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Polymers

Cabot JV opens black masterbatch plant in China

Cabot has opened its new masterbatch plant in Tianjin, China, the specialty chemicals producer said on Monday. Construction of the $20 million black masterbatch project began in February 2011.

Neste Oil to sell Belgium polyalphaolefin plant to Chevron Phillips Chemical

Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) has agreed to acquire a polyalphaolefin (PAO) plant located in Beringen, Belgium, from Neste Oil.

Huntsman plots expansion for US epoxy resins

US-based chemicals major Huntsman has begun initial plans to expand its epoxy resins product lines by launching a multi-million dollar engineering study at its facility in McIntosh, Alabama.

Chevron Phillips, Sumitomo venture to shut down Texas polypropylene unit

Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) has reached an agreement with partner Sumitomo Chemical Co. to permanently shut down polypropylene assets jointly owned by the Phillips Sumika Polypropylene Co. (PSPC) venture in Pasadena, Texas.

Eastman to expand global capacity for plasticizers

Eastman Chemical announced a second expansion of its Benzoflex plasticizer line at the Kohtla-Järve site in Estonia. The expansion will increase capacity at the site by an additional 11,000 metric tons and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2012 second quarter.

Eastman acquires Brazil plasticizer firm Scandiflex

Eastman Chemical has acquired Scandiflex do Brasil S.A. Indústrias Químicas, a manufacturer of plasticizers located in Mauá, São Paulo, Brazil. The acquired Scandiflex plasticizer business and manufacturing capabilities are now part of Eastman’s performance chemicals and intermediates (PCI) segment.

Tyco buys specialty firm Chemguard for $130mn

Tyco International completed its $130 million acquisition of Chemguard, a leading provider of fire suppression products and specialty chemicals. Founded in 1984 and based in Mansfield, Texas, Chemguard's fire suppression portfolio includes an extensive line of foam concentrates, firefighting hardware and engineered foam systems for a broad range of industrial applications.

HP Construction: Middle East

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

Morgan Thermal Ceramics has a contract to supply Superwool 607 HT Pyro-Bloc Modules as part of a world-class refinery being constructed by the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Co. (SATORP..

India ammonia group picks KBR for engineering, technology license

KBR was awarded a contract by Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) - a Jaypee Group company - to provide license and engineering design services for JAL’s brownfield 2,200 tpd ammonia plant in Kanpur, India.

A Schulman to close US engineered plastics plant

Citing an uncertain economy, A Schulman plans to close its engineered plastics plant in Nashville, Tennessee, and consolidate manufacturing to its remaining North American manufacturing sites, the US-based compounder said on Thursday.