Styrolution unlocking the potential of transparent styrenics

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, has unveiled enhancements to its transparent specialties production network and portfolio, reported the company in its press release.

Specifically, the company successfully started NAS production in its Decatur, Alabama site and will open a new NAS and Zylar plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, which will begin production in early October. Delivering on plans Styrolution shared earlier this year, the launch of production at both of these existing sites bolster global supply security and local sourcing options for transparent specialty styrenics.

Styrolution also unveiled new grades in its Zylar and Clearblend product lines. The announcement of the new grades, Zylar 670 and Clearblend 155 further reinforces Styrolution's commitment to advancing its offering in transparent specialty styrenics. Both grades are the result of a new, proprietary impact-modifying technology, and offer customized strength that has been proven through exceptional performance in drop tests.

Zylar 670 is high-performance transparent specialty product is characterized by water clear transparency, high flowability, good chemical resistance and exceptional impact-resistance when dropped. Clearblend 155 is an impact-modified, transparent styrene acrylic copolymer dry blend that offers customers a cost-effective material solution without significantly compromising performance.

The powerful combination of transparency and unique strength make these grades ideal material solutions for applications across a wide range of industries.

Marcela Villegas, Business Director, Transparent Specialties, EMEA Styrolution: "We are pleased to now offer regional supply of NAS and Zylar throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In fact, the new plant in Ludwigshafen makes Styrolution the largest producer of transparent styrenics in EMEA. Customers across the region will also benefit from local Styrolution experts, who in the spirit of collaborative innovation are dedicated to helping customers across a range of industries achieve their vision for application success with transparent styrenics."

The successful start of NAS production in Decatur, the opening of the new plant at Ludwigshafen and the launch of the new grades all reinforce Styrolution's continued global leadership in and dedication to innovation through specialty styrenic materials. The successful enhancement of these production locations and sought-after product portfolios are key steps in the advancement of Styrolution's Triple Shift strategy, which calls for a focus on styrenic specialties and Standard ABS, higher-growth industries, such as healthcare, household and electronics and growth in emerging markets. These developments also ensure that customers throughout the world and across all industries have access to the material solutions critical to the success of their applications.

As MRC wrote before, in February 2014, in order to further strengthen its polystyrene (PS) business in North America, Styrolution announced it plans to consolidate PS capacity in the region. In addition, Styrolution will accelerate growth in styrenic specialties through an expansion of its offering for high-performance transparent styrenics, by providing local supply in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Part of Styrolution's Triple Shift growth strategy, these measures will further enhance the company's position as the global leader in styrenics.

The Styrolution Group GmbH is a global provider of styrenics , headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. The company is a joint venture between BASF (50%) and INEOS (50%), were merged into the main styrene operations of the two partners. Its main focus is on the production of monomer, polystyrene, styrenic specialties, and ABS. The company offers styrene plastics for a variety of everyday products from different industries, such as automotive, electronics, construction, household, leisure, packaging, medicine and health. In 2013, the company's sales were at EUR5.8 billion, resulting in an EBITDA before special items of EUR442 million. Styrolution employs approximately 3,200 people and operates 17 production sites in ten countries.
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Saudi Advanced to enhance polypropylene capacity in 2015

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Arabia's Advanced Petrochemical Company will raise the production capacity of its polypropylene plant in Jubail to more than 500,000 mtpa, from the current 450,000 mtpa, by mid-2105, as per Plastemart.

A debottlenecking project is currently on at the Advanced petrochemicals complex. Advanced has begun sourcing additional feedstock propylene to run its PP plant with the expanded capacity, the source added. The company inked an agreement with Jubail-based Satorp -- the joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Total Refining and Petrochemicals -- in August 2013 for supplies of 50,000 mt/year of propylene. Satorp has already begun supplying propylene to Advanced. Satorp produces 200,000 m tpa of polymer grade propylene and various aromatics at its refining and petrochemicals complex in Jubail.

As MRC wrote before, Advanced Petrochemical Company decided to invest in propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant with SK Gas in South Korea for the production of propylene. The Board of Directors of Advanced Petrochemical Company approved the equity investment of 35% in PDH plant with SK Gas, for the production of propylene in South Korea, through its subsidiary Advanced Global Investment Company (AGIC) which is owned 95% by Advanced and sources of AGIC equity participation will be announced later.

