Sabic introduces new phthalate-free PP impact copolymers for thinwall packaging

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

Saudi Aramco to sign deals with US firms during Trump visit

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

Vopak Deer Park terminal, EPA reach emissions controls agreement

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.
MRC

Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical shut PP plant in China for maintenance

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical has taken off-stream its polypropylene (PP) plant early this week, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has recently halted operations at its plant for a maintenance turnaround. The duration of the planned shutdown could not be ascertained.

Located in Jiangsu province, China, the plant comprising three units have a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year, 100,000 mt/year and 100,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, in early June 2016, Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical took off-stream its polypropylene (PP) plant for a brief maintenance, which lasted around 1 week.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical companies with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its refining and ethylene capacity ranks No.2 and No.4 globally. The Company has 30,000 sales and distribution networks of oil products and chemical products, its service stations are now ranked third largest in the world.
MRC

Burckhardt Compression to modernize third-party Hyper Compressor at MOL LDPE plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Burckhardt Compression was selected to modernize MOL Petrochemicals' third-party Hyper
Compressor at its LDPE plant in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary, said Burckhardt Compression.

The goal was to improve production performance and to establish a comprehensive, long-term service capability
with a running-hours guarantee.

The Hyper Compressor at the low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant has been in operation at MOL Petrochemicals in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary, since 1991. Burckhardt Compression is well-known for its Hyper Compressors and the MOL Group already has positive experiences working with Burckhardt Compression at another LDPE site.

Thanks to the high level of trust in Burckhardt Compression’s technology and its Hyper Compressor design and service capabilities, MOL decided to entrust Burckhardt Compression with this modernization project. Based on its many years of experience, Burckhardt Compression is capable of developing comprehensive solutions
that are compatible with the given framework of any third-party compressor.

The project scope includes the Burckhardt Hypropack™ cartridge system, plungers and central valves for two second-stage cylinders, which will be installed using special tools, all under the supervision of highly qualified reciprocating field service specialists. Burckhardt Compression will maintain a high level of service by deploying qualified service engineers and providing specific training for MOL Group both on-site and at its headquarters in Switzerland.

MOL Group, an integrated, international oil and gas company, has petrochemical plants in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary and Bratislava, Slovakia with combined annual production of 1.25 million tons. In line with its strategy MOL Group 2030, the company is diversifying away from motor fuels and expanding its petrochemicals portfolio with the aim of becoming a leading chemical company in Central and Eastern Europe. As a consequence, it plans to invest around USD 4.5 billion on growth projects by 2030, deepening its downstream integration throughout the value chain whilst
also moving towards semi-commodity and specialty products. MOL also commissioned a new butadiene plant last year, while a synthetic rubber plant (SSBR) - currently under construction - is scheduled to start operations in 2018.

Burckhardt Compression is a renowned original equipment manufacturer of high-pressure reciprocating Hyper Compressors for LDPE plants with a discharge pressure of up to 3,500 bar (50,000 psi). An outstanding track record with decades of experience in building Hyper Compressors makes Burckhardt Compression a competent and reliable partner for modernization projects and a trusted provider of global, one-stop maintenance and service solutions for
compressors of any brand.
MRC