2023 CEPCI updates: August (prelim.) and July (final)

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for August 2023 (most recent available) is unchanged from the previous month, although some of the subindices making up the composite index changed higher and lower. In August, the Equipment…

Ross Mixers, Siemens USA and others form Battery Machine Builders Coalition

Charles Ross & Son Co. (Haupauge, N.Y.; www.mixers.com) announced the creation of the U.S. Battery Machine Builders (US BMB), a new initiative dedicated to fortifying the U.S. battery supply chain by encouraging adoption of American-made machines and equipment. Ross joined…

Unipar modernizes chlor-alkali plant in Brazil with thyssenkrupp nucera technology

Unipar (São Paulo, Brazil) is modernizing its chlor-alkali plant at the Cubatão plant in Brazil by incorporating electrolyzers from thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA (Dortmund, Germany; ). To modernize the plant, the Brazilian chemical company, a leader in the…

CE Podcast: Q&A with Solvay’s Joana Adriano

On this episode of the Chemical Engineering Podcast, we speak with Joana Adriano, the Global Talent Acquisition Manager at the Solvay Group. Joana discusses the image of the chemicals industry among younger science and engineering graduates and shares her experiences…

Business News: October 2023

Plant Watch OCI Global to double U.S. production capacity for ‘green’ methanol September 14, 2023 — OCI Global N.V. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.oci-global.com) plans to double its green-methanol production capacity to approximately 400,000 metric tons per year (m.t/yr) in Beaumont,…

ACC guide profiles the business of chemistry and its economic impact

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) published the 2023 edition of its Guide to the Business of Chemistry, comprehensive profile of the U.S. chemistry industry and its contributions to domestic and global economies.   American chemistry is the world’s…

Survey indicates chemical producers concerned about regulatory and economic environment, ACC says

For the second quarter in a row, U.S. chemical manufacturers reported deterioration in their company’s activity level overall (such as, sales, production, output) and weakening demand across major customer markets. The latest findings from ACC’s (Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) latest Chemical…

Business News: September 2023

Plant Watch Mitsui Chemicals to increase production capacity for polyurethane dispersions August 11, 2023 — Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; www.mitsuichemicals.com) will increase its production capacity for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) at the company’s Shimizu site. This expansion will approximately double…

Facts At Your Fingertips: Plant Cybersecurity Awareness

The expanding use of digitalization tools at chemical process industries (CPI) facilities, coupled with the ongoing convergence of operational technology (OT) systems with traditional computer information technology (IT) systems, has increased plant cybersecurity risks. All plant personnel play a role…

2023 CEPCI updates: June (prelim.) and May (final)

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for June 2023 (most recent available) fell compared to the previous month, reversing an upward trend over the previous two data cycles. In June, all four of the subindices —…