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LyondellBasell CEO Gallogly receives ICIS Kavaler award

MOSCOW (MRC) -- On September 30th 2014, the 2014 Kavaler Award was presented to James L. Gallogly, CEO of LyondellBasell, said Thechamistsclub.

Mr. Gallogly was named one of the ICIS 2013 Top 40 Power Players – the 40 CEOs and senior executives making the greatest impact on the global chemical industry. That illustrious group elected Mr. Gallogly from their own ranks for the ICIS Kavaler Award.

Few companies have capitalized on the U.S. shale gas boom better than LyondellBasell. Under Mr. Gallogly’s leadership, LyondellBasell has significantly boosted value by returning profits to shareholders though dividends and stock buybacks – all while making investments in key expansion projects that will raise cost advantaged capacity without massive capital outlays. Mr. Gallogly, as CEO, has established a solid financial footing for LyondellBasell that is set to be maintained for many years to come.

As MRC wrote before, LyondellBasell has announced that Chief Executive Officer James L. Gallogly will retire from the company in early 2015. Gallogly will continue to serve as CEO and chairman of the LyondellBasell management board in the interim to ensure an orderly transition pending the selection of his replacement. The LyondellBasell supervisory board of directors has formed a committee to choose Gallogly's successor.

LyondellBasell is one of the world’s largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500. LyondellBasell manufactures products at 55 sites in 18 countries. Its products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels.
MRC

Ineos signs polyethylene technology license agreements with ASCENT

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ineos Technologies (part of Ineos Group) has announced today it has entered into license agreements for its Innovene S and Innovene G polyethylene (PE) technologies to be used by the proposed ASCENT (Appalachian Shale Cracker Enterprise) petrochemical complex currently being evaluated by Odebrecht and Braskem in West Virginia, United States, as per the company's statement.

The Innovene G and Innovene S plants produce a full range of linear low density (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) with multiple catalysts, serving PE customers with innovative and consistent products.

Peter Williams, CEO of Ineos Technologies, said: "The selection of the Innovene G and Innovene S technologies for this landmark project in the United States is another milestone in the strategic technology partnership between the two companies. We are looking forward to working with the ASCENT team to deliver a successful world scale polyethylene complex in the Appalachian Region."

As MRC wrote earlier, Ineos had also signed polyethylene licensing agreements for Innovene S plants with Braskem-IDESA, which is building the Etileno XXI petrochemical complex in Mexico that is expected to be commissioned in 2015.

Ineos Group Limited is a privately owned multinational chemicals company consisting of 15 standalone business units, headquartered in Rolle, Switzerland and with its registered office in Lyndhurst, United Kingdom. It is the fourth largest chemicals company in the world measured by revenues (after BASF, Dow Chemical and LyondellBasell) and the largest privately owned company in the United Kingdom.
MRC

Russian producers shut PVC production on turnaround

MOSCOW (MRC) - Kaustik (Volgograd), the fourth largest producer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in Russia, shut its capacity for scheduled maintenance works. Bashkir Soda Company began turnaround on Monday, 6, October, according to MRC analysts.

Kaustik Volgograd shut its 90,000 tonnes/year suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) capacities for three weeks maintenance works on 3, October. Bashkir Soda Company shut its 210,000 tonnes/year PVC capacities for two weeks turnaround from 5, October.

Many market participants said they did not feel any PVC shortage in the market, despite the outage of two PVC producers.

As it was written before, SayanskKhimPlast shut its 280,000 tonnes/year SPVC capacities for a month long maintenance works in August.

Kaustik Volgograd manufactures and sells chemical products in Russia. The company offers nonorganic and organic chemicals, PVC and PVC processing products, specialty chemicals, and titanium anodes. The company produced 64,200 tonnes of PVC in the first eight months of the year.

Bashkir Soda Company Joint Stock Company manufactures and sells chemical products in Russia. The company offers nonorganic and organic chemicals, PVC and PVC processing products, specialty chemicals, and titanium anodes. Its products include terephthaloylchloride flakes, caustic soda, sodium hydroxide, polyelectrolyte, polyethylenepoliamines technical grades, dimethyldiallyl-ammonium chloride, aluminum chloride, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, liquid chlorine, polyvinylchloride suspension, gaseous oxygen, gaseous and liquid nitrogen, synthetic hydrochloric acid, corrosion inhibitors, paraffines chlorinated liquid, polyelectrolytes, polyethylenepoliamines, adhesive and insulation PVC. The company produced 152,500 tonnes of PVC in the first eight months of the year.

MRC