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Catalysts

BASF to raise global capacity for copper catalysts

BASF announced a new round of capital investment projects to increase its production capacity and further enhance its global manufacturing operations for copper and copper-chrome catalysts. These investments are aimed at improving catalyst manufacturing efficiency to meet increased global demand, the company said.

Eastman completes Sterling Chemicals acquisition

Eastman Chemical has completed its acquisition of Sterling Chemicals, a single-site North American petrochemical producer, for $100 million in cash. This acquisition includes Sterling’s plasticizer and acetic acid manufacturing assets in Texas City, Texas.

Air Products to supply hydrogen for Shell Deer Park refinery in Texas

Air Products announced a long-term agreement with Shell Oil to supply a significant portion of the hydrogen requirements at Shell's refinery in Deer Park, Texas. The hydrogen supply will commence in mid-2013, the company said.

SunPower to develop solar panel plant in Mexico

SunPower Corp. plans to build a solar panel manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico, to meet the demand of a growing North American solar market, the firm said on Friday. SunPower plans to lease an existing building, which has up to 320,000 square feet of capacity, it said.

PPG to acquire Colombia coatings business

PPG Industries has agreed to purchase the coatings businesses of Colpisa Colombiana de Pinturas, a privately-owned Colombian coatings company, and its affiliates, including Colpisa Ecuador. The transaction is expected to close no later than the end of the first quarter 2012, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, the company said.

Dow to build plants for polyolefin encapsulant films in Thailand, Germany

Dow Chemical will build two new manufacturing plants in 2012 for its ENLIGHT polyolefin encapsulant films, with one in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, and another in Schkopau, Germany. Together, these sites will more than triple capacity for making specialty films used in photovoltaic modules, and will significantly expand Dow’s ability to supply encapsulant films worldwide, the company said.

Eastman buys US specialty chemical firm Dynaloy

Eastman Chemical has acquired the assets of Dynaloy, a specialty chemical business based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

AkzoNobel to buy China specialty surfactants firm Boxing Oleochemicals

AkzoNobel has agreed to acquire China-based Boxing Oleochemicals, allowing it to strengthen its position in specialty surfactants while enhancing its manufacturing footprint in Asia, company officials said.

FMC to acquire Europe persulfates business of RheinPerChemie

US-based chemicals firm FMC Corp. has agreed to acquire the European persulfates business of RheinPerChemie GmbH from Unionchimica SpA. The acquisition will strengthen FMC Peroxygens' global reach by establishing a market position for persulfates in Europe, company officials said.

Honeywell to expand Louisiana plant to produce low-global-warming blowing agent

Honeywell will invest $33 million in its Baton Rouge, La., manufacturing facility – one of the leading suppliers of refrigerants in the U.S. – to produce a low-global-warming material used in insulation and aerosols.