EoW March 2007

corporate news

Newmarketing manager for SPC Singapore Polymer Corporation (SPC) has appointed Esther Han as marketing manager in the Asia-Pacific region for thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds, including the full range of TPEs developed locally and in the US by Teknor Apex. Ms Han entered the plastics industry in 1990, joining Phillips Petroleum (now Chevron Phillips), before moving in the mid-1990s to Akzo Nobel prior to its merger with Monsanto to form Flexsys, a manufacturer of rubber chemicals. In 1997 she became technical manager of the Synthetic Rubber Group of Bayer South East Asia.

Esther

Han,

Marketing

▲

Manager, Thermoplastic Elastomers, for Singapore Polymer Corporation

Esther holds an MSc in polymer technology from the University of Loughborough in England. Singapore Polymer Corporation – Singapore Fax : +65 6265 1821 Email : ginfo@spcpl.com.sg Website : www.spcpl.com.sg

Borouge Pte Ltd has awarded the contract to build the world’s largest ethylene cracker to Linde Engineering. Work on the $1.3billion contract began the first week of December 2006 and is scheduled for completion 41 months from that date. The new cracker will produce approximately 1.5million tons per year. The award is the first step in Borouge 2, the major expansion project being undertaken by Borouge, which will triple production capacity. Borouge 2 is a key part of the company’s strategy for growth, tripling its production capacity and consolidating its position in markets throughout the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa. It is expected to come on stream by 2010. As well as the ethylene cracker, the Borouge 2 project comprises the world’s biggest olefins conversion unit, producing 752Kt per annum and two Borstar® polypropylene plants with a combined annual capacity of 800Kt, along with a new Borstar Enhanced PE plant that will have an annual capacity of 540Kt to compliment the existing 600Kt unit. A real cracker from Borouge

In addition, it will include a general Utilities and Offsite package. The award of the above three remaining packages is expected during the first and second quarters of 2007. The new expansion will be located next to Borouge’s existing petrochemical complex in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Borouge Pte Ltd – UAE Fax : +971 2 6070999 Email : info@borouge.com Website : www.borouge.com Sunshine ahead Japan’s Teijin Ltd and Teijin Twaron BV is expanding again – the fourth capacity growth in six years at both plants in Emmen and Delfzijl, Holland. This new expansion, called ‘Nikko’ (sunshine in Japanese), will again increase production capacity by approximately 15% for the high performance fibre Twaron®. Teijin – Japan Website : www.teijin.co.jp

DSM invests in advanced materials company DSM Venturing, the corporate venturing unit of Royal DSM NV, has taken a 10% share in the advanced materials company Micromuscle. Micromuscle has developed electro-active polymers (EAPs) for use in medical devices and life science product applications. This investment will give DSM a window on the potential of EAP technology for medical applications. EAP technology can be used in medical devices and enables new applications by performing a range of functions, such as control of the movement and properties of medical devices, the anchoring of devices, and controlled drug release. DSMVenturing – Holland Fax : +31 045 5740680 Email : media.relations@dsm.com Website : www.dsm.com

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EuroWire – March 2007