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Catalysts

Eastman to buy US specialty chemicals firm Solutia in $4.7 billion deal

Eastman Chemical has agreed to acquire US-based specialty chemicals and performance materials firm Solutia, a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals, in a deal valued at about $4.7 billion (including debt). The deal is expected to close in mid-2012.

Albemarle expands US polyolefin catalysts capacity

Albemarle says it successfully completed the latest expansion of its process development center (PDC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by installing a new production train for finished polyolefin catalysts and a number of supporting auxiliaries. The company did not disclose specific capacity figures on the expansion.

UOP lands phenol technology deal in South Korea

Honeywell’s UOP has been selected by South Korea’s Kumho P&B Chemicals to provide technology to produce key petrochemicals for the manufacture of plastics. The new units, expected to start up in 2013-2014, will produce 900,000 metric tons of cumene and 300,000 metric tons of phenol annually.

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

New diode laser caters to range of applicationsServomex Group’s SERVOTOUGH LaserCompact 2900 (Fig. 1), a tuneable diode laser (TDL), is designed to deliver true continuous in-situ monitoring acro..

HB Fuller to acquire global industrial adhesives business from Forbo

HB Fuller Co has signed an agreement to purchase the global industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group. Forbo is known for the breadth of its product line in all of HB Fuller’s core market segments, particularly packaging and durable assembly, according to Fuller officials.

Optimize capacity for large ethylene oxide reactors

Scientific Design Co.: Crudge, B.  |  Billig, B.  |  Schneider, R.

Many factors must be considered in fine-tuning unit design

Eastman completes Netherlands resins expansion

Eastman Chemical said Friday that it has completed the expansion of its hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins facility in Middelburg, The Netherlands. With the expansion, the company has doubled capacity at the site since 2006.

Technip wins EPC deal on Thailand elastomer plant

Michelin Siam Co. awarded Technip with a lump sum turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a new elastomer composite plant to be built in Thailand. Technip’s operating center in Bangkok, Thailand will execute the contract, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2013.

Heraeus opens Asia photovoltaics hub in Singapore

Heraeus, a world leader in developing front and back-side silver pastes for crystalline solar cells, on Friday hosted the grand opening for its Asian photovoltaics center in Singapore. The center will be Heraeus’ latest full-service facility complete with research and development, manufacturing, sales and technical service capabilities, the company said.

Momentive expands Korea silicone technology hub

Silicones and advanced materials provider Momentive is expanding its marketing and technology operations in the Seoul Gasan Digital Complex with a new application development center, seeking to meet growing demand for specialty silicone products in Korea.