Arkema has joined the Spanish-led consortium project for exploring ways to recycle used PET and reusing its monomers as raw materials to produce sustainable polyester powder resins for the coating market.

China is introducing standards for machine vision. Export controls for high technology have been tightened for the first time since 2008.

Specialty chemicals are currently at the top of the Chinese Government's plans. Due to the importance of new materials for several key industries - from e-mobility to renewable energies and semiconductors - this branch of the chemical industry is set to receive strong support over the next five years.

Repsol has made the hefty investment for a new recycled plastics production line at its Puertollano Industrial Complex in Spain. The new unit is expected to almost double the current capacity of 16,000 tons per year to 25,000 tons per year.

Merck has plans to acquire the chemical business of Mecaro which produces heater blocks and chemical precursors for semiconductors. With this move, the firm aims to expand a key segment of its Semiconductor Solutions portfolio.

Sea Vision has plans to exhibit its AI-powered Automated Line Clearance software at the upcoming Interphex tradeshow in New York, USA. The technology will be showcased for the first time in the US.

A large-scale biologics drug substance manufacturing facility is being built in Scandinavia and Fluor Corporation has been chosen to carry out procurement and construction management services for the project. The facility is expected to be operational by 2025.

A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held by Henkel to establish a new adhesive manufacturing facility in China. With a hefty investment of 120 million euros, the new plant is expected to increase the firm’s production capacity of adhesive products in the country.

Early adopters achieve multimillion-dollar savings soon after deploying the latest sensor-and-AI-driven asset health monitoring and diagnostics solution.

BASF’s Puristar R0-20 catalyst and Sorbead Adsorption Technology is being assessed by Shell for producing green hydrogen. Both the technologies are now under Shell’s portfolio for potential use across its global green hydrogen projects.