Wacker celebrates centennial

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Wacker Chemie AG celebrated its 100th anniversary of its founding on 13 October, 1914, reported the company on its site.

Alexander Wacker had his company "Dr. Alexander Wacker Gesellschaft fur elektrochemische Industrie, KG" entered in the town of Traunstein’s commercial register, thereby laying the foundation for the Munich-based chemical company. The entrepreneur Alexander Wacker was born in Heidelberg in 1846. Trained as a businessman, Wacker had initially joined forces with Sigmund Schuckert to spread electrification across Germany. In 1903, he established the "Consortium fur elektrochemische Industrie," which today is Wacker’s corporate research department. His aim was to use electrochemical processes to manufacture useful chemical compounds based on carbide and its derivative, acetylene.

In 1914, Wacker received approval for the construction of a hydro-electric power plant and of a canal that would join the Alz and Salzach rivers. In his search for a suitable location, he chose a site close to the town of Burghausen (Bavaria). This site featured a 63-meter gradient between the Alz and the Salzach, which could be used to generate electricity. That same year he also founded "Alexander Wacker Gesellschaft fur elektrochemische Industrie": the origin of the Wacker Group. It was from this company that Wacker-Chemie GmbH (until 2005) and today’s Wacker Chemie AG (since 2006) would eventually emerge.

The first facilities within the Burghausen plant took advantage of the methods developed at the Consortium for synthesizing acetaldehyde, acetic acid and acetone. The direct oxidation of acetylene to acetaldehyde, a process licensed worldwide, played a crucial role. Acetone, which was needed in large quantities for making synthetic rubber, was the principal sales driver in the fledgling company’s early years. Acetylene also provided the chemical basis for further products. Polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were all derived from acetylene chemistry.

In the 1940s, work began on two new product groups, both based on the element silicon: 1947 saw the dawn of the silicone era in Burghausen. Metallurgical-grade silicon was soon also used as a raw material for the manufacture of another key product: hyperpure silicon for the semiconductor industry.

Polymer chemistry also made great strides in the post-war years. In the early 1950s, Wacker chemists developed the principles for producing dispersible polymer powders for dry-mix mortars, which today are an integral part of many tile adhesives, plasters and building-insulation systems. In 1957, the first dispersible polymer powder production plant went on stream. Copolymers and terpolymers were additionally developed in quick succession. They considerably extended the range of properties and applications of dispersions. A milestone was achieved in 1960, when vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (EVA) was discovered. This discovery made it possible to produce inexpensive plastics with innovative properties.

Over subsequent years, Wacker entered new territory, thanks to its advances in acetylene chemistry and innovations in silicon chemistry. In the late 1960s, WACKER became the first major manufacturer of silicones in Europa to successfully penetrate the US market. Well-established business with vinyl plastics boomed as well. As a result, experts started to wonder whether the energy-intensive and comparatively expensive production of carbide-derived acetylene could be replaced by a new, more cost-effective process based on petroleum. The switch was ultimately achieved at the end of the 1950s in what became the "Second WACKER Process," using ethylene as the starting product for acetic acid.

Wacker’s focus in the 1970s and 1980s was all about increasing exports. This period witnessed the establishment of a great many subsidiaries both in Europe (the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, the UK and Spain) and overseas (Brazil, Mexico and the USA). Wacker entered the Asian market in 1983, when it founded Wacker Chemicals East Asia in Tokyo.

In the 1990s, WACKER began to develop biotechnology as a new business field. A biotech research center began work in Burghausen in 1990. The acquisition of ProThera GmbH in Jena and the establishment of Wacker Biotech GmbH in 2005 expanded the Group’s existing pharmaceutical operations to include the contract development of pharmaceutical proteins (biologics). WACKER acquired Halle-based Scil Proteins Production in 2013. The Halle site produces pharmaceutical actives both for clinical trials and for the market-supply phase.

