NatureWork overhauls its bio–polymers prododuction: New production technology will increase capacity at the NatureWorks' Blair, Nebraska, facility to 150,000 metric tonnes per annum, making new performance grades available in the second quarter 2013.

“The hermetically sealed centrifugal pump outperforms magnetic-drive pumps with respect to mode of operation and reliable contents of solids and gases in the pumping medium” — the verdict of PROCESS on a new magnetic-drive pump. That was over two and a half years ago, so its now time to find out how the dry-running horizontal pump has fared in day-to-day service.

Many industrial processes require heat energy to be moved from one place to another via a heat transfer fluid: typically water and steam at temperatures up to 200 °C, and heat transfer oils for the range 200–450 °C. Pumping fluids reliably at such high temperatures is a challenge that sealless canned motor pumps can meet. The new generation of solar thermal power stations provides a practical example.

It sounds like a scene from a science fiction movie: A newly developed method produces customized molecules in the reactor according to a building plan – to some extent the 3D printer for chemistry. Although the “Chemputer” was actually supposed to synthesise customized medicine, British defence and aerospace multinational BAE has secured the method. Now drones are expected to be developed in the chemical bath.

Acquisitions are only ever as good as the business they generate. From that point of view, Zeppelin Anlagebau made the right move when it took over Reimelt Henschel around a year ago.

Sadara Chemical Company, a joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company and Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), was inaugurated by the Saudi King.

Jacobs Engineering Group has received a contract to complete a feasibility study for a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant located at the existing Borealis production site in Kallo, Belgium.

Asynt has recently announced its new flow-chemistry platform, the fReactor, an affordable device created to bring the many advantages of flow chemistry to one’s laboratory through easy-to-use, flexible and intuitive design.

A big explosion at Yancheng Chemical Park claims at least 47 people dead. According to consistent media reports, a fire has broken out in the Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Plant. The subsequent explosion in the facilities had a devastating effect.

Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsui Chemicals have announced that Chiba Chemicals Manufacturing LLP (Chiba Chemicals), managed jointly by both companies, will modernize ethylene manufacturing in order to enhance the profitability of the facilities.