Evonik to expand capacity for polyamide 12 powder in Marl

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries plans to build a new production line for special polyamide 12 powder (PA12) in Marl (Germany) with an investment volume in the mid double-digit million euro range, said the company in its press release.

The new plant, which is scheduled to become operational in late 2017, will increase the group’s existing annual capacity for polyamide 12 powders by 50%.

"The planned investment in the new polyamide 12 powder facility represents the next step in our growth strategy. Our intention is to solidify Evonik’s leading position as a provider of polyamide 12-based high performance polymers and utilize the growth potential of new application areas," said Dr. Ralph Sven Kaufmann, Chief Operating Officer of Evonik.

The Resource Efficiency Segment of Evonik is the market leader for polyamide 12 powders, which are sold under the brand name VESTOSINT. The powders are used, for example, to coat metals for household appliances such as dishwasher baskets, but also in automotive and medical technology production and as matting and structural agents in coatings.

Evonik also anticipates significant increases in demand in tool-free production - especially in the 3D printing industry. "We project attractive market growth. The new production line in Marl will meet the growing demand for PA12 powder products in the long term to support our customers’ growth," said Dr. Claus Rettig, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH.

VESTOSINT is a modified PA12 powder that is manufactured at the Marl site from a polyamide granulate, using a proprietary Evonik process.

As MRC wrote before, Evonik built new polyamide 12 line in Singapore in 2014. A new 20,000 mt plant in Asia was aimed to increase the availability of this specialty plastic in the region.

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world.
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Trinseo announces expanded custom medical compounding offering

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Trinseo, the global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, has introduce its model for global production and fulfillment of its CALIBRE Polycarbonate Resins at MD&M West, Anaheim, California, said the producer on its site.

This new production and fulfillment model features custom medical compounding in Asia Pacific to expand existing medical compounding in North America and Europe. These facilities are sourced with polycarbonate base resins from Trinseo’s highest quality, medically-equivalent resins produced in Germany and also by its joint venture partner, Sumika Styron Polycarbonate Limited, in Japan.

"Trinseo can now produce and offer global OEMs medically-equivalent compounds with its CALIBRE Polycarbonate Resins in Asia Pacific," said Martin Lindway, global medical business manager. "Companies and sourcing managers need exceptional quality in a cost effective solution, and regional regulatory and technical support services for compliance, speed to market and security of supply. Trinseo’s new global production and fulfillment model is focused on meeting these three critical needs."

Trinseo will also highlight its MAGNUM ABS Resins and EMERGE Advanced Resins for single- and multiple-use devices and equipment housings. These materials address some of the industry’s critical challenges, including the need for home health care, point of care devices, drug delivery, and wearable devices.

Formerly known as Styron, Trinseo has completed the name change process for most legal entities around the world. Some Styron companies are still completing this process and will continue to do business as Styron until their respective name changes are complete.

Trinseo is a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber. Trinseo’s technology is used by customers in industries such as home appliances, automotive, building & construction, carpet, consumer electronics, consumer goods, electrical & lighting, medical, packaging, paper & paperboard, rubber goods and tires. Formerly known as Styron, Trinseo completed its renaming process in 1Q 2015. Trinseo had approximately USD5.1 billion in revenue in 2014, with 19 manufacturing sites around the world, and approximately 2,100 employees.
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US approves ConocoPhillips LNG exports from Alaska

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US authorities have approved Houston-based ConocoPhillips to export LNG once again from its Kenai terminal in Alaska, according to a report from news agency Reuters.

ConocoPhillips will be allowed to export about 40 billion cubic feet of LNG over a two-year period, starting on February 19.

The company’s previous export licence for the Kenai plant in Nikiski, located on the Kenai peninsula, expired at the end of March 2013.

The project had mostly exported to Japan.

The US Department of Energy’s decision will now allow ConocoPhillips to export to any country with which the US has a free-trade agreement or with which trade is not banned under US law.

