US regulators confirm commencement of Davis Refinery construction

US regulators confirm commencement of Davis Refinery construction

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality confirmed that Meridian met the deadline for commencement of construction under its Permit to Construct on June 12, 2021, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

“They’ve done what they need to do. As far as we’re concerned regarding air quality, they’ve commenced construction of a facility,” David Stroh, Environmental Engineer, North Dakota Department of Environmental said.

While the Company acknowledges that it has suffered delays due to litigation and the impact of COVID, Meridian Energy Group, Inc., the leading developer of innovative and environmentally-compliant oil refining facilities, continues to make steady and methodical progress on Davis.

On June 12, Meridian entered into an engineering, procurement and construction agreement for the crude distillation unit of the Davis Refinery, representing a substantial portion of the total installed cost of the full Davis Refinery. As design of the crude unit proceeds, Meridian will expand the scope of this EPC agreement to include the remaining units of Davis.

Meridian initiated site preparation in 2018. Most of the rough grading and additional site work was completed that summer following the award of the PTC. The bulk of the Davis activity for the next several months will be on detailed design and the procurement/fabrication of modules. As a result, substantial site activity will not resume until next year, when foundations and other subsurface work will commence.

As MRC wrote before, in late January 2019, Meridian Energy Group, Inc., announced that the company had signed an agreement with McDermott out of Houston, Texas under which McDermott will finalize the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the Meridian Davis Refinery in Billings County, North Dakota.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,396,960 tonnes in January-July 2021, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 841,990 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 29% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
MRC

Trinseo introduces customized formaldehyde-free acrylic latex to support customer sustainability goals

Trinseo introduces customized formaldehyde-free acrylic latex to support customer sustainability goals

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Trinseo, a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex, and rubber, has recently collaborated with a leading consumer materials customer to develop a formaldehyde-free acrylic latex for use in an environmentally friendly, artificial leather washable paper, as per the company's press release.

Trinseo’s team of experts worked quickly and responsively to understand the application requirements and formulation challenges to develop a customized and cost-effective LIOGS solution that outperformed its competition.

Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaboration moved rapidly. From scale-up after lab sampling to the first order, the conversion took place in just eight months. With the formaldehyde-free LIGOS solution in use, the company now benefits from roughly 10-15% savings on production costs.

As MRC reported earlier, Trinseo has announced that effective October, 1, 2021, the company is increasing the prices of all Styrene Butadiene latex products sold into the carpet market in North America. The increase will be USD0.08/dry lb (USD0.18/kg or USD180/tonne) or as contracts allow.

We remind that Trinseo and its affiliate companies in Europe have also announced a price reduction for all polystyrene (PS) grades in Europe. Effective September 1, 2021, or as existing contract terms allow, the contract and spot prices for the products listed below went down, as follows:

- STYRON general purpose polystyrene grades (GPPS) -- by EUR65 per metric ton;
- STYRON and STYRON A-Tech and STYRON X- Tech and STYRON C- Tech high impact polystyrene grades (HIPS) - by EUR55 per metric ton;

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, in Russia, Nizhnekamskneftekhim raised its September selling HIPS an GPPS prices for most buyers by Rb700-750/tonne amid an increase in delivery costs. However, some market participants reported a price roll-over.

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 USD3.0 billion in net sales in 2020, with 17 manufacturing sites around the world, and approximately 2,600 employees.
MRC

Nexa and Henkel expanded collaboration to develop production systems

Nexa and Henkel expanded collaboration to develop production systems

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Nexa and Henkel announce expanded collaboration to jointly develop turnkey AM production systems to accelerate adoption in targeted end use markets, said the cpmpany.

Nexa3D, the maker of ultrafast polymer 3D printers, today announced the opening of its first full scale additive manufacturing customer center; NEXTFACTORY in Ventura CA, in partnership with Henkel. Co-located within the Nexa3D global headquarters, NEXTFACTORY provides current and potential customers with direct access to every aspect of the additive polymer manufacturing (AM) process, from design decision support and optimization to full scale additive manufacturing operations including integrated post processing technologies, material formulation customization, colour matching and a variety of finishing options. Both companies plan to invite additional automation, process and software innovation partners to join NEXTFACTORY and be part of delivering complete end-to-end additive manufacturing solutions for volume production applications.

NEXTFACTORY will provide production professionals from around the world with access to the collective domain expertise, resources, tools, optimized functional materials and modular production and post processing equipment of Nexa3D and Henkel to develop their unique end-to -end production workflows. The center will serve as a full capability production scaling facility for customer looking to fasttrack their production scale up process development, material selection and optimization and production line design and procurement.

Nexa3D and Henkel teamed up to meet the accelerated demand for additively manufactured parts and assemblies in several key industries, including mobility, footwear, industrial and health products. Working together, Henkel and Nexa3D plan to deliver the full customer value of additive manufacturing by opening the aperture on functional materials, tailoring material properties, and providing colour matching and finishing options that suite customer specific requirements. At the center, production professionals who are ready to move into large scale digital manufacturing, can access and learn about latest design optimization tools including part consolidation, light weighting, and access proven methods to scale up to mass production. Customers can also experience a range of manufacturing state-of-the-art software tools including manufacturing execution systems, as well as post processing and finishing automation solutions.

As well as supporting customers, Nexa3D and Henkel plan to use the center to accelerate the adoption of additive production at scale for footwear, mobility, industrial and healthcare applications, by demonstrating to businesses how they can create an end-to-end solution using AM technologies.

