Arkema inaugurated new specialty molecular sieve production capacities at Honfleur

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema's new specialty molecular sieve capacity has been unveiled at the Honfleur plantю This new plant will enable the Group to support its customers’ growth in the refining and petrochemicals markets, in particular in Asia and the Middle East, as per the Plastemart.

This investment of some EUR60 million supports the development of the High Performance Materials segment, represents one of the Group’s growth drivers, and consolidates its No. 2 world ranking in molecular sieves.

Arkema is the world’s second largest producer of molecular sieves. These products are used for their adsorption and dehydration properties, primarily in industrial gases and in some petrochemical plants, as well as in health (medical oxygen), construction, and pharmaceutical packaging applications.

The inauguration on the Honfleur site marks the official launch of the doubling of capacity for Arkema’s specialty molecular sieves dedicated to aromatics separation in petrochemicals, in particular xylene separation. The new facility will enable Arkema to support its customers’ growth in the refining and petrochemicals markets, in particular in Asia and the Middle East, supplying the synthetic textile and PET bottle end-markets. This new unit demonstrates Arkema’s expertise in specialty molecular sieves, while consolidating the IFPEN (IFP Energies nouvelles)/Axens/ Arkema cluster of excellence in France for the supply of innovative technologies and solutions.

Representing an investment of some EUR60 million, this capacity extension concerns two ultra high performance molecular sieve plants producing in particular the latest generation Siliporite SPX 5003. The plants came on stream in line with the planned timetable.

In line with the Group’s progress drive, the best available techniques chosen for these new facilities enabled to develop a new technology to optimize the recycling of the plant’s effluents. Furthermore, by using digital technologies, ergonomics and working conditions matters could be addressed from the project’s design phase.

As MRC wrote previously, in 2016, Bostik, the specialty adhesives business line of Arkema, expanded its cementitious products manufacturing capacities, based on its world-class Polymer Modified Binder (PMB) technology, at its Seremban plant in Malaysia. As a leading global adhesive specialist for construction, consumer and industrial markets, Bostik will be able to serve growing construction market demand in Central Malaysia, North Malaysia and Sabah regions.

Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
MRC

Last month's PE imports to the Russian market virtually remained at the March, totalling 45,200 tonnes. Overall PE imports reached 160,000 tonnes in January-April 2017, compared to 155,400 tonnes a year earlier. The HDPE and EVA segments accounted for the increase in imports, whereas other PE grades accounted for the decrease in import shipments.

The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.

Last month's HDPE imports rose to 18,400 tonnes from 17,900 tons in March, local companies continued to gradually increase their HDPE purchasing in Uzbekistan. Overall HDPE imports reached 61,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2017 versus 40,000 tonnes a year earlier.

April imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) were 12,200 tonnes, compared to 12,500 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of film grade PE decreased, whereas demand for rotational moulding PE increased significantly. LLDPE imports totalled 45,600 tonnes in the first four months of the year, compared to 62,500 tonnes a year earlier. An increase in the domestic output, particularly, by Nizhnekamskneftekhim, helped to reduce imports.

Last month's imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) fell to 6,900 tonnes from 9,300 tonnes in March, shipments of PE for lamination from Europe were reduced. Overall LDPE imports decreased to 29,400 tonnes in January-April 2017 from 34,900 tonnes a year earlier.

April EVA imports rose to 3,500 tonnes from 3,000 tonnes a month earlier because of the improved supply from Russian producers of injection moulding products. Imports of this ethylene copolymer grade grew by 55% over the stated period to 12,000 tonnes.

Imports of other ethylene polymers totalled 12,100 tonnes in the first four months of the year.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sabic has announced an important expansion of its industry leading SABIC PP polypropylene portfolio for packaging industry with the introduction of two new high flow, injection-molding grades, SABIC PP "513MK46" and "512MK46", impact copolymers based on a phthalate free catalyst, as per the company's press release.

