The QCP plant is expected to convert consumer waste into 25,000 tonnes of polypropylene and high-density polyethylene. The objective of this company is to churn out an output of 100,000 tonnes by 2020.

Methanol could be the answer of the one big question of the petrochemistry: How to become more independent from crude oil? Again China is being a trailblazer. A lot of Chinese plants convert methanol to petrochemicals. Scientists at ETH Zurich have now deciphered the complex chemistry behind the start of this process.

Wacker, the Munich-based chemicals group, is deepening its ties with the Spanish silicones compounder Siliconas Silam in Zumaia/Basque Region. The two companies recently signed an agreement to that effect. Under its terms, Siliconas Silam may sell products made from Wacker silicone rubber base under its own label.

Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz GmbH (CAC) has announced the completion of its first chlor-alkali electrolysis plant in Germany.

Shell is lifting its petrochemicals production: A new 140,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) high-purity ethylene oxide purification unit and a new 140,000 tpa ethoxylates unit are supplying local and regional customers.

How can operators ascertain whether a pump is deficient and a failure imminent? The traditional approach: Installing sensors, e.g. for structure-borne noise, pressure, temperature, flow, power consumption, bearing position, at critical points and continuously evaluating the collected data. For non-critical applications, there is an easier way: A drop in energy efficiency indicates a possible problem.

Maag, one of the leading global manufacturers of gear pumps, pelletizing and filtration systems, and pulverizers for demanding applications in the plastics, chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries, has announced that it will exhibit the latest products for pharma applications for the first time in the company’s history.

BASF inaugurated their first isononanol (INA) plant in China to serve growing demand for next-generation plasticizers. The plant has annual production capacity of 180,000 metric tons of INA.

On August 1st, 2013, Karsten Radtke took over as Chief Executive Officer of Uhde Corporation of America, a business partner of ThyssenKrupp Uhde. The current economic trends in the US are good news for Uhde Corporation of America, which has offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado and Bridgeville, Pennsylvania.

Chemical companies are filling up plant order books: Between 2005 and 2015, global investment in the sector increased by nearly a factor of three and currently stands at more than $ 200 billion. Most of these plants are based on conventional design and construction, but the engineering departments at chemical companies and EPC contractors are about to make major changes to the engineering process.