What if ISO 17025 wasn’t a standard, but instead was a technology that automated laboratory best practices? What if following the regulations to the letter – often without even thinking about it – actually led to better overall business performance? In that case, it’s likely every business would aggressively deploy that technology.

The chemical reaction at the heart of the world’s largest gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant starting up in Qatar is borne out of Shell’s long history and expertise in catalyst technology and innovation. A unique catalyst developed for the Pearl GTL plant is key to the efficient conversion of synthesis gas into heavy hydrocarbons that provide feedstock for advanced fuels, base oils and chemicals.

An extended recovery period for crude oil prices, exceeding five years, would have dramatic implications for the global petrochemical industry and could mean a “Back to the Future” experience for some companies and regions -- creating a more competitive environment for naphtha producers, according to a new IHS report.

From September 1, 2015, Bayer Material Science will be known as Covestro. Now the Supervisory Board of Bayer Material Science – in future: Covestro – has named the members of the future Board of Management. Known managers will be in on it, like newcomers. Their aim: Stock market launch of the new independent company by midyear 2016.

BASF announced that it plans to increase its global Alkyl Polyglucosides (APG) production capacity with two production expansion projects at sites in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jinshan, China.

Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries (ORPIC) modernizes their refinery in Sohar Oman to the value of $ 1.8 billion. The Pörner Group, a leading Austrian engineering company, were commissioned for the license and engineering of a Biturox bitumen production plant.

With operational efficiency and flexibility being the current norm in production facilities, biopharmaceutical manufacturers are working on concepts that will facilitate this with ease. The move towards employing single-use systems (SUS) is a case in point. However, this poses several challenges, be it technical, logistical or any other. Some factors that need to be considered while designing such systems to prevent operational bottlenecks are mentioned in this article...

Essar Projects (EPL), a global EPC contractor, has through its Indian subsidiary secured a project from Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC) in Gujarat. This project involves construction of a 70MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) and its allied infrastructure along with operation of the plant for 15 years...

In the process industry, big data has been in use for decades. Virtually every process plant is equipped with systems that manage transactions, automate processes, and, in general, execute the company’s business. These systems generate huge volumes of data; however, usually only a few trained “power users” can turn this information into operational improvements. With the right platform for operations intelligence, companies can share information in real time with the wider organization — an important step toward operational excellence.

At the end of last year, a Chinese isocyanate manufacturer awarded SGL Group another contract for a recovery system for the reprocessing and use of hydrogen chloride (HCI). The order value is in the mid single-digit million euro range.