These new offerings open further opportunities for packaging manufacturers and convertors with production efficiency through shorter cycle times and weight savings through thin wall manufacturing. The new grades are developed to help SABIC customers to comply with industry’s organoleptic requirements for taste and odor, with excellent stiffness and higher top-load strength for high stack ability that help manufacturers achieve faster production cycle times, lower transport and storage costs.

"The need for the industry has never been greater to find efficient solutions to the challenges - especially in food packaging - that the world faces today. Sabic understands the need for its packaging customers to not only stay ahead of industry trends and regulations but also meet the demand for lowering weight and cost by reducing packaging thickness with down gauging, faster production cycle times, and minimizing waste and the environmental impact. SABIC’s new impact polypropylene 513MK46 and 512MK46 grades are created to help our customers remain at the forefront of industry where consumer safety and sustainability are all critical," said Lada Kurelec, Director of Polypropylene Business for Sabic.

Developed for thin-walled packaging applications for both food and non-food applications; high flow Sabic PP 513MK46 (MFR 70) and 512MK46 (MFR 50) products provide a great balance between high stiffness and impact strength than a standard impact copolymers. The grades are typically used in rigid packaging such as packaging for frozen/chilled/ambient food, dairy products, applications in the housewares, appliances, toys, caps and closures. These new products are produced in Sabic’s Saudi Kayan facility in Jubail and they will be available for customers around the world.

As MRC informed before, with the automotive industry’s continued focus on reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency, materials-maker Sabic presented a range of solutions at this year’s VDI Plastics in Automotive Engineering Congress in Mannheim, Germany, in April 2017.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the worldпїЅs top petrochemical companies. The company is among the worldпїЅs market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Aramco is due to sign deals with 12 US companies on Saturday during US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, sources with knowledge of the matter said, said Reuters.

The deals with top US companies such as oilfield services firms Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and Weatherford are part of the oil giant's push to develop local manufacturing, the sources said.

Aramco will also sign deals with General Electric (GE) and drilling companies National Oilwell Varco (NOV), Nabors Industries and Rowan Companies, among others, they added. Aramco could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

When it launched its In-Kingdom Total Value Add program (IKTVA) in 2015, Aramco said it aimed to double the percentage of locally produced energy-related goods and services to 70% by 2021

US companies have traditionally worked with Aramco on massive projects covering consultancy and project management services to maintaining oil potential in upstream projects and drilling to building refineries.

"These (new) partnerships will boost bilateral investment towards localization," said one of the sources. Last December, Aramco signed deals with drilling firms Rowan and Nabors Industries to establish joint ventures under the IKTVA program.

IKTVA, Arabic for self-sufficiency, will help generate 500,000 direct and indirect jobs for Saudis. It is a key part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 economic reform drive, in which Aramco is to play a big role in developing industrial projects as Saudi Arabia tries to diversify its economy beyond reliance on oil exports.

Engineering companies KBR and Jacobs Engineering, as well as McDermott and Honeywell will also sign memoranda of understanding with Aramco, the sources said.

An inaugural Saudi-US CEO forum will be held in Riyadh on Saturday in which several deals are expected to be signed in defense, electricity, oil and gas, industrial and chemical sectors. New licenses for US companies to operate in the kingdom also will be issued.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Vopak Terminal Deer Park announced that it has reached an agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Justice, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Attorney General regarding emissions controls at its Deer Park, Texas, facility, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

As part of the agreement (referred to as a consent decree) Vopak Terminal Deer Park is making a number of improvements to its facility, many of which are already underway. The consent decree is not an admission of liability, but rather represents an agreement between Vopak Terminal Deer Park and the government on a range of new controls and processes.

"Vopak is committed to being a leader and responsible company in the communities where we operate and we are happy to cooperate with all governmental agencies to ensure that our facilities meet the highest regulatory standards," said David Carter, Deer Park terminal manager. "We are also committed to continuous improvement and look for ways each day to innovate in our operations and the way we do business."

As part of the consent decree, Vopak Terminal Deer Park is investing approximately USD5 MM in capital upgrades at its facility, including enhanced operations procedures and improved tank covers. The company is also investing in advanced technologies such as the usage of Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) optical gas imaging cameras.
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