To further support customers, Nexa3D and Henkel plan to open two more centers, one in North America and one in Europe, by the end of 2022.

Henkel are also partnering with Borealis and plastics solutions company Borouge to develop flexible packaging solutions for detergents containing both virgin polyethylene (PE) and high amounts of post-consumer recyclate (PCR) in efforts to increase sustainability.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

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

Teknor Apex completed new compounds plant in Germany

Teknor Apex completed new compounds plant in Germany

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US thermoplastic compounds company Teknor Apex has completed a new 50,000 square-metre facility at Rothenburg ob der Tauber, southeast of Frankfurt, Germany, to produce thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and engineering thermoplastics (ETPs) compounds, said the company.

The Rothenburg facility produces thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and engineering thermoplastics (ETPs), ranging from general-purpose compounds to highly specialized formulations. An extensive laboratory will be used for developing new compounds and providing customers with design support, application development, as well as product and process training.

The new facility was built with a strong focus on environment sustainability and holds certification for ISO 14001– Environmental Management and ISO 50001– Energy Management. The plant utilizes LED lights, a closed loop water system, heat recovery systems with heat pumps to support it, and meets the highest requirement in heat insulation of the building.

“The team’s ability to complete the build and successful transfer of our manufacturing operations while in the midst of a pandemic is a true testament of their partnership and commitment to serving our customers in Europe.” said Suresh Swaminathan, president of Teknor Apex. “We are excited about our new laboratory which serves as a hub of innovation, serving the region as a source of customized formulations, application development expertise, and process optimization."

Customers in Europe will also benefit from the global capabilities and broad experience of Teknor Apex, noted Jan Duyfjes, General Manager Europe. “Teknor Apex has long served major markets such as automotive, electrical and electronics, and regulated applications such as food-contact and medical, and it is a source of knowledge in matters such as regional and global regulatory compliance,” said Mr. Duyfjes. “With manufacturing operations in the USA, Europe, and Asia, we can provide global support and supply stability to European customers with plants in multiple countries."

As per MRC, Teknor Apex Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Teknor Apex Company, completed a global restructuring of TPE brands and now combines all compounds for consumer product applications under the well-known Monprene brand.

As MRC wrote previously, in May 2018, Teknor Apex announced that it had developed a series of flexible PVC injection moulding compounds that have been used successfully in automotive window encapsulation.

According to MRC's DataScope report, last month"s SPVC imports to Russia exceeded 14,000 tonnes from 8,700 tonnes in July. Good seasonal demand and a shortage of polymer from Russian producers led to a jump in imports in July-August. Overall imports totalled 42,700 tonnes in the first eight months of 2021, compared to 35,700 tonnes a year earlier, with PVC from China accounting for the main increase in imports.

Teknor Apex is one of the world's leading custom compounders headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. The company produces PA compounds in the UK, the U.S.A., and Singapore. Teknor Apex is one of the world's leaders of specialty PVC compounds which are used in a wide range of applications from wire and cable to automotive, medical, consumer and industrial products. The company also produces thermoplastic elastomers, nylon, bioplastics, chemicals, specialty compounds.
MRC

Aramco, Air Products, ACWA Power sign deal for JV in Saudi Arabia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Aramco, Air Products, ACWA Power and Air Products Qudra have signed a deal for the asset acquisition and project financing of a USD12bn air separation unit (ASU)/gasification/power joint venture (JV) at Jazan Economic City in Saudi Arabia, the companies said in a joint statement.

Aramco via its subsidiary Saudi Aramco Power Company (SAPCO) has a 20 percent share in the JV; Air Products 46 percent; ACWA Power 25 percent; and Air Products Qudra 9 percent. Moreover, Air Products’ total ownership position is 50.6 percent by owning an additional 4.6 percent through Air Products Qudra.

The JV is purchasing the ASUs, gasification, syngas cleanup, utilities and power assets from Aramco. The JV owns and operates the facility under a 25-year contract for a fixed monthly fee. Aramco will supply feedstock to the JV, and the JV will produce power, steam, hydrogen and other utilities for Aramco.

The JV serves Aramco’s Jazan Refinery, a megaproject to process 400,000 barrels per day of the crude oil to produce the main products such as ultra-light sulphur diesel, gasoline, and other products.

With the completion of these definitive agreements, all parties under the joint venture expect asset transfer and funding to occur during the month of October 2021. Air Products intends to conduct a public investor call at that time.

As per MRC, Saudi Aramco said it restructured its debt financing for Sadara Chemical Company, its joint venture (JV) with Dow Chemical, an American petrochemical major. The Saudi national oil company also said an agreement had been reached to allocate more natural gas feedstock to the joint venture, which has been building the world’s biggest chemical complex ever delivered in a single phase, in Jubail. Saudi Aramco and Dow have agreed to guarantee up to an aggregate of USD3.7 billion of senior debt principal in proportion to their ownership interests in Sadara, Aramco said in a stock exchange filing.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,396,960 tonnes in January-July 2021, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 841,990 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 29% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Saudi Aramco, officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is a Saudi Arabian national oil and natural gas company based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco's value has been estimated at up to USD10 trillion in the Financial Times, making it the world"s most valuable company. Saudi Aramco has both the largest proven crude oil reserves, at more than 260 billion barrels, and largest daily oil production.
MRC