Nouryon announces the appointment of Philip Clark as Chief Technology Officer

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clark is responsible for the company’s global technology and innovation strategies in alignment with the company’s sustainability and growth targets, said the company.

He also serves as the business leader that builds research capabilities in support of the company’s strategic direction.
“Philip will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Charlie Shaver, Nouryon Chairman and CEO. “He brings impressive executive experience with a strong international and innovation track record. His customer-focused passion for innovation across markets and applications will be instrumental in delivering on our ambitious growth plans. We look forward to his contributions.”

Clark joins Nouryon from 3M, where he was the Vice President and Technical Director for the 3M Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division. He has more than 20 years of experience in technology development and product commercialization with a focus on product development, process technology and new product introduction portfolio management. Through his career, he has lived and worked in South Korea, in addition to the US.

Clark serves as a member of the Conference Board’s Innovation and Digital Transformation Institute and the Product and Services Leadership Council.

He has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Harvard University as well as a B.S. in both Chemistry and Biology from Bates College where he was a Dana Apprentice Chemical Fellow.

We remind, Nobian has successfully started to supply chlorine and caustic soda from 100% renewable electricity in the Netherlands and Germany. This achievement underlines Nobian’s commitment to accelerating the supply of green products in its portfolio. The certification of Nobian’s caustic soda and chlorine by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) contributes to Nobian’s renewable energy goals, as part of its sustainability program Grow Greener Together.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- With the launch of its eco-friendly, highly functional bio-based ABS, LG Chem has added a further product to its growing portfolio of LetZero materials, said Sustainableplastics.

LetZero is the brand name under which the company has brought its range of sustainable materials together, and includes PCR made of reprocessed waste plastics, renewably-sourced biomaterials, and biodegradable materials made of glucose and waste glycerol extracted from corn.

ABS is LG Chems leading product on the global market. The company sells some two million tonnes of transparent ABS per year. The material is in high demand because of its favourable properties, such as outstanding heat and impact resistance, toughness, good colourability and processability. It is currently one of the go-to materials in applications ranging from toys, and household appliances to the automotive and construction industry.

LG Chem has already supplied the new Bio-Circular balanced ABS to leading toy manufacturer Mattel, in the US. ”We will lead the market with sustainable materials centred on eco-friendly products and provide valuable consumption opportunities for customers," LG Chem's petrochemical division head No Guk-rae said in a 4 Dec statement.

LG Chem has adopted the biomass balance approach in the production of various plant-based materials and is the first Asian company to bring an ISCC Plus-certified ‘eco-friendly’ ABS to the market. According to the company, a life cycle assessment has been performed showing that the new grade generates significantly lower carbon emissions from raw material production to shipment compared to conventionally produced ABS.

We remind, LG Chem will invest 310 billion won (USD233 million) to build a plastic recycling plant and an aerogel plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong. The chemical company signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Gyeongsang provincial office and Dangjin city government Wednesday, with CEO Shin Hak-cheol and South Gyeongsang governor Kim Tae-heum and Dangjin Mayor Oh Seong-hwan, in attendance.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Azelis, a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, announces that is has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Chemiplas Agencies Ltd (“Chemiplas”), one of the leading distributors of specialty chemicals, plastic raw materials and ingredients in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, said the company.

The acquisition significantly expands Azelis’ footprint and accelerates its growth in Asia Pacific. The addition of Chemiplas’ attractive portfolio of products from key principals strategically complements the group’s lateral value chain, strengthening market coverage and formulation expertise. This allows the group to provide even more innovative solutions to customers, thereby reinforcing its position in Australia and New Zealand.

Founded in 1976, Chemiplas’ strong network is supported by long-standing partnerships with over 200 global, regional and local strategic principals. Chemiplas employs more than 100 staff, including an experienced and dedicated sales team, serving a substantial customer base of over 1,900 companies from its headquarters in Auckland and six other offices across Australia and New Zealand. With two food application laboratories in Auckland and Melbourne, Chemiplas is well-placed to leverage an extensive product portfolio and provide innovative solutions to customers. Chemiplas’ management team and employees will become part of the Azelis family, supporting the business and integration process. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the first quarter of 2023, after fulfilment of customary closing conditions.

As per MRC, Azelis, a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Chemical Solutions Sdn Bhd (“ChemSol”), one of the leading distributors of raw materials in the Personal Care, Cosmetics and Household markets in Malaysia.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- North American chemical rail traffic fell by 3.2% year on year to 40,467 railcar loadings for the week ended 26 November – marking a 10th consecutive decline, according to the latest freight rail data by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

An increase in Canada was more than offset by declines in the US and Mexico. The four-week average for North American chemical rail traffic was at 45,860 railcar loadings.

Despite the 10th decline in a row, for the first 47 weeks of 2022 ended 26 November North American chemical railcar traffic was still up 1.2% year on year to 2,155,420 railcar loadings.

In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent about 20% of chemical transportation by tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines carrying the rest. In Canada, producers rely on rail to ship more than 70% of their products, with some exclusively using rail.

Shipments of chemicals, coal, motor vehicles and parts, nonmetallic minerals, and oil and oil products rose for the first 47 weeks, while shipments in all other freight railcar categories fell.

In related news, the US House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution aimed at averting a rail strike.

We remind, for the week ending November 19, 2022, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 491,794 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending November 19 were 235,887 carloads, down 0.6 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 255,907 containers and trailers, down 5.6 percent compared to 2021.
mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Romania's Petrotel Lukoil refinery, owned by Russia's Lukoil has found alternative fuel supplies and its petrol stations will not be affected by a ban on Russian imports, said Reuters.

A European Union embargo from Dec. 5 is banning European buyers from purchasing and transporting Russian oil.

"At the latest meeting Lukoil has assured us, alongside the other two (refineries) that it has alternative sources both for crude and oil products and that it will not have problems supplying the refinery and petrol stations," Popescu said.

We remind, Lukoil Neftochim Burgas , Bulgaria's only oil refinery, may have to shut down if the government does not follow through on plans to allow the Russian-owned business to continue exporting, said Reuters, citing Chief Executive Ilshat Sharafutdinov. The European Union has agreed to a ban on Russian crude oil imports as part of its sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February. The ban takes effect next month, but Bulgaria has been given an exemption and is allowed to import Russian crude until the end of 2024.
mrchub.com