As MRC informed earlier, in December 2015, ConocoPhillips, one of the pioneers of foreign investment in the Russian oil and gas industry, has completed a full retreat from the country by selling out of its Polar Lights joint venture with Rosneft.

ConocoPhillips Co. is an American multinational energy corporation with its headquarters located in the Energy Corridor district of Houston, Texas in the United States. It is the world's largest independent pure-play exploration and production company and is a Fortune 500 company. ConocoPhillips was created through the merger of American oil companies Conoco Inc. and Phillips Petroleum Co. on August 30, 2002. In 2012, ConocoPhillips' spun off its downstream assets as a new, and separate company, Phillips 66.MRC

A. Schulman expanded its compounding capacity in Germany by adding two new lines

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A. Schulman Inc., a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, composites, powders and resins, has announced that it has expanded its existing compounding capacity by adding two new production lines at the Kerpen plant in Germany, said the producer on its site.

In addition to the two twin screw extruders, the company has invested in a fully automatic packaging line.

"The additional compounding capacity will address the continued growth in high-performance compounds," said Heinrich Lingnau, Senior Vice President and General Manager Europe, Middle East and Africa, A. Schulman. "With this investment A. Schulman is supporting the increasing customer demand for current and future developments in the automotive as well as electrical & electronics markets."

"This investment is indeed aligned with the expansion of our product portfolio, and in particular with the production of our new range of Ecotran PPS compounds," added Horst Klink, Vice President Engineering Plastics, EMEA. "In addition, it will increase our flexibility in production to better serve our customers with tailor-made specialty compounds."

Earlier in 2015, the company announced additional PET compounding capacity at its Bornem masterbatch plant in Belgium.

As MRC reported earlier, A. Schulman Inc. plans to spend 5 million to EUR7 mln (USD5.5 mln to USD7.7 mln) on a new masterbatch facility in Turkey, to tap into market growth in the region. The facility, in the greater Istanbul area, will have annual production capacity of about 40 million pounds of the company’s additive, white and breathable masterbatches for the food and industrial packaging markets. It’s expected to be in production at the end of the Fairlawn, Ohio-based company’s 2016 fiscal year, which closes Aug. 31, 2016.

A. Schulman is a global plastics supplier, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, and a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. A. Schulman has 33 manufacturing facilities globally. A. Schulman's fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 69% amid continued sluggishness in European markets and higher-than-expected costs in Latin America, where the company has been consolidating its Brazilian operations.
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Chandra Asri restarted naphtha cracker in Indonesia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chandra Asri has brought on-stream its naphtha cracker following an unplanned shutdown, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Indonesia informed that the cracker has resumed operations over the weekend and presently operating at around 50-55% of production capacity rates. It was taken off-stream on February 5, 2016 owing to a mechanical glitch.

Located at Cilegon in Indonesia, the ethylene cracker has a production capacity of 860,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, in March 2015, Barito Pacific's subsidiary Chandra Asri Petrochemical said it was planning to build a naphtha refinery at its Cilegon complex in Banten, Indonesia, with an estimated investment of USD740m. The company is now undertaking a one year preliminary study for the proposed project, which would reduce its reliance on naptha imports. Planned to be located on an 80ha area, the refinery is expected to produce 100,000 barrels of condensate a day, the equivalent of producing 2.5 million tonnes (Mt) of naphtha a year. The company plans to use 1.3Mt of naphtha as feedstock to produce olefins.

Chandra Asri Petrochemical (CAP) is the largest vertically integrated petrochemical company in Indonesia with facilities located in Ciwandan, Cilegon and Puloampel, Serang in Banten Province. CAP is Indonesia's premier petrochemical plant incorporating world-class, state-of-the-art technology and supporting facilities. At the heart of CAP lies the Lummus Naphtha Cracker producing high quality Ethylene, Propylene, Mixed C4, and Pyrolysis Gasoline (Py-Gas) for the Indonesian as well as regional export markets.
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