Entering the 21st century, Wakcer continues to make progress on the Group’s internationalization. Major sites have been established in Europe, Asia and the USA. In 1998, Wacker acquired the Nunchritz chemical site in the German state of Saxony. WACKER began producing silicones in China in 2004. Wacker and Samsung decided to jointly construct a fab for the manufacture of 300 mm semiconductor wafers in 2006. This fab went on stream just 18 months later. In 2008, WACKER and Dow Corning launched the world’s largest integrated production site for siloxane in Zhangjiagang, China. 2011 saw the Group embark on the construction of a further polysilicon production plant in Charleston, Tennessee, USA.

Today, Wacker is a globally active group headquartered in Munich with a wide range of highly advanced specialty products.

As MRC wrote previously, Wacker is strengthening its presence in India by opening in early 2014 its expanded technical center for silicone products in Amtala near Kolkata. Operated by the joint venture Wacker Metroark Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. (WMC), the enlarged regional competence center now comprises state-of-the-art applications technology and test equipment for silicone products needed in the textiles, personal care and construction industry.

Wacker Chemie AG is a worldwide operating company in the chemical business, founded 1914. The company is controlled by the Wacker-family holding more than 50 percent of the shares. The corporation is operating more than 25 production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The product range includes silicone rubbers, polymer products like ethylene vinyl acetate redispersible polymer powder, chemical materials, polysilicon and wafers for semiconductor industry.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A new polyethylene (PE) manufacturing facility to be built in North Dakota, at an estimated USD4 billion, has been announced, said Plastemart.

This will be the largest private sector investment made in state history. The value-added manufacturing facility will use North Dakota's abundant supply of natural gas liquid ("NGL") sourced ethane gas coming out of the Williston Basin as a byproduct of oil production. The project will significantly reduce the amount of natural gas flared into the atmosphere, which has been a critical area of focus for State and industry leaders. The Badlands facility will convert the ethane to polyethylene, with ability to produce 1.5 mln metric tpa of polyethylene.

To bring this world-scale plant to fruition, Badlands is working with two strategic partners, Tecnicas Reunidas (TR) which is based in Madrid, Spain, as well as Vinmar Projects of Houston, Texas. TR, one of the largest petrochemicals and polymers contractors in the world, is completing a preliminary engineering analysis for Badlands. This work is scheduled for completion in 2014 and will include completion of technology evaluations and ethane to ethylene and ethylene to PE licensor selection, ethane aggregation engineering and planning and final site selection. Vinmar provides long term product off-take services in support of project finance for the development partners. Vinmar and Badlands have signed a mutually binding, 15-year product off-take Memorandum of Understanding for 100% of the PE product to be produced by the Badlands project.

As MRC wrote before, Malaysia's Petronas awarded Tecnicas Reunidas (TR) a contract for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) for a refinery package in Petronas’ refinery and petrochemicals integrated development (RAPID) project in Pengerang, Johor. The EPCC scope includes all the hydrotreating units, catalytic reforming unit, hydrogen production units, saturated gas plant, interconnection and flare for the refinery.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dow Chemical will launch a US Apprenticeship pilot program at various Dow sites across the nation in 2015, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This pilot program supports a major initiative of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort to secure US leadership in emerging technologies, create high-quality manufacturing jobs, and enhance America's global competitiveness.

Program supports Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. The launch advances the goals and national workforce development efforts of the AMP Steering Committee 2.0, a renewed, cross-sector, public-private partnership to secure US leadership in emerging technologies that will create middle class job growth in America, according to project officials.

As part of AMP 2.0, Dow, Alcoa and Siemens have formed a coalition to build regional apprenticeship models and create an instructional playbook for other US-based companies seeking to develop apprenticeship programs. In addition to sharing best practices gained from over 40 years of experience offering apprenticeship programs in Europe, Dow joined the coalition in committing to pilot key playbook concepts at company facilities in America.

