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2021 Connected Plant Conference Game Changers Award Winners

Behind the digital tools that make the industrial internet of things (IIOT) in the power generation and chemical process industries are people. The 2021 Connected Plant Conference in Austin, Texas recognized the achievements of several individuals and companies who are fast…

CPI outlook is adjusting and strong

Following the major disruptions in 2020 due to the pandemic, U.S. chemical production has grown in 2021 and is poised for further gains in 2022, according to the American Chemistry Council’s Year-End 2021 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook. U.S. chemistry…

Business News: January 2022

Plant Watch Air Liquide enters a longterm partnership for production of rare helium isotope December 8, 2021 — Air Liquide S.A. (Paris; www.airliquide.com) entered into a longterm agreement with Laurentis Energy Partners to produce and distribute helium-3 (3He), a rare…

Clariant begins construction of flame retardants production facility in China

Specialty chemical company Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) today announced that it will construct its first Chinese production facility for its successful Exolit OP flame retardants at its existing site in Daya Bay, Huizhou, Guangdong Province. By establishing local production capacity,…

2021 CEPCI Updates: October (prelim.) and September (final)

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for October 2021 (the most recent available) is once again higher than the previous month, continuing the upward trajectory of the index that has been observed for the past year.…

Perstorp expands capacity for trimethylolpropane (TMP)

Perstorp (Malmö, Sweden; www.perstorp.com), the leading producer of trimethylolpropane (TMP), has ramped up the capacity to meet growing demand from the European market. TMP is used to enhance the properties of numerous materials. Common applications include the use in saturated…

U.S. chemical industry on solid course after a tough year, ACC says

Despite a challenging year, U.S. chemical production expanded in 2021 as the post-lockdown spending surge boosted demand for chemicals and other goods and materials, according to the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Year-End 2021 Chemical Industry Situation and…

Lingering hurricane impacts weighed on October U.S. chemical production, ACC says

The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) eased by 0.3% in October, following a 1.6% decline in September and a 0.4% decline in August, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). Chemical output declined in all…

Climate change on the world stage

At the time of this writing, COP26 is underway in Glasgow, Scotland. COP26 is the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since the start of the first COP in 1995, climate change…

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Business News: December 2021

Plant Watch Chemours to open new HFO plant in Arkansas November 11, 2021 — The Chemours Co. (Wilmington, Del.; www.chemours.com) announced plans to open a new facility located in El Dorado, Ark. The new plant will be dedicated to Chemours’…