Plant Expansions

German chemicals firm BASF SE says it will proceed with the second phase of its production expansion for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) at its Geismar chemical complex in Louisiana, US. The expansion will double its production of MDI from 300 kilotonnes/year to about 600 kilotonnes/year in the multiphase project. It…

US polymer company Aurora Plastics has acquired compounder Elastocon TPE Technologies, headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. The acquisition will add on injection moulding TPE compounding capabilities to Aurora Plastics’ product portfolio of PVC compounds, PVC alloys, CPE alloys, low-smoke flame-retardant concentrates, purge compounds and TPE compounds for extrusion. Terms were not…

Ineos to set up composites plant in Germany Styrenics maker Ineos Styrolution is planning to set up a new production site for its composite StyLight. While Ineos says it is prioritising a location in Germany, a specific location for the new production site is yet to be defined. The new…

Unilever announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the Fluocaril and Parogencyl oral care brands from P&G (The Procter & Gamble Company). Fluocaril and Parogencyl are well-known therapeutics brands sold in the Pharmacy channel, primarily in France and Spain, with a product portfolio that enjoys strong endorsement from health…

Ube Industries’s subsidiary, UBE Corporation Europe S.A.U. (UCE), has acquired Spanish compounder Repol that operates a compounding business in Europe using nylon 6, nylon 66, polypropylene, polyacetal, and other resin raw materials. These products are mainly used for automobiles but are also broadly used in industrial materials and for the electrical and electronics…

Trelleborg Anti-Vibration Solutions (AVS), part of Swedish Trelleborg Group, has opened a new manufacturing facility for rail anti-vibration systems in Bengaluru, India. The 6,200 sq.-m. facility will boost Trelleborg’s production capabilities in the region and facilitate the local manufacture of Trelleborg’s portfolio for the rail industry. Employment of about 100…

French chemical firm Arkema says it has successfully started up the 30% capacity extension at its Sartomer photocure advanced liquid resin production plant in Nansha, located south of Canton, China. This new production line will help to meet the strong demand in Asia in the electronics, 3D printing, adhesives and inkjet printing…

Due to increasing global demand for high-performance polymers, Germany’s Evonik says it is expanding its production of transparent polyamides of the Trogamid CX brand at the Marl Chemical Park (Germany). Production expansion is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2020. The project will double the specialty chemicals company’s capacity for…

Thailand-headquartered chemicals maker Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) says it has completed the purchase of 83 million newly issued shares in Indo Rama Synthetics (India) Ltd (IRSL), equaling to approximately 31.79% of IRSL’s equity at US$43 million. IRSL is a fibre manufacturing facility located in Nagpur, Maharashtra state, India. This facility has…

DowDuPont Inc. says it has completed the separation of its Materials Science Division through the spin-off of Dow Inc. (Dow). With this move, the US chemical firm has also advanced towards the formation of three independent public companies. “Today’s announcement completes our first step toward creating three strong, independent growth…