Within the next five years, through its US Apprenticeship Program, Dow says it aims to develop a highly skilled technical workforce that will support business growth and advance skill development in manufacturing and engineering.

Fueled by cost advantaged energy and raw materials, Dow and other US-based manufacturers have in recent years announced plans to expand their US operations and create new jobs. A recent IHS Global Insight study estimates the creation of 630,000 new jobs in US manufacturing as a result of the US shale gas boom, with 2800 to 3500 indirect jobs also created due to natural gas and shale exploration.

As MRC wrote before, Dow Elastomers, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, will soon break ground on its planned world-scale NORDEL EPDM (ethylene propylene-diene terpolymer) facility in Plaquemine, La., which will utilize the company’s newest proprietary catalyst technology to enable products with high Mooney viscosity.

The Dow Chemical Company is an American multinational chemical corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, United States. Dow is a large producer of plastics, including polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, and synthetic rubber. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately USD57 billion. The сompany's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the German chemicals giant, and Archroma have agreed on the sale of BASF’s global textile chemicals business to Archroma, a supplier of specialty chemicals to the textile, paper and emulsions industries, reported BASF on its site.

Archroma is a portfolio company of SK Capital Partners, a private investment firm with focus on the specialty materials, chemicals and healthcare sectors. It is planned to integrate the business into the Archroma Textile Chemicals Specialties business. Currently, the textile chemicals business is part of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division.

The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities and the closing is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2015. The parties have agreed not to disclose financial details.

The transaction comprises the global textile chemicals business, as well as the legal entity BASF Pakistan (Private) Ltd., Karachi. This step is in line with BASF’s strategy of actively managing its portfolio and it will further sharpen the focus of the Performance Products segment on growth driven customer industries.

The textile chemicals business of BASF offers solutions to the full textile processing value chain, which includes a portfolio for pre-treatment, printing, finishing and coating. The business has a global presence with a strong focus on Asian growth markets, and is headquartered in Singapore.

As MRC wrote previously, in December 2014 BASF signed a contract to sell its Vinuran PVC modifier business to Kaneka Belgium N.V., a subsidiary of Kaneka Corporation, Japan. The transaction comprises intangible assets and inventory. It does not include a transfer of the production assets or employees in Ludwigshafen. The acrylate-based Vinuran PVC modifier business is not a core business for BASF. The transaction allows BASF to focus on growth of its acrylate-based dispersions portfolio.

Archroma is a global color and specialty chemicals company, headquartered in Reinach near Basel, Switzerland. It operates with approximately 3,000 employees over 35 countries. Through its three businesses: Textile Specialties, Paper Solutions and Emulsion Products, Archroma delivers specialized performance and color solutions to meet customer needs in their local markets.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Asahi Kasei Chemicals hold a groundbreaking ceremony on September 29, 2014, for a plant for plastic compounds in Athens, Alabama, as the second plant of its US subsidiary Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. (APNA), said Plastemart.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce and Mr. Kazuo Sunaga, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, as well as key personnel of APNA and Asahi Kasei Chemicals.
Background. Having identified an expansion of compounding operations as a critical element in the strategic growth of its engineering plastics business, Asahi Kasei Chemicals has expanded its compounding facilities in Asia as well as in Michigan, where APNA is based. Construction of the second North American plant for compounds in Alabama will enable increased supply to meet customer needs in the Southern US, where demand growth is most notable.

As MRC informed earlier, Asahi Kasei Chemicals has developed AZP as a new optical polymer featuring zero birefringence achieved through novel molecular design. Manufacturing facilities for AZP will be constructed at the company’s Chiba Plant (Sodegaura, Chiba, Japan), with start-up scheduled for early next year. Applications for AZP are anticipated in high-performance displays and various optical components.

Outside North America, Asahi Kasei Chemicals has operating bases for plastic compounds in Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, and Belgium. The company will continue to develop high-quality and high-performance products in accordance with market needs, while studying ways to further expand its supply infrastructure.
MRC