The EU chemicals sector continues to register positive growth in 2018, Cefic reports. According to the European Chemical Industry Council, chemicals output was up 1.1 % between January and May, while chemicals prices climbed 2.3 % during the same period.

Ten years after starting Saltigo is one of the world’s leading exclusive synthesis specialists. Its business development is based on know-how and experience, proprietary synthesis processes and a wide range of technologies and products. Now the company is to be invested around EUR 60 million in expanding the Leverkusen site by the end of 2017.

Lanxess announced plans to sell its remaining 50 % stake in Arlanxeo to its joint venture partner Saudi Aramco. The two companies, that founded Arlanceo in 2016 as a 50:50 joint venture for synthetic rubber, signed a respective agreement.

Evonik has completed the expansion of its precipitated silica plant in Chester, Pennsylvania: The speciality chemicals company has just brought additional 20,000 tons production capacity on–stream.

As of April 1, 2016, Dr. Robert Gnann (51) has taken over as president of Wacker Silicones. He succeeds Dr. Christian Hartel, who was appointed to the Wacker Group’s Executive Board in early November 2015.

Wintershall, a subsidiary of the world's biggest chemical company BASF, acquires additional shares in oil and gas fields from Statoil for US$1.25 billion. The new fields shall increase the company's daily production in Norway to around 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

Worley Parsons has been awarded a project management consultancy (PMC) contract by Persero in Indonesia and an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Chevron for the China Manufacturing Plant Project in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China.

Mitsui Elastomers Singapore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui based in Singapore, plans to raise its production capacity for Tafmer high-performance elastomers.

Process digitalization: The Solvay/Butachimie chemical platform in Chalampé is an illustrative example for the factory of the future — Using the simulation tool Simit from Siemens the company realizes the changeover from the previously used process control system to the PCS 7 system, which is a Siemens tool too.

Danish catalyst specialist Haldor Topsoe announced that it was going to acquire full ownership of German Ferrostaal Topsoe Projects GmbH. The acquisition adds project planning and development know-how to the company's portfolio of high-performance catalyst and proprietory technologies for the chemical and refining industries.