A union of giants: Dow and Saudi Aramco recently announced the building of a joint-venture chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, 100 kilometers northwest of Dammam. Aramco officials expect the project to be the first of its kind in the kingdom's fast growing chemical industry.

This paper investigates the technical and economical feasibility of several concepts for a 30 % capacity increase of an old ammonia plant. It shows an interesting way to overcome the limitations in the two most critical plant units: Reforming capacity is increased by a newly added autothermal reformer, while capacity is added to the ammonia synthesis by the Uhde Dual Pressure Process.

Phosagro has commissioned a phosphate-potash fertilizer production line with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes/year and a warehouse with 1,500 tonnes capacity,

Teaming up for China: Together, BASF, Huntsman, Shanghai Hua Yi Group, Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical and Sinopec kicked off the construction of a new 240,000 tons MDI plant at Caojing, China. The facilities will complement existing lines of Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate at the site, giving it a total 480,000 tons per year capacity.

More than 500 guests celebrated 150 years of industrial production at Akzo Nobel's site in Hilden, Germany. On the occasion, the company announced plans to increase the current number of employees from 330 to 450 people.

A German chemicals group planning a major investment in Central Europe is certainly something out of the ordinary. But a company that spends several hundred million Euros in ramping up capacities in a seemingly saturated market must have something in mind. Just like the polymer specialists Lanxess, who, since 2004, have invested over 300 million euros in its Belgian flagship site in Antwerp. What is the story behind these? On the 50-year anniversary of caprolactam production on the banks of the river Scheldt, the Cologne-based company lets us have a look behind the scenes…

Fryma Koruma presents new toothed colloid mills at the Interphex trade fair: With a new design, the units are suited for wet grinding pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical applications of almost any viscosity.

Solvay and Akzo Nobel announce a partnership for the usage of renewable raw materials (or biobased chemicals) within AkzoNobel formulations of paints and coatings. The first of a kind for AkzoNobel, this cooperation strengthens the commitment both companies have to sustainable development and the preservation of natural resources outlined in their respective strategies.

Vina SCG Chemicals, wholly-owned subsidiary by SCG, announced that it will proceed with the investment in the Long Son Petrochemicals Company (LSP). LSP issued the Letter of Award to key contractors on July 14, 2017 and the final contract signing is expected to be in the second half of 2017.

Akzo Nobel's Specialty Chemicals business is planning to double the production capacity at its organic peroxides facility in Ningbo, China, within the next two years. A project to boost the capacity by 40 % is underway, which is expected to be completed by mid-August.