Arkema starts a 30% photocure resin production capacity increase at its Sartomer site in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema has successfully started up the 30% capacity extension of its photocure advanced liquid resin production plant in Nansha, located south of Canton, China, as per the company's press release.

Inaugurated on 10 April 2019, this new production line will help to meet the strong demand in Asia in the electronics, 3D printing, adhesives and inkjet printing markets. This investment supports Sartomer’s strategy to develop cutting-edge solutions for advanced and sustainable curing technologies.

The new line will produce state-of-the-art UV, LED and EB (electron beam) liquid resins, which provide high efficiency and performance benefits to photocuring systems dedicated to high-end applications such as electronics where they are used in the production and design of printed circuits, as well as smartphone, tablet and television screens.

The line will also manufacture Sartomer’s ever-expanding portfolio of unique N3xtDimension resins for 3D-printed products.

As MRC reported earlier, in March 2017, Arkema completed the sale to INEOS of its 50% stake in Oxochimie, their oxo alcohols manufacturing joint venture, and of the associated business.

Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
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Lubrizol announce new materials for sports and recreation TPU innovation

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Adapting to consumer trends in terms of sportswear can be difficult to keep up with, and Lubrizol believes it can bring unique, meaningful solutions to its customers with new materials optimised for training shoes, as per Eppm.

Addressing the biggest trends in sportswear production can be difficult to maintain. With a growing demand for sustainability, comfort, aesthetics and customisation, the needs and wants of consumers are continuously changing.

Julie Shlepr, Business Development Director for Engineered Polymers, said: “There’s a strong push to fast-track development to respond to consumer style preferences and to enable customisation. We see colour, texture, haptics, structure, cushioning, lightweight and novel fabrication methods as ways to enable this and allow close-to-consumer production."

Lubrizol’s new brand statement says it addresses these trends by advancing materials that elevate performance.

The company’s newest product launch displays lightweight footwear designs that use less material and fewer components, processing and assembly steps, with the aim to reduce waste and provide greater use of recycled content.

With sustainability, the hot topic in recent years, brands have set ambitious targets for growth, along with stated goals for reducing their environmental footprints.

Inevitably this has influenced material technologies, and Lubrizol highlights high-performance features that materials must contribute to footwear design, including greater demand for solutions that improve sustainability and automation.

The way products are designed and produced from materials, how products benefit consumer lifestyles and what happens throughout the product lifecycle are all factors the company takes into consideration.

The evolution of its materials, Estane TRX and BounCell-X, are designed to focus on a sustainable material replacement. The incorporation of Lubrizol’s unique engineered polymer Estane TPU utilises the gap between flexible rubber and rigid plastics, with a variety of physical and functional property combinations.

Estane TRX has been designed as an alternative to traditional thermoset rubber, therefore opting for Estane TPU and 3D printing allows for greater design freedom, as 3D printing displays the possibility to produce complex designs at mass scale which previously would not have been possible.

A single material in a shoe sole along with 3D printing can deliver multiple performance benefits, such as density, support and cushioning.

Estane brand of TPUs also allows for overlays moulded parts, composites, with Estane TRX TPU used for the outsoles.

To achieve a foam of cushioning in the base of the trainer, BounCell-X nitrogen-infused TPU foam technology is used. “We also have novel fibre technology which brings a new dimension to comfortable stretch and fit, as well as innovative texture and design."

Additionally, Lubrizol continues to grow its portfolio with new adhesive and adhesive film technologies that can help eliminate the need for solvent-based adhesives in footwear production, reducing the need for sewn seams in performance apparel.
MRC

Refinery delivers first IMO-spec fuel oil

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Corp’s Jinling refinery in the eastern province of Jiangsu produced its first cargo of low-sulfur marine fuel of 4,200 tons, reported Reuters with reference to the state oil and gas group.

The Sinopec statement did not give further details, but a refinery executive told Reuters the fuel meets the new International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission standards, with sulfur content lower than 0.5 percent.

The plant becomes one of China’s first refineries making marine fuel able to meet the IMO specifications, following Sinopec subsidiaries such as Shanghai Petrochemical Corp and the refinery in Hainan that rolled out pilot productions in small qualities.

IMO will ban ships from using fuel oil with a sulfur content above 0.5 percent, compared with 3.5 percent now, unless they are equipped with exhaust "scrubbers" to clean up sulfur emissions, starting in 2020.

