Biotech, packaging and analytical innovations are about to make a drastic change for the food and beverage production. Companies are actively researching the effects of digitalisation, 3D-printing, big data or cloud solutions as well well as genetic engineering with effects that reach far beyond the f&b industry...

Ascend Performance Materials has plans to increase its adiponitrile capacity by 90 kilo tonnes at its Decatur, Alabama facility. The expansion project is a part of the first phase of the planned 180 kilo tonne ADN capacity at the plant.

Nouryon has begun production at its new manufacturing facility in China to support the increasing Asian demand of polymers used in the packaging, paint and coatings and construction end-markets. The plant has an annual capacity of 35,000 tons and will produce two key intermediates – tert-Butyl hydroperoxide and tert-Butyl alcohol.

Under the terms of the agreement, Munters will deliver the lithium battery laboratory in the next six months. One of the leading suppliers of lithium batteries, the company provides a better air environment for sensitive processes and also offers lower energy costs and reduced carbon emissions.

Carlos Hernandez was selected as Fluor’s interim chief executive officer and will succeed David T. Seaton. The company’s Board of Directors has also appointed John R. Reynolds as its new chief legal officer.

How can the share of bio-based raw materials used in the European chemical industry be increased to 25 % by 2030? As conclusion of its two-year work, the EU project Road To Bio has published a roadmap that outlines how this goal could be achieved. Based on the analysis of nine product groups, the roadmap identifies opportunities, challenges and actions across industry, policy and civil society to advance the replacement of fossil products by bio-based products.

Carbon Recycling International (CRI) has collaborated with Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemicals to establish the Jiangsu Sailboat green methanol plant in China. Based on CRI’s ETL technology, the new unit is expected to recycle 150,000 metric tons of CO2 and 20,000 metric tons of H2 per year in order to produce 100,000 tons of methanol annually.

The pharmaceutical industry is under pressure. The sales and profits of the pharmaceutical giants have been declining for years. As a way out of this misery, takeovers and mergers seem to be a tried and tested means. PharmaTEC and PROCESS summarise the largest deals in the history of the industry for you.

Under a MOU signed between BASF and Sanyo Chemical, both the companies will team up to create advanced polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) to produce sustainable products. The innovative new products will have world-wide market access through the two companies' global footprint, with the MOU allowing both the firms to leverage on production networks for PUDs.

Maire Tecnimont’s subsidiaries NextChem, MET Development and Stamicarbon have decided to join forces with Greenfield Nitrogen to establish the first green ammonia plant in the USA. NextChem will conduct a feasibility study for the project, MET Development will support the development of the plant whereas Stamicarbon will offer its latest green ammonia technology to the unit. The new facility is expected to produce 240 metric tons of green ammonia per day.