GEA Refrigeration Technologies GmbH (Bochum, Germany) names Nadine Kipphardt marketing manager. Ralph Exton, chief marketing officer, water and process technologies, for GE Power & Water (Schenectady, N.Y.), has been appointed to serve as the 2014–2015 treasurer on the board of…
PLANT WATCH Kemira inaugurates its largest water-treatment chemicals plant October 9, 2014 — Kemira Oyj (Helsinki; www.kemira.com) has inaugurated its biggest manufacturing plant for water-treatment chemicals. Located in Dormagen, Germany, the facility will produce 14 different specifications of acidic and alkaline…
The preliminary value for the August CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) rose 0.35% from the final July value, continuing a string of five consecutive monthly increases. The Equipment subindex saw the largest month-to-month gain, while the…
Creating and Leading a High-Performance Chemical Plant. By Bob Gilbert. Tate Publishing & Enterprises LLC, 127 East Trade Center Terrace, Mustang, OK,73064. Web: tatepublishing.com. 2014. 56 pages. $7.99. A Conceptual Guide to Thermodynamics. By Bill Poirier. John Wiley & Sons…
Corbion Purac (Amsterdam, the Netherlands www.corbion.com) will accelerate its thrust into the biotechnology arena, making the next step in the bioplastics value chain by becoming a PLA producer. With entry into PLA, Corbion Purac intends to bring new biodegradable solutions…
The U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Energy (DOE) Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Bioenergy Technologies announced a grant of up to $2.5 million to NatureWorks, LLC (Minnetonka, MN; www.natureworksllc.com), one of the world’s leading suppliers of bioplastics, in support of an…
U.S. specialty chemical market volumes ended the third quarter strongly, with a 0.9% gain in September, according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). The September gain followed no…
Nippon Shokubai Co. (Osaka, Japan; www.shokubai.co.jp) has entered into a letter of intent with Takiron Co., Ltd. (Tokyo; www.takiron.co.jp) to transfer all of the shares of its subsidiary, Nippon Polyester Co. Final share transfer agreements will be signed after negotiations…
Vencorex (Saint-Priest, France; www.vencorex.com) is expanding its capacity of aliphatic isocyanates to further strengthen the company’s positions worldwide. Several industrial projects will enhance the ability to serve the growing market for years to come. Vencorex’s objective is to strengthen…
Messer Group (Bad Soden/Frankfurt, Germany; www.messergroup.com) is building its third gasses production plant in Vietnam. The new contract for oxygen and nitrogen that Hoa Phat Steel, the largest steel producer in Vietnam, signed in October with Messer, will run for…