Celanese concluded the sale of its atmospheric (vinyl and acrylics) emulsions unit in La Canonja, Spain. The Tarragona-based petrochemical company IQOXE is acquiring the operation The company is specialized in the production of ethylene oxide, glycols and ethylene oxide derivatives. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Speciality chemicals firm Lanxess launches its second production line for high-performance plastics compounding in Gastonia, North Carolina, thus completing its US $ 15 million dollar expansion project.

Elix Polymers has announced a new investment amounting to $ 4.7 million, to optimize its ABS powder production facilities in Tarragona, Spain. The company expects to begin executing this new project in 2018, which it will continue to develop and consolidate throughout this year and 2019.

Scientists at the University of Würzburg have chemically modified the enzyme levansucrase using a new method. The enzyme can now produce sugar polymers that are interesting for applications in the food industry and medicine.

Songwon brings its new state-of-the-art joint venture manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi on-stream: The site, operated together with Polysys and Pan Gulf Holding produces additives for a variety of regional customers.

The US site produces precursors for agrochemicals however; Evonik now has plans to focus more on its specialty chemicals business and intends to do away with assets that are not in line with its growth businesses.

A new range of tablet presses from Ima Active sets new standards in terms of productivity and ease of use — The new Prexima series of tablet presses is engineered to combine high performance with Italian style. The company has presented the new series during its “Open House” in their home base Bologna.

The 31st Chemspec Europe takes place this year at Messe Basel. The event has long been promoted as a must-attend event in the industry. On 1st and 2nd June, visitors can expect top-class workshops and conferences in addition to the exhibition..

Evonik Industries has developed a new hollow-fiber membrane for the separation of nitrogen from air.

Dystar, the US subsidiary of Dystar Global Holdings, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire five specialty chemical units (the Specialties, Polymer Additives, and Nitriles business groups) of Emerald Performance Materials.