The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; www.epa.gov) is proposing to ban certain uses of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) due to health risks when used as a degreaser and a spot removal agent in dry cleaning. “For the first time…
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has acquired the silica business of the U.S. company J.M. Huber Corp. (Edison, N.J.; www.huber.com) for $630 million. This enables Evonik to expand its position in North America and Asia in this profitable and…
Akzo Nobel N.V. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) and Indian manufacturing company Atul Ltd. (www.atul.co.in) have announced their intention to jointly invest in the production of monochloroacetic acid (MCA) in India, which will include setting up a world-class MCA plant at…
Praj Industries Ltd. (Pune, India; www.praj.net) has entered into a binding agreement with Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) to set up three new second-generation (2G) bioethanol plants — one each at Panipat, Haryana and Dahej, Gujarat. These plants will have…
Atlas Copco (Stockholm, Sweden; www.atlascopco.com) has agreed to acquire the business of hb Kompressoren Druckluft- und Industrietechnik GmbH, a German distributor and service provider of industrial air compressors and related systems. Hb Kompressoren is based close to Stuttgart and operates…
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) released its 2016 Year-End Situation and Outlook. Highlights of the Outlook include: Following a 2.6% gain in 2015, U.S. GDP growth will expand at a 1.6% pace, as weak growth in business investment,…
In addition to VACUUBRAND's pumps, gauges, and controls, our VACUU·LAN® local vacuum networks are a lab-by-lab alternative to central vacuum systems. VACUU·LAN networks provide deep, stable vacuum in new labs and in renovation projects. Built on VACUUBRAND's durable, chemical-resistant diaphragm…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has reached an agreement to sell its cellulose acetate tow business, Acetow, to private equity funds managed by Blackstone. “The divestment of Acetow is another significant step in Solvay’s transformation towards a multi-specialty chemical group…
Lonza (Basel, Switzerland; www.lonza.com) and the PolyPeptide Group jointly announced today that PolyPeptide Laboratories Holding (PPL) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the peptides business and operations of Lonza in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium. Lonza’s Braine facility, with approximately 280…
INEOS Styrolution, (Frankfurt, Germany; www.ineos-styrolution.com) has revealed plans to expand the company’s plant in Altamira, Mexico responding to growing demand in the Americas region. The copolymer plant produces a variety of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate)…