Fluor and IBM announced the use of artificial intelligence-based systems to predict, monitor and measure the status of engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction (EPC) megaprojects from inception to completion.

Located in Konin, Poland, Johnson Matthey’s battery cathode materials plant will be fully powered by renewable electricity. Axpo will provide renewable electricity to the new factory which is expected to begin commissioning in 2022.

Under a 50:50 joint venture with Plastic Energy, Sabic will start construction of the first commercial unit to produce its flagship certified circular polymers. The new facility is expected to significantly upscale Sabic’s production of certified circular polymers and will become operational in the second half of 2022.

The new unit is Air Products’ maiden cryogenic nitrogen plant in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Northern Malaysia. With this project, the company aims to cater to the booming demand from the electrical and electronics and other manufacturing industries in the region.

With the newly started up air separation units, Linde will supply gaseous oxygen and nitrogen to Wanhua Chemical's integrated chemical site and production center in Yantai, China.

Fires and a heavy explosion at a Thai toluene facility killed 12 workers, injuring 129. The cause incident that took place on Saturday afternoon at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate during a heavy storm is still under investigation.

El-Flow Prestige, the newest generation of Bronkhorst Mass Flow Meters/Controllers for gases, can now be equipped with an on-board pressure sensor.

SPX Flow has added direct drive models to its Seital centrifuge line. Direct drive centrifuges utilize less energy, require less maintenance and take up less space.

Market and raw material trends set the direction in the chemical industry. That is one of the reasons why the 2008/2009 crisis signaled the start of a paradigm shift in chemical plant engineering and construction. Traditional EPC suppliers (general contractors based in the Western industrialized nations) are facing increased competition from Asia. At the same time, the plant engineering teams at global chemical companies are intensifying their partnerships with EPCs and spreading the workload across the international engineering resource base.

Under the terms of the contract, Lanxess will acquire Emerald Kalama Chemical which achieved sales of 425 million dollars and an Ebitda of 90 million dollars last year. With this move, the Germany-based company aims to strengthen its Consumer Protection segment.