Intercontinental Shanghai Pudong
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Webasto, one of the top 100 automotive suppliers worldwide, is manufacturing polycarbonate (PC) panels at its plant in Schierling for the very first time. The polycarbonate panels are then used at the Guangzhou plant to make panorama roof for the Golf A7. Once manufactured, the roofs are shipped to FAW VW in Foshan and assembled in cars. The panels are manufactured for supply to China - a huge market for sliding and panorama roofs.
The initiative by Webasto aligns well with the global trend observed towards a shift to lightweight components in the automotive industry. In fact Webasto has also witnessed a rise in the demand for its PC based components for roof systems.
Webasto has invested 45 million euros to expand technology leadership in polycarbonate components for car roof systems. Apart from building a production hall at the Schierling site near Regensburg, Webasto has also built 3 new injection-molding machines and a new paint shop for the initiative. The production capacity of the plant is 1 million components annually.
Polycarbonate has half the density of glass and also has extremely high impact strength, making it a good option for car roof panels. It's predicted that over the next 5 years, share of polycarbonate components in cars will rise to approximately 20 percent.
More on polycarbonate technology will be discussed at 11th Phenol/Acetone & Derivatives Markets conference on 4-5 March, 2014 in Shanghai.
To know more about the event, visit the website or contact Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9147.
26 Feb, 2014
In a major development in the field of renewable n-butanol and acetone, UK-based technology developer and emerging bio-based C4 chemicals producer - Green Biologics has secured funds to invest £15.4 million (€18 million) in a commercial on-stream facility in the US. Green Biologics plans to begin operations in this facility by 2016.
This announcement comes few months after Green Biologics signed the letter of intent to purchase the assets of Central MN Ethanol Co-op (CMEC) earlier in 2013.
Now that all investments are in place, Green Biologics plans to retrofit the CMEC plant, so that it is ready for production of renewable n-butanol and acetone by 2016. The plant has an existing capacity of producing 23 million gallons of ethanol per year; thus further enhancing Green Biologics' renewable chemicals market positioning.
The key investors for the project include Sofinnova Partners as well as Swire Pacific's strategic participation, while Capricorn Venture Partners, Oxford Capital Partners, Morningside Ventures and ConvergInce Holdings helped with follow on investments.
Timothy G Staub, VP - Business Development, Green Biologics Ltd. is a key speaker at CMT's 11th Phenol/Acetone & Derivatives Markets conference opening on 04-05 March, 2014 in Shanghai. Timothy G Staub will elaborate on the 'Opportunities for On-Purpose Production of Bio-Acetone' with key details on bio-acetone's production process, economic drivers, upcoming projects and downstream derivatives and demand.
To know more about the event, visit the website or contact Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9147.
09 Jan, 2014
China is the world's fastest growing market for phenol and acetone, which is widely used in industries such as phenolic resin, caprolactam, bisphenol A, salicylic acid, fibres, plastic, synthetic rubber, pharmaceuticals, agrochemical, dyes, coatings, leather and epoxy resins.
INEOS Phenol is the world's largest producer of phenol and acetone, while Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company (Sinopec YPC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary under China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation and engaged in refining crude oil, Ethylene & Aromatics production, producing and marketing hydrocarbon derivatives with phenol and acetone production sites in Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin.
Both the companies have collaborated for a 50:50 joint venture with a total investment of approximately $0.5 billion (RMB3.15 billion) for establishing the largest phenol/acetone facility in China. This plant is INEOS's largest capital investment ever undertaken in China. The project, that will be located in Nanjing Chemical Industry Park (NCIP), has already received approval from National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) in late August, 2013 and from the Jiangsu Province and Nanjing Municipal Government too.
The new plant will use the expertise of Sinopec's local feedstock advantages/ cumene technology and INEOS' proprietary phenol technology. With the completion of this project, INEOS Phenol will be the only company to have global manufacturing capability with phenol and acetone production in Europe, the US, and Asia.
The phenol and acetone plant is expected to be operational by 2016, and it is estimated that it will generate annual sales revenue worth $0.8 billion (RMB 4.9 billion). The new facility will produce at least 400,000 tonnes of phenol and 250,000 tonnes of acetone annually, plus 550,000 tonnes of cumene per year.
Once completed, it will cater to the growing demand for downstream petrochemical products. The strategic location of the plant in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province places INEOS and Sinopec YPC at the centre of China's largest market for both phenol and acetone; thus the plant will cater to the demand and supply in the region as well as serve on-site customers. Moreover, the location also provides advantages such as convenient waterway, land and railway transportation conditions.
For more such ground breaking developments in the phenol/ acetone market, attend CMT's 11th Phenol/Acetone & Derivatives Markets on 4-5 March, 2014 in Shanghai.
To know more about the event, visit the website or contact Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9147.
27 Nov, 2013