As MRC informed earlier, in September 2018, Sinopec Corp joined a group planning to build an oil refinery in Alberta, an enterprise that would strengthen demand for the Canadian province's heavily discounted crude. Thus, state-owned Sinopec, formally known as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, along with an Alberta indigenous group, China State Construction Engineering Corp and Alberta management company Teedrum, plan to build a refinery to process 167,000 barrels per day of crude into gasoline and other products.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical company with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its principal business includes: exploring, developing, producing and trading crude oil and natural gas; producing, storing, transporting and distributing and marketing petroleum products, petrochemical products, synthetic fiber, fertilizer and other chemical products. Its refining capacity and ethylene capacity rank No.2 and No.4 globally. Sinopec listed in Hong Kong, New York, London and Shanghai in August 2001.
MRC

MOL Group enters recycled plastic compounding by acquiring Aurora Group

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hungary-based MOL Group has announced that it has signed a sales-purchase agreement to acquire Aurora, a recycled plastic compounder with production plants located nearby automotive manufacturing and plastics conversion clusters in Baden-Wu?rttemberg, Germany, as per Eppm.

Aurora is a medium-size German company, headquartered in Neuenstein, with a unique and lean closed loop concept assuming collection of post-industrial plastic waste, regrinding and compounding. The company’s portfolio largely consists of engineering plastics and polypropylene recyclate-based compounds.

With this investment, MOL will be able to offer a wide range of high-quality polyamide, polypropylene and other recyclate-based compounds, complementing its existing portfolio of virgin polypropylene and polyethylene. Leveraging on Aurora’s knowhow and loop logistic system, MOL will enable customers to reach higher recycled material contents in their products.

Ferenc Horvath, MOL Group Executive Vice President of Downstream, said: “In line with our MOL 2030 strategy, we have reached yet another milestone on our transformational journey to become the leading chemical player in the CEE region. This partnership will enable us to grow and add value to our petrochemical business as well as to increase our footprint in the automotive supplier market. As an established polymer player, we plan to use the strength of our integrated business model, while keeping the flexibility of Aurora as an independent compounder. At the same time, Aurora’s operations profile complements our initiatives in the recycling sector and reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and circular economy."

Gerhard Schweinle, Founder and Member of the Management Board of Aurora, added: “In MOL Group, we have found a partner with the same drive for sustainable development and innovation. We are confident that MOL is the ideal partner for our company to advance our ambitious goals with regard to sustainability and environmental protection, even more intensively than before… Aurora will continue to expand its expertise in the processing of engineering plastics."

One of the cornerstones of MOL Group 2030 strategy is to expand the company’s petrochemicals value chain. Compounding and recycling are among the key areas defined in MOL’s 2030 Strategy and the automotive industry is a strategic sector, where both MOL and Aurora recognise a growing demand for recycled materials.

The transaction is subject to the relevant merger control approvals.
MRC

GEA to supply thomas zement turnkey plant for the reduction of NOx in flue gas

MOSCOW (MRC) -- GEA has received an order from thomas zement for a turnkey plant for the reduction of NOx in flue gas, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The order comprises two new reactors for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) including handling of the flue gas transport by induced draft (ID) fans and integration into the Erwitte production site. The contract also includes engineering services as well as the supply, installation and commissioning of steel structures, SCR catalysts, ID fans, heating circuits, duct connection and adaptation of NH3 injection from existing storage tanks. Production can continue during the installation of the SCR unit. Another very important advantage for the customer: Only a short changeover time is required.

With this investment, thomas zement is supplementing the existing non-catalytic technology. After installation, this will create one of the most environmentally friendly cement production plants in Europe.

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technique for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases from industrial plants. The chemical reaction at the SCR catalyst is selective. This means that the nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) are preferably reduced, while undesirable side reactions such as the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide are largely suppressed. SCR technology reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the the catalyst passing gas flow upto 95 percent. The core is the catalyst, which makes it possible to reduce the reaction temperature from around 1000°C to a range of 230°C to 400°C. High reduction rates can thus be achieved with a minimum of ammonia slip.

Due to an adequate low sulfur concentration and a sufficient temperature level, the SCR unit is installed low-dust behind the existing fabric filters. This arrangement has already proven itself in three successfully operated plants with the lowest NOx and NH3 emissions. Analyses of catalyst samples consistently show no loss of the high reactivity of the selected material and thus a long catalyst life.

GEA has more than 120 years of experience in exhaust gas purification for industrial applications such as cement, glass, iron and steel, non-ferrous and chemical industries and is a world leader in the provision of process technology, equipment and services.
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