fortune will build the process unit at its facility in Ningbo City, China. The new propylene unit is forecast to startup in 2016 and will have a production of 600,000 metric tons per year. In addition to technology, UOP will provide training, technological services, catalysts, adsorbents and equipment for the project.

Ningbo Fortune selected Oleflex for its stable catalytic performance and high-product yields. The technology has a very small environmental footprint, low operating cost and can offer a high return on investment.

Ningbo Fortune Petrochemical Co., Ltd., located in Ningbo Daxie Development Park, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oriental Energy Co., Ltd.

As MRC informed before, Honeywell's UOP granted the third technology license for its breakthrough methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technology to China's Shandong Yangmei Hengtong Chemicals. The Chinese company will use Honeywell UOP's advanced MTO process to convert methanol from gasified coal into ethylene and propylene.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Bioplastics producer Cereplast has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the US company takes steps to align its cost structure with the realities of market demand, said Plasticsonline.

The company said that the voluntary petition was designed to strengthen its balance sheet, clean up its capitalisation structure and gain financial flexibility as it continues to realign its operations. Cereplast expects to redirect its operations in two directions: toward traditional compounded products and recycling polyolefin and bioplastics made of diversified feedstock including algae and polylactic acid.

"We intend to use the reorganisation process to help implement our plan to lower costs, stabilise our businesses, grow revenue and diversify our product lines," said Frederic Scheer, chief executive. "We have taken a number of steps to improve our operations over the past few months and we were making great progress; however, the lack of traction of bioplastics demand in the US, the repetitive delays in implementation of the bioplastic regulation in Europe and especially in Italy combined with the legal problems created by several of our lenders made clear to our Board that reorganisation was the proper path forward. We believe that this reorganisation will enable us to reduce our debt and implement operational changes, while maintaining our commitment to the environment."

In conjunction with its reorganisation, Cereplast is negotiating a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from several interested parties. On Court approval, the new financing and cash generated from the company's ongoing operations will be used to support the business during the reorganisation process.

As MRC wrote earlier, recently Cereplast introduced Biopropylene (R) 109D and reported the commercialization of Cereplast Algae Bioplastics. Biopropylene 109D is an injection molding grade manufactured with 20% post-industrial algae biomatter.

Cereplast Inc. is a bioplastics designer and manufacturer. Cereplast uses corn, tapioca, potatoes and algae, including polylactic acid polymer (PLA), to produce compostable plastic resins designed to serve as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Cereplast"s expandable resin ranges are used worldwide in the food packaging, food service, automotive, consumer electronics, cosmetics and consumer packaging industries.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Westlake Chemical held a dedication ceremony on Wednesday for its new chlor-alkali plant in Geismar, Louisiana, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This ceremony was attended by Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, James Chao, board chairman of Westlake Chemical, and Albert Chao, CEO of Westlake Chemical. They were joined by various state and local officials, local industry guests and executives and employees of the company.

This new chlor-alkali plant has the capacity to produce 350,000 electrochemical units (ECU's) annually and utilizes state of the art membrane technology. The plant is adjacent to the existing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) facilities at the Geismar complex and has added approximately 70 full-time positions at the site. At its peak over 2000 constructions personnel were utilized in building the new plant.

"We have enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with Louisiana, operating since 2002 in Geismar and in Louisiana since 1986," says Chao.

"Our Louisiana operations are a vital hub for our enterprise and we are proud to be a responsible corporate citizen of the great State of Louisiana," he added.

"We were honored to have Governor Jindal join us today and appreciate the long-standing support of the various state and local officials in the development and growth of our operations in Louisiana. We also thank our employees in Louisiana, as well as our project team for the successful completion of this project."

The new plant created 70 additional permanent positions in Geismar and at the peak of construction created over 2,000 construction jobs.

During Westlake Chemical's time in Louisiana, it has invested over USD2.5 billion in the state, in grassroots construction and other capital expansions.

Westlake Chemical Corporation is a manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and building products with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company's range of products includes: ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustic, VCM, PVC resin and PVC building products including pipe and specialty components, windows and fence.
MRC