Lurgi has been awarded the order for supplying the technology and license for a fatty alcohol plant in Jubail within Sabic Affiliate, Saudi Kayan.

The first industrial production facility for renewable 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) has started its production at the Biochem-1 facility of AVA Biochem in Muttenz, Switzerland. In a first phase, Biochem-1 will produce up to 20 t/a 5-HMF from renewable feedstock.

Electrochaea has successfully patented a strain of microorganisms specially developed for efficient biocatalytic methane production. The patent for the EU was recently validated in Denmark, where Electrochaea has been operating the world's first biological methanation plant with a power uptake of one megawatt, since 2016.

The board of the Namur, the association of Germany’s automation users in the process industry has appointed Heinrich Engelhard as the new general manager of the organisation. Despite a negative business climate in late 2012, the industry remains cautiously optimistic…

Anglo American has announced that Cynthia Carroll has decided to step down as Chief Executive, with the Board’s agreement. Cynthia Carroll will remain in her post until a successor has been appointed and an appropriate transition has taken place.

Exxon Mobil has expanded its Singapore refinery to upgrade its production of EHC Group II base stocks. The move is expected to meet the growing demand of high-quality base stocks across the globe.

The contract involves offering technology license, process design engineering, and operator training services for Ningbo Union King's 1,600 KTA paraxylene plant in Ningbo, China. Mc Dermott will be making use of the Lummus Technology for the facility.

The IECEx system is breaking through the jungle of standards. IEC/TC 31 standardizes and harmonizes international explosion protection standards. Cooperation in the committees creates real added value for suppliers of explosion-protection components. This year, the IEC/TC 31 Committee met for 14 days at R. Stahl in Waldenburg, Germany.

Thyssen Krupp has integrated an artificial intelligence solution (AI) into its materials distribution and service processes. "Alfred" supports his colleagues at Materials Services in dynamically managing the global logistics network with 271 warehouse sites and more than 150,000 products and services.

Energy efficiency was at the top of the list of issues which were communicated to visitors at Achema 2012. In the aftermath of the show, the industry continues to look for ways of exploiting the opportunities that exist to save energy in chemical production. The quest has been particularly rewarding in drive engineering. Learn more about different approaches to energy-efficient motor design.