Plant Watch Thermo Fisher Scientific plans $600-million bioprocessing expansion March 12, 2021 — Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Waltham, Mass.; www.thermofisher.com) plans to invest more than $600 million in capital investments to expand its bioprocessing production capabilities through 2022. These investments…
This column is based on “Polyvinyl Chloride Production from VCM (Suspension Polymerization) – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/polyvinyl-chloride-production-cost. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most commonly produced synthetic polymer, after polyethylene and…
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), rose 1.2% in March on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis, following a 1.0% increase in February. On a year-over-year (Y/Y)…
After a solid start to the year, winter storms dampened U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes in February, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). Volumes fell 4.1% in February, bringing activity back to 3Q 2020 levels. Of…
The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI), fell 3.6% in February, following a 0.7% gain in January and a 1.3% gain in December, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). During February, chemical output fell in…
Clariant Catalysts (Munich, Germany; www.clariant.com) has opened a new, state-of-the-art R&D center at its “One Clariant Campus” (OCC) in Shanghai. This R&D Center is integrated into the brand new Clariant Innovation Center China within the One Clariant Campus, and will…
Since its introduction in 1963, the Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) has served as an important tool for chemical-process-industry (CPI) professionals when adjusting process plant construction costs from one time period to another. The CEPCI consists of a composite…
The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for January 2021 (the most recent available) shows another significant increase from December 2020. The current value is the fourth consecutive monthly increase, and the second consecutive monthly increase of…
Clariant AG (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) and India Glycols Limited (IGL), a leading company in the manufacturing of green technology-based chemicals, announced a strategic partnership to establish a 51-49% joint venture in renewable ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives. By combining production and…
The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) rose 0.8% in January following a 1.4% gain in December and a 1.1% gain in November, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). During January, chemical output expanded in…