An extended recovery period for crude oil prices, exceeding five years, would have dramatic implications for the global petrochemical industry and could mean a “Back to the Future” experience for some companies and regions -- creating a more competitive environment for naphtha producers, according to a new IHS report.

CB&I and McDermott International announced that they have entered into a business transaction agreement valued $ 6 billion, under which the two companies will combine in an all-stock transaction. The combination will create a fully vertically integrated onshore-offshore company with a broad engineering, procurement, construction and installation service offering and technology portfolio. CB&I also announced that it has been awarded a contract by IGP Methanol LLC.

Clariant has commenced operation of a high throughput twin-screw compounding extruder at its facility in Lewiston. The facility, which was expanded by 40 %, now accommodates not only extrusion equipment, but also materials handling, weighing stations, a maintenance area and additional water-cooling capacity.

An increase in production capacity provided Fixkraft Futtermittel, a producer of animal feed based in Austria, with the opportunity to restructure its energy supply. A system concept from plant construction company Ing. Aigner was introduced. It comprises a Bosch steam boiler featuring modules for increased efficiency combined with a solar thermal system.

From specialized processes that require system-pressurization pumps, to very flexible flow regimes, to most delicate pumping of fluids/products produced: This article shows that the diaphragm pump is no longer in the fringes of processing but at the heart of the operation to deliver the highest quality product at the greatest yield as efficiently as possible.

The Serum Institute of India, a leading biotech company and vaccine manufacturer in the country has a vision – to continually increase the production of affordable and highquality vaccines. Bosch Packaging Technology helps the company achieve this goal by providing best-inclass machinery to successfully manufacture life-saving medication.

In order to meet rising hygiene standards as well as retain the freshness of food products for a longer period, the food packaging sector is always on the look-out for new packaging materials and technologies. Today, multi-layer films are preferred over single-layer packaging due to several factors. Read on to know more…

Praxair has announced today the start-up of the first of two 1,250 metric tons per day air separation units at Steel Authority of India’s (SAIL) Bhilai, India facility. The plant will provide a reliable and energy efficient supply of gaseous oxygen, nitrogen and argon under a long term contract to support SAIL’s expansion activities.

High-Performance FFKM Sealing Technology for Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage Industries —Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage industry processes can be mighty tough on seals. Their rough conditions and exacting regulations keep scientists on their toes looking for solutions to meet even more difficult demands. Perfluoroelastomers, also known as FFKMs, are establishing themselves as very useful materials in these fields.

Fittings, faucets, drives and apps: Whetting the appetite for Achema 2018 at last year’s Diam. Not only did industrial fittings fair Diam record an exhibitor record of over 2000 experts, it also set new trends with the DDM seal fair. Fact is: manufacturers are getting fit for the digital age.