Mitsui Chemicals Reorganises Operations into Five sectors

Mitsui Chemicals announced on Friday that it is reorganizing into five new sectors: healthcare; mobility; food and packaging; basic materials; and new business and product creation.

The company says the restructuring, which takes effect on 1 April 2016, is part of a plan to achieve maximum synergies. As part of the changes, the company is combining basic chemicals, petrochemicals, and Mitsui Chemicals & SK Polyurethanes under the basic materials business sector. The fine & performance chemicals division will be dissolved and its businesses transferred.

Perstorp plans world scale pentaerythritol plant in India

Perstorp said on Friday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtyra Industrial Development Corp. to evaluate investment in a world scale plant for the production of pentaerythritol (penta) in India. The company has been participating in the ‘Make in India’ event, promoting investments in the country. Perstorp says that the market for coatings is growing fast in India and building a world scale production plant would be an important part of Perstorp’s ambitious plan to strengthen the position in the Asian Market.

Shree Cement wins limestone mining lease

Shree Cement has won the first ever non-coal mining lease allocated through the auction route, by offering to pay the Chhattisgarh government around Rs284 for every tonne of limestone production from the Karhi Chandi mine that has an estimated reserve of 255 million t spread over 242 hectares.

In addition to this sum, it would have to pay royalty, contribute to the district mineral foundation and national mineral exploration trust once the company starts mining.

The bidding lasted more than five hours. A total of 192 bids were submitted. At least five cement firms were in the mix in the final round of bidding according to sources.

DNS Capital Acquires IMI Holding

DNS Capital announces the acquisition of IMI Holding Corp. (IMI Holdings), the parent company of Industrial Magnetics Inc.(IMI), Prater Industries Inc., and Sterling Controls Inc., from Chattanooga-based private equity firm, River Associates Investments LLC.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. DNS Capital is the investment office and internal merchant bank for the business enterprise of Gigi Pritzker and Michael Pucker.
 
Headquartered in Boyne City, MI, IMI is a leading provider of highly engineered solutions for magnetic separation and material handling, particle processing, and process automation applications. The company’s products are used to handle, separate, lift, and process a diverse array of materials across a range of markets. Applications of the company’s expertise include metal removal, ingredient/particle sorting and sizing, and product purity/quality control. IMI serves a number of industries, including food processing, industrial MRO, conveying, bulk material, and aggregate handling and recycling, among others. IMI’s products and solutions improve operating efficiency, reduce costs, increase product purity and safety, and protect manufacturing equipment from damage and degradation.

PELLETRON SUPPLIES 50T/H MOBILE DEDUSTER® TO PLASTIC MANUFACTURER

Clean resin without streamers and with dust content well below 50ppm is the requirement in today’s marketplace. Many plastic manufactures find it difficult to meet this standard with their existing pneumatic conveying and dust removal systems.

One plastic manufacturer reported an accumulation of dust and streamers in its silo farm and asked Pelletron to analyze the problem and to find a solution.

The system review identified a number of contributing factors. In the current system, after extrusion and blending, the PP resin was transferred over a distance of ~850ft (~260m) to the silo farm for truck loading and bagging at the rate of 130,000lbs/h (60t/h). The current dilute phase conveying system transferred the resin using 12” conveying line with 10 long radius elbows. Before final transfer to the storage silos, the material was being cleaned with an elutriator. The elutriator removed short streamers and the remaining dust content <500micron was in the range of 80 to 100ppm. After the elutriator, the PP resin was conveyed into the storage silos using a ~300ft (~90m) long and 115ft (~35m) high dense phase system.

The dense phase system used to distribute the resins to the silos created more very fine dust.

In order to determine the dust and streamer content at the silo outlet, 50lbs (25Kg) material samples from silos at various fill levels were analyzed in the Pelletron test lab. The sample from the silo at 100% full had dust levels in the range of 100 to 200ppm and few streamers. The sample at 50% full contained dust levels in the range of 200 to 300ppm and more streamers. The sample taken from the silo with 10-20% material remaining showed very high dust content, up to 1000ppm, and many streamers. This was no surprise, because the dust typically accumulates on silo walls and becomes more concentrated as silos empty.

Pelletron cleaned all three samples in the test lab with a DeDuster®. All streamers were successfully removed from all three samples and the dust level was reduced to <50ppm, measured in accordance with the ASTM D-7486 – 08 Wet Test Analysis. The graph shows the actual results before and after cleaning.

Pelletron’s recommendation included installing a mobile XP-540 DeDuster® to clean 110,000lbs/h (50t/h) for the truck loading system and a second mobile DeDuster® for the 25kg bagging station. The customer proceeded with the recommended implementation in two phases with truck loading taking priority over the bagging station.

