Henkel to acquire Sonderhoff Group

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Henkel has announced that is has signed an agreement to acquire Sonderhoff Holding GmbH, a supplier for polymer sealing materials, engineering and services, based in Cologne, Germany, reported GV.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

In the fiscal year 2016, Sonderhoff Holding GmbH generated sales of about EUR 60 million. The company employs around 280 people worldwide and has subsidiaries in five countries: Germany, Austria, Italy, the USA and China.

According to Henkel, with the acquisition of the privately owned company, it will further enhance its sealants competence. The foam-based sealing solutions from Sonderhoff are used in a variety of industrial applications, protecting e. g. lighting systems, filtration solutions or appliances against humidity and dust. Sonderhoff is a leading manufacturer of foamed-in-place gasketing solutions for reliable sealing and has broad expertise in developing and manufacturing customized dosing equipment. Sonderhoff’s portfolio includes specialised polyurethane and silicone foams as well as customizsed dosing equipment and automation concepts with high technical and engineering expertise and a complete range of services.

"Targeted investments in complementary leading technologies are an integral part of our global strategy. With this acquisition, we will reinforce the position of our Adhesive Technologies business as a global market and technology leader," said Henkel CEO Hans Van Bylen.

"The innovative systems from Sonderhoff with their strong technical expertise and their customised solutions and services perfectly complement our existing portfolio in an attractive market with substantial growth opportunities," said Jan-Dirk Auris, Executive Vice President Adhesive Technologies at Henkel. "Sonderhoff’s engineering capabilities and their highly precise dosing equipment will enable us to offer our customers a comprehensive system solution benefiting even more from automation and digitalization in manufacturing."

As MRC reported earlier, in June 2015, Henkel Russia announced it had opened a new dry building mixes plant in the Novosibirsk region, which placed the company closer to customers in the Siberian and Far East regions of Russia.

Henkel operates in three business units, including laundry and home care, beauty care and adhesive technologies.
MRC

Trinseo raises June PC prices in Europe

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Trinseo, a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, and its affiliate companies in Europe has announced price increases for all polycarbonate (PC) grades, said the producer on its site.

Effective June 1, 2017, or as existing contract terms allow, the contract and spot prices for the product listed below will increase as follows:

- CALIBRE PC resins - by EUR70 per metric ton.

As MRC informed previously, Trinseo last raised its prices for all PC grades in Europe on 1 May, 2017, as follows:

- CALIBRE PC resins - by EUR100 per metric ton.

Earlier, on 1 April 2017, the company also increased its PC prices in Europe by EUR180 per metric ton.

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 is completing its renaming process in 1Q 2015. Trinseo had approximately USD3.7 billion in net sales in 2016, with 15 manufacturing sites around the world, and nearly 2,200 employees.
MRC

Sasol to apply for delay for 2020 air pollution deadline

MOSCOW (MRC)—South African petrochemicals group Sasol will apply to postpone a 2020 deadline for meeting stricter air pollution laws, said Reuters.

South Africa, the continent's worst polluter and most advanced economy, emits millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere each year, much of it from coal-fired power plants that still provide most of the country’s energy.

Sasol said it would apply for a postponement for some of its plants to 2025, when it would be able to meet most of the new plant standards.

"The reason for postponements is to help us or give us time or provide the opportunity to implement the projects over a period of time," said Sasol Executive Vice President for operations, Bernard Klingenberg.

The company said challenges in reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions could further delay compliance past 2025 and may require further reprieves.

"There will be postponement applications again, particularly in SO2 and H2S, where we do not have credible viable solutions, and we need to work on those," said Mr. Klingenberg.

The Department of Environmental Affairs granted postponements in 2015 to applicants, including Sasol, Eskom and Anglo American Platinum, until 2020 to comply with the new minimum emissions standards for air quality laws. “We were able to comply with the majority of the minimum emissions status for 2015, but in some areas we need time to implement projects," said Mr. Klingenberg.

South Africa's government wants to reduce harmful emissions by 34% by 2020, with the minimum emissions standards for air quality laws covering particulate, SO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions.
MRC

SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz sign a memo

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chairman of "Uzbekneftegaz" Management Board Alisher Sultanov, who has visited Baku to attend the International Caspian Oil&Gas 2017 exhibition and conference, met with SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev at the SOCAR's main office, as per Report.az.

R. Abdullayev noted that international oil and gas exhibitions, which already turn into a tradition in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, play a role of an important platform in exchange of ideas and experiences between the world's energy organizations, demonstration of achievements obtained in this field as well as stated importance of bilateral meetings held within these forums. The Company President reminded successful participation of SOCAR in the projects of regional and global importance and said that the achievements and experience gained in frames of these projects will be useful in the development of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan and create basis for future projects.

He said that deepening energy cooperation, study of prospects for joint oil and gas operations is in the focus of attention of SOCAR.

Chairman of "Uzbekneftegaz" Management Board Alisher Sultanov reminded participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in "Oil and Gas - OGU 2017" XXI International Exhibition and Conference in Tashkent last month as well as meetings with R.Abdullayev and highly appreciated the memorandum signed between SOCAR and "Uzbekneftegaz" in terms of establishment of close cooperation between the two companies in the new era. He expressed confidence that the document to be signed today will further expand the opportunities for development of bilateral cooperation.
At the end of meeting, memorandum was signed between the two companies to determine areas of possible activity of "Uzbekneftegaz" in Azerbaijan.
MRC

Amec Foster Wheeler awarded VDU revamp contract by BP Oil

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) contract by BP Oil Espana S.A.U. for the revamp of the vacuum distillation unit (VDU) at its Castellon refinery, Spain, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Marco Moresco, President of Amec Foster Wheeler’s Downstream Capital Projects for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, "This latest contract win builds upon our long-standing relationship with BP Oil in Spain, with the execution of more than 30 successful projects over 25 years at the Castellon refinery."

Amec Foster Wheeler’s "More 4 Less” approach, including modularization and lean engineering, focuses on efficiency and the reduction of costs while never compromising on safety.

As per MRC, Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded an engineering contract by ISAB Srl, a Lukoil Group Co., as part of a major turnaround at their refinery in Priolo, Sicily, Italy.
MRC