Arkema extends its range of barrier polymers

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema, a France-based chemical manufacturer, has expanded its product range of Evasin EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) copolymers with two new grades containing 44% of ethylene, as per the company's press release.

Arkema now offers a wide range of EVOH from 29% to 44% ethylene content that can be used for most barrier films applications.

These two new grades of Evasin EVOH contains 44% of ethylene. The high level of ethylene brings excellent balance of barrier properties and processing stabilities. These grades can be processed by single-bubble or double-bubble blown film extrusion for heat shrink applications. Evasin 4405F and Evasin 4451F differs by their melt flow index.

EVOH is a specialty copolymer with very high barrier properties to gas (oxygen, carbon dioxide), aromatics and hydrocarbons. These characteristics, together with excellent transparency and good processability, have made this the reference product among barrier polymers, in particular for multilayer food packaging, automotive fuel tank and heating pipe markets.

Since 2009, Arkema is the exclusive distributor for Evasin EVOH in Europe and has become the only resin supplier able to offer both Orevac tie layer and Evasin EVOH barrier material. Arkema is now able to offer full solutions to all of its customers producing multilayer barrier films.

As MRC reported earlier, in April 2014, Arkema developed two new grades - Luperox organic peroxides and Kynar Flex PVDF resins - specifically designed for electric and electronic wires and cables applications.

Arkema with annual revenue of EUR6.4 billion is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc. Arkema operates 11 organic peroxide plants on the three continents.
MRC

PC exports from Russia fell by 46% in January-May 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Exports of polycarbonate (PC) from Russia to foreign markets declined by 46% in January-May 2014, compared with the previous year and were 4,400 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope report.

The only Russian PC producer, Kazanorgsintez (KOS) reduced its exports in the reported period. This was first of all due to the increase in domestic prices for imported goods, as well as a seasonal surge in demand in the sector of extrusion grades, the peak of which occurred for the mid-May.

Converters did not have opportunity to buy imported material because of the working capital shortage. In this connection PC from Kazanorgsintez was in high demand, as the company offered material at a more reasonable price.

The producer sold practically all PC volumes in the domestic market January-May, reducing its export volumes. The company produced 30,700 tonnes of PC in January-May 2014, where only 14% (4,400 tonnes) of which were exported to the foreign markets.

It is important to note that for export markets were supplied mainly injection moulding grades PC (about 80% from the total deliveries). Kazanorgsintez produced mainly extrusion grades PC over the reported period (81%).

MRC

Foster Wheeler to supply hydrogen reformer for Russia’s Orsk refinery

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract by Glencore Oil Projects for the engineering and material supply of a steam reformer heater for hydrogen production for the Orsknefteorgsyntez refinery at Orsk, Russia, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The value of Foster Wheeler’s contract was not disclosed and was included in the company’s first-quarter 2014 bookings. The heater will be based on Foster Wheeler's Terrace Wall design. Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.

This latest award follows Glencore’s award to Foster Wheeler of a Terrace Wall visbreaker heater for this refinery in 2013. "We have a long and very successful track record in designing and supplying heaters for the Russian market, and we are very pleased to have received this award, which constitutes another vote of confidence in the quality and reliability of our heaters," said Roberto Penno, CEO of, Foster Wheeler's global engineering and construction business.

Foster Wheeler's Terrace Wall reformer is characterized by a firing arrangement and sloped-wall radiant section design that, together, enable long catalyst tube life (often in excess of 100,000 hours) and deliver the flexibility to extend a reformer's operating envelope. This often allows production of hydrogen in excess of the design capacity of the hydrogen production unit, which may in turn deliver additional economic benefits.

Foster Wheeler's reformers can operate with ultra-low-NOx burners to meet tightening environmental emission standards worldwide, according to company officials. Foster Wheeler has now supplied over 200 Terrace Wall steam reformers to the refining and petrochemical industries in more than 40 countries.

As MRC wrote before, Foster Wheeler has signed an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) services agreement with BOC, a member of The Linde Group, for the installation of replacement heat exchangers at BOC’s Teesport facility in northeast England.
MRC

Lanxess opens new rubber production line in Dormagen

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Specialty chemicals company Lanxess has completed the expansion of its Baypren polychloroprene solid rubber production operations in Dormagen, reported the company on its site.

The new production line uses the innovative dry finishing production technology developed, tested and taken to the market-ready stage by Lanxess specifically for this purpose. This technology enables Baypren to be manufactured in a more resource-friendly way.

Lanxess is also adding two new variants of this high-performance synthetic rubber to its product portfolio at the Dormagen site. The specialty chemicals company has invested some EUR 18 million in expanding production.

"This investment is further proof of our leading know-how in the field of high-performance synthetic rubber," says Breuers. "By expanding our Baypren plant, we are providing the market with new impetus and demonstrating our strength to our customers. The new production line also once again highlights our staff’s impressive innovative skills and inventive spirit," he adds.

The existing production lines will remain in operation to meet the continuing customer demand for "traditional" Baypren grades. By expanding the plant, Lanxess is increasing its annual production capacity in Dormagen by some 10% to a total of 63,000 metric tons of solid rubber.

As MRC wrote before, last July, Lanxess celebrated the opening of its first production facility in Russia. In the new plant at the Lipetsk site, Lanxess subsidiary Rhein Chemie manufactures polymer-bound rubber additives for the markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), primarily for the automotive and tire industries. A production facility for the bladders used in tire production is to be added in 2016. The overall investment volume in euros amounts to a seven-digit figure and 40 new jobs will be created at the new plant in the medium term.

Lanxess is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 8.3 billion in 2013 and roughly 17,300 employees in 31 countries. The company is currently represented at 52 production sites worldwide. The core business of Lanxess is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
MRC

PP imports in Russia decreased by 20% in January - May 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's imports of polypropylene (PP) decreased 20% in the first five months of this year on the back of domestic production increase, as per MRC DataScope report.

PP imports in Russia were 15,400 tonnes in May, compared with 16,500 tonnes in April. Total PP imports in Russia fell to 74,600 tonnes in January - May 2014, compared with 93,300 tonnes year on year. The reduction in imports occurred for all PP grades.

Structure of PP imports over the reported period was as follows.

May imports of homopolymer PP practically remained steady, compared with the April figures - 4,800 tonnes. Russia's imports of homopolymer PP totalled 27,000 tonnes in the first five months of this year, down 35% compared to the same period in 2013.

The biggest reduction in PP imports in the country occurred for raffia grade polypropylene. May imports of PP block copolymers also remained at the April's level of 4,900 tonnes. Russia's imports of PP block copolymers reduced to 19,500 tonnes in the first five months of 2014, compared with 21,900 tonnes; the decline in imports occurred for injection moulding propylene copolymers, while imports of extrusion grades, on the contrary, increased.

May imports of PP random copolymers were 2,500 tonnes, compared with 2,900 tonnes in April. Russia's imports of PP random copolymers reduced to 12,800 tonnes in January - May of this year, down 18% year on year.
The reduction of propylene copolymers imports in Russia was seen in all consumption sectors, the exception was the BOPP films production.
Russia's imports of other polymers of propylene for the period were about 15,000 tonnes in the first five months of the year, compared with 14.000 tonnes year on year.

MRC