Next, Pelletron proposed a closed loop system with a wash down DeDuster® for easy cleaning of a variety of PP grades. With this system, the electromagnetic flux field generated by coils at the DeDuster® inlet reduces the electro-static charge at the material surface allowing the micro fine dust generated by the dense phase system to be easily removed. The cleaning air passes over the unique slot and hole pattern of the wash deck and through the Venturi Zone to remove dust and streamers at the highest level of efficiency known in the industry. The air flow in the Venturi Zone is regulated using a bypass air regulator and a portion of the cleaning air is blown-off through a bleed air valve at the back of the DeDuster® in order to generate the necessary negative pressure at the DeDuster® outlet.

Finally, cleaning air flow is provided by a high performance wash/exhaust air fan. Contaminants are continuously separated into a high efficiency cyclone with an inline filter for fine particle filtration. After passing the inline filter, the cleaned air is returned to the DeDuster®. The air volume and pressure of the fan is regulated by the wash air damper or a VFD-drive. The separated dust and streamers are dropped into a dust drum under the cyclone. A sealed slide gate is installed at the dust outlet of the cyclone to simplify changing the dust drum while the system is in operation.

After installation and testing of the Pelletron solution, samples were taken at the outlet of the DeDuster® and analyzed in the Pelletron test lab. All streamers were removed and the dust level was reduced to a range of 30 to 50ppm. The results were very satisfying, and after several weeks of operation, the customer ordered the second DeDuster® for the bagging station.

Clariant Invests in New Packaging Plant in India

Clariant announced that it is investing CHF 10 million in a new packaging manufacturing plant in Cuddalore, India. 

The plant will manufacture Clariant's moisture-control products to support the growing pharmaceutical packaging market in India. 

The company recognizes India's position as the largest generic-drug producer. Ketan Premani, head of Clariant Healthcare Packaging 

Sales in India, commented in a press release this makes India a key market for Clariant's desiccant products. The new Cuddalore plant 

will serve branded and generic drug companies operating in India as well as domestic players.

Clariant Healthcare Packaging, a member of Business Unit Masterbatches, manufactures a range of controlled atmosphere packaging solutions including pharmaceutical desiccants, equilibrium sorbents, adsorbent polymers, oxygen scavengers, and pharmaceutical closures and containers. The Cuddalore plant will initially produce desiccant canisters and packets, which are inserted into pharmaceutical packaging to control moisture and protect the stability of the medicine during shelf life. The desiccant production area will be clean room Class 100,000 and certified ISO 8. It will be compliant with all relevant cGMP and US FDA standards.

Suzlon and Axis Energy to set up 4000 MW Wind, Solar & Renewable Energy Projects in Andhra Pradesh

Suzlon Energy and Axis Energy Group have signed up with Andhra Pradesh for setting up of 4,000 MW of wind, solar and hybrid renewable energy projects. Ajay Jain, State Secretary Energy, Tulsi Tanti, Chairman Suzlon Group, and K Ravi Kumar Reddy, Managing Director, Axis Energy Group, had signed memorandums of understanding in the presence of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, late on Friday. Under this MoU, Suzlon and Axis will set up solar, wind and hybrid plants with an estimated production capacity of 4,000 MW in Anantapur and Nellore districts over the next five years. They will also set up a 1,000 MW wind turbine generator unit.

Skill development centre

As part of efforts to boost renewable energy in the State, it is proposed to set up a skill development centre in Anantapur. It is estimated that these projects will provide 8,000 direct and 25,000 indirect employment opportunities in the State, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.

Energy University

That apart, Suzlon Energy will also provide guidance for the setting up of Energy University that will soon come up in Amravati. A Board on Renewable Energy will also be constituted. Within five years, the State expects to add 4,000 MW of green power through this association. The Chief Minister expressed happiness over signing of the agreement and hoped that both sides begin work immediately on the proposed projects. He said: "The Union Government aims to achieve 1.75 lakh MW of renewable energy by 2021; of this, Andhra Pradesh aims to achieve 1.18 lakh MW." By 2021-22, the State Government aims to tap renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions by 252 lakh tonnes, he added.

Happy New Year 2015 !!

~ Best wishes from ~

Adroitt Flow Control Pvt Ltd

Manufacturers Representative & Suppliers of Orifice Slide Gate Valve, 2-way/3-way/4-way Diverter Valve, Iris Valve, Maintenance Gate Valve, Roller Gate Valve, Loss In Weight Gravimetric & Volumetric Feeder, Pellet screening System, Liquid Filling Machine, Urethane Lined Knife Gate Valve, Pinch Valve, Rubber Lined Eccentric Plug Valve, Rubber Lined Ball Sector Valve.

Increasing Polymers Production in India

In order to meet the growing demand for various grades of polymers used in wide array of applications, the Indian downstream petrochemical sector is all geared up for the commissioning of future installed capacity.

The latest report, "Chemicals and Petrochemicals Statistics at Glance: 2014", by Statistics and Monitoring Division of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India highlights some key projects that will boost the polymer production in India in coming years.

ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL) is setting up a grass root mega Petrochemical project at Dahej, Gujarat in PCPIR/SEZ. The complex's main Dual Feed Cracker Unit has the capacity to produce 1.1 MTPA of ethylene, 400 KTPA of propylene. In addition, OPaL is setting up two 360 KTPA high density polyethylene (HDPE) / linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) swing units, and HDPE and polypropylene (PP) units having a capacity of 340 KTPA each, downstream of the cracker. Production is expected to begin in 2015-16.

ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd. (OMPL; Mangalore, India) is building an aromatics complex in the Mangalore special economic zone (SEZ). The complex is designed to produce 900 KTPA of paraxylene (PX) and 300 KTPA of Benzene and is expected to become operational in the fiscal year ending March 2015. MRPL is separately building a 450 KTPA PP plant at the Mangalore SEZ, which is also expected to be on – stream in the fiscal year ending March 2015.

Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) is setting up Ethylene Cracker Unit (Ethylene-220 KTPA & Propylene 60 KTPA), LLDPE/HDPE Swing Unit (LLDPE/HDPE-226 KTPA) and PP Unit of 60 KTPA at Petrochemical complex in Lepetkata, Dibrugarh in Assam. The project is expected to be commissioned by end of 2014-15.

GAIL is currently expanding petrochemicals capacity at its Pata, Uttar Pradesh, site by adding a 450,000 TPA LLDPE -HDPE swing plant. With this expansion, Gail would double its petrochemical capacity by the end of 2014-15. They are gearing up to spend about Rs. 2,600 crore to set up 110 KTPA poly butadiene rubber (PBR) plant in Gujarat. The project is targeted to be completed by the Q1 of FY17.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is expanding refining capacity at Kochi and, as part of those plans, is establishing a fluid catalytic cracker that will produce 500 KTPA of propylene to be consumed as feedstock by the proposed petrochemical complex. The petrochemical plant will produce niche petrochemicals such as acrylic acid, superabsorbent polymers (SAP), acrylates, and oxo alcohols. The BPCL petrochemical complex, when operational, would be the first plant in India to produce SAPs. The complex is expected to be on -stream in fiscal year 2017–18.

Indian Oil is building 1 MTPA acetic acid plant in a joint venture with British Petroleum (BP), near Indian Oil's refinery at Koyali, in Gujarat. The acetic acid facility is expected to become operational in 2017. Indian Oil is studying a number of projects based on refinery propylene at Koyali. Facilities would make products including acrylic acid, acrylic esters, and oxo alcohols. The acrylic acid plant would be designed to produce 100 KTPA, and the esters unit, producing mainly butyl acrylate, would have capacity for 160 KTPA.

RIL is significantly expanding its petrochemicals capacity with a range of projects. RIL is doubling PX capacity at Jamnagar and will become the world's second – largest producer of PX. Reliance is expected to commission a 142 KTPA SBR plant and a 40 KTPA polybutadiene rubber plant at Hazira, by the end of the current financial year. A 100 KTPA butyl rubber JV facility at Jamnagar with Sibur (Moscow) will be on-stream in 2015. The new plant will expand RIL's total BR capacity to 120 KTPA. RIL currently runs an 80 KTPA BR plant at Baroda, which is also in the Gujarat. Reliance is building a 1.5 MTPA ethylene plant at Jamnagar that is expected to start up in the second half of 2015-16.

Astral Poly Technik Ltd has acquired 76% stake in Resinova Chemie Ltd

Ahmedabad-based leading manufacturer of CPVC pipes and fittings Astral Poly Technik Ltd has acquired 76% stake in epoxy adhesives player Resinova Chemie Ltd for Rs  212.8 crore. The transaction values Resinova at an enterprise valuation of Rs. 289 crore.

One of the leading players in epoxy adhesives sector in India, Resinova is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of a highly diversified range of adhesives and sealants in chemistries based on epoxy adhesives, acrylics, UV cure, and cyanoacrylates, among others, Resinova's products have varied applications including automobile, construction, chemicals, engineering, industrial, furniture, sanitary and household sectors.

The acquisition will synergise with Astral's existing pipes and fittings businesses by deepening and widening its product offerings.

"Astral has established itself as a strong participant in the CPVC pipes and fittings sector and has gained recognition as a progressive player in the other related sectors. We see the adhesives business as the logical next step in building the Astral franchise. In high growth Indian adhesive market, the Resinova acquisition provides a strong platform which is highly complementary to Astral's strengths. We see tremendous growth opportunities and are excited with the prospects to create lasting value for our shareholders," said Sandeep Engineer, Managing Director of Astral Poly Technik Ltd.

Earlier in August 2014, Astral acquired 80% stake in the US based Seal It Services Ltd ('Seal-It'), which is engaged in manufacturing and selling a comprehensive range of sealants, adhesives, water proofing, cleaning products, tape & paints, and PVA, used mainly in construction sector.

Vijay Parikh, Managing Director of Resinova Chemi Ltd said, "This strategic move between two fast growing companies in synergistic sectors has exceptional potential to develop the adhesive market in India. Combined with Astral's presence in international markets, thrust will be on using technical strength and distribution network of both companies to harness the potential of this business.