Chemical Engineering
Westlake completes acquisition of ACI compounding businesses
Westlake Corp. (Houston) announced that it has completed the acquisition of the global compounding solutions businesses of the ACI/Perplastic Group (collectively, ACI). Headquartered in Portugal, ACI is a global manufacturer of specialty materials, primarily serving the wire and cable sectors.…
Samsung E&A announces groundbreaking of low-carbon ammonia project in Indiana
Samsung E&A (Seoul, South Korea) announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Wabash Low-Carbon Ammonia Project on the 5th January. Held at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., the ceremony was attended by approximately 70 project and…
Syensqo completes divestiture of Oil & Gas business unit
Syensqo S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) announced that it has completed the previously announced divestment of its Oil & Gas business unit to SNF Group (Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France) for an Enterprise Value of €135 million. Syensqo’s Oil & Gas Business Unit, a global…
Metso completes divestment of Ferrous business
Metso Corp. (Espoo, Finland) has successfully completed the divestment of its Ferrous business to SMS group, a global company providing technology and services in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the metals industry. The businesses divested include, for example, the travelling grate…
Phillips 66 to acquire Lindsey Oil Refinery, integrate with Humber operations
Phillips 66 Ltd. (Houston) has agreed to acquire Lindsey Oil Refinery assets and associated infrastructure pending completion subject to satisfaction of closing conditions, including customary regulatory clearances. The announcement follows a bidding process handled by FTI Consulting, who began serving…
Technip Energies completes Ecovyst AM&C acquisition
Technip Energies (Paris) announced the completion of its acquisition of the Advanced Materials & Catalysts (AM&C) business from Ecovyst Inc. (Malvern, Pa.) , a global leader in specialty catalysts and advanced materials. This strategic transaction expands Technip Energies’ portfolio by…
GEA Expert Talks: Your Gateway to the Future of Industrial Innovation
As industries navigate a rapidly changing technological landscape, the need for efficient, sustainable and forward-thinking process solutions has never been greater. From optimizing production lines to reducing emissions and maximizing energy efficiency, the challenges facing manufacturing and processing sectors today…
‘Preorganization’ strategies allow polymer degradation through self-deconstruction
Designing plastics that can be broken down easily after their use phase have often required a trade-off between stability and ease of deconstruction. Recent research by scientists at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.; www.rutgers.edu) opens a path to resolve that…
Enzymatic splitting process cuts cost and energy consumption for fatty-acid manufacturing
Fatty acids are indispensable ingredients in a broad range of high-value products, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food additives, industrial lubricants and many more. Current commercial production plants usually employ a thermal fat-splitting process that is often not economical for small- and…
Business News: January 2026
Plant Watch Aster invests in expansion projects at Bukom petroleum refinery December 11, 2025 — Aster Chemicals and Energy Ltd. (Singapore; www.aster.com.sg) announced a significant investment program at its Bukom petroleum refining facility in Singapore. The project includes a $75-million…