The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for November 2019 (the most recent available) decreased from the previous month’s value, the eighth decline in the last ten months. All four major subindices of the overall CEPCI (Equipment,…
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes ended 2019 on a soft note, with a 0.3 percent decline in December following a 0.1 percent gain in November. All changes in the data…
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), jumped 0.6 percent in January on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis, following a 0.1 percent gain in December. On a…
Vertellus (Indianapolis, Ind.; www.vertellus.com) announced today it has acquired Bercen Chemicals, a leading U.S. supplier of alkyl succinic anhydrides and additives used in the fuel, lubricant, and paper industries. “This acquisition expands the range of products Vertellus is able to…
Despite a slowdown in global manufacturing, the U.S. chemical process industries (CPI) have continued to expand and remain a positive contributor to growth. In its “Year-End 2019 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook,” which was issued in December, the American Chemistry…
The following are selected recently published books that may be relevant for chemical process industries (CPI) professionals Dispelling Chemical Engineering Myths, 3rd ed. (electronic book edition). By Trevor Kletz, CRC Press, 2019, $57.95, e-book. Guide for Making Acute Risk Decisions.…
The winning technology for the 2019 Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Award, along with the other finalist technologies, demonstrate how innovative engineering can tackle climate change and other challenges. All six technologies are described here The six finalist technologies for the…
Plant Watch Messer to build onsite gas facility for MOL polyols plant in Hungary December 12, 2019 — Messer Group GmbH (Bad Soden, Germany; www.messergroup.com) will construct a new onsite gas facility for MOL Group (Budapest, Hungary; www.molgroup.info) in Tiszaújváros,…
This column is based on “Ammonium Nitrate Porous Prills Production Process – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec Solutions. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/ammonium-nitrate-production-cost. Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is one of the most commercially important ammonium compounds, both in…
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), was stable (0.0 percent change) in December on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis following a 0.1 percent gain in November.…