New materials for new markets: Lanxess strengthens its Asian presence by establishing local research and development facilities. The German company has recently opened a new facility for the devlopment of plastics and polymers in Honk Kong...

Enerkem has started the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol at its facility in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The facility is the first commercial-scale plant in the world to produce cellulosic ethanol made from non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal solid waste.

Shin-Etsu Chemical plans to expand its silicones business by increasing production capacities in its Thailand plant; and by establishing a new technical centre in the USA

Exxon Mobil announced that its Baytown and Beaumont refineries have begun producing fuels at reduced rates and that crude oil and refined product pipelines in the Gulf and other regions of Texas have restarted as recovery continues from Hurricane Harvey.

The efficiency champion takes the price! Dry compressing screw vacuum pumps with a particularly high degree of efficiency in the chemical production are challenging liquid ring pumps. At first sight, it seems clear which principle leads the way. However, this may be delusional.

Albemarle and ASOS plan to collaborate in the construction of a FCC manufacturing facility in the United Arab Emirates. This would allow the company to meet the rapidly growing regional demand in the Middle East.

Holding company J.P. Morgan buys speciality chemicals firm: One Equity Partners, a global private investment arm of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co has taken over Peroxychem, the former FMC division FMC Global Peroxygens.

Akzo Nobel's Specialty Chemicals business is studying plans to build a world-class plant for its Bermocoll business, which supplies ingredients for the paint and buildings and construction industries.

In API manufacturing, contrary to the traditional use of multiple utilities, single fluid heat transfer systems are advantageous. These systems can be designed even for specific applications, and engineered and built at site.

Products from centrifuges or filtration processes often come in the form of wet, lumpy cakes — powdering and drying are usually important processing steps. Combining de-lumping and vacuum drying within a single step can bring big benefits for the industry while providing excellent quality even of sensitive products.