Leadership & People 2008

• Polish Chemical Consortium to be set up by 3 sector giants
  Within the next few days Polish Chemical Consortium (PKCh) will be established by Ciech, and nitrogen plants ZA Tarnów and ZA KÄ™dzierzyn.
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• DuPont Announces Leadership Adjustments
  DuPont President and CEO-designate Ellen J. Kullman has announced leadership adjustments effective Jan. 1. As announced in September, Kullman will become CEO of DuPont on Jan. 1.
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• New Member of Group Management at Sika AG
  The Board of Directors has appointed Iven Chadwick Member of Group Management as of January 1, 2009.
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• Dow Announces New Organizational Structure and Leadership Assignments
  The Dow Chemical Company announced today the organizational structure and leadership team that will be the driving force behind the Company’s new operating model.
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• Evonik Group introduces new management structure
  At today’s meeting chaired by Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking, the Supervisory Board of Evonik Industries AG, Essen (Germany) unanimously approved the proposal put forward by the Executive Board that the management structure of the Executive Board should be revised and the number of members reduced from seven to three.
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• Albemarle Names Milan R. Shah Vice President, Business Development
  Albemarle Corporation, an innovative leader in the global specialty chemicals market, recently announced that Milan R. Shah has been named Vice President, Business Development, effective immediately.
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• Arkema increases its plan to reduce costs
  The quick deterioration of the economic environment and the significant destocking effect observed since mid-October have sharpened.
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• BASF to Close its Wilmington, North Carolina Vitamin C and Formulated B Vitamin Plant
  BASF today announced that it will be closing its Wilmington, North Carolina, formulated vitamins manufacturing site by March 31, 2009.
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• Kemira Plans Capacity Cuts and Site Closures
  Kemira says it will reduce capacity and close sites making polymers for paper chemicals under a new restructuring program designed to save an annualized €10 million ($13.4 million) during 2009 and 2010. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• UPDATE 1-Eastman Chemical to freeze wages, trim staff
  Eastman Chemical Co (EMN.N) will freeze wages, reduce hiring of contractors and trim its management staff, the company said on Wednesday in the latest move by the chemical sector to cut costs in the face of growing economic woes.
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• Merck KGaA Curtails Production at Some Chemical Facilities
  Strongly reduced demand in businesses segments such as the automobile industry and consumer electronics caused by the current economic slowdown has resulted in a substantial decrease in demand for products from Merck KGaA’s Liquid Crystals division as well as from the business unit Effect Pigments, which is part of the Performance and Life Science Chemicals division.
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• Lanxess Plans Production Cutbacks and Plant Shutdowns
  Lanxess says it has reached an agreement with empolyee represenatives on temporary production cutbacks and plant shutdowns over the holiday season and into January 2009. The measures will affect about 1,400 employees. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• UPDATE 1-Husky Energy to cut 2009 spending by 28 percent
  Husky Energy Inc (HSE.TO), Canada's No. 2 oil exploration and refining company, said it will cut its 2009 capital spending budget by 28 percent as it looks to weather low oil prices and economic turmoil.
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• HeidelbergCement streamlines Managing Board: realignment of regional responsibilities as of 1 January 2009
  Dr. Dominik von Achten, who has been member of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement since October 2007, will take on responsibility for the Group area North America, as of 1 January 2009.
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• Bayer Strengthens Research and Development
  The Bayer Group is to further expand its research and development activities despite the current financial and economic crisis.
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• DSM Announces Actions to Strengthen its Competitive Position
  Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, today announces actions to strengthen its competitive position.
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• Sabic Innovative Plastics to Cut 10% of Workforce
  Sabic Innovative Plastics says it will eliminate nearly 10% of the company’s global workforce due to the current economic downturn. By Lindsey Bewley
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• Patricia Yarrington Named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) today announced that Patricia Yarrington has been appointed vice president and chief financial officer effective Jan. 1, 2009. Yarrington, currently vice president and treasurer, replaces Steve Crowe, who has elected to retire after 36 years with the company.
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• Albemarle Appoints Jim W. Nokes To Board of Directors
  Albemarle Corporation,(NYSE: ALB) a global leader in providing innovative solutions to the specialty chemicals market, announced today the election of Jim W. Nokes to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2009.
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• Chemtura Names Rogerson Chairman, President & CEO
  Chemtura Corporation (NYSE:CEM) has announced the election of Craig A. Rogerson to the position of president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board.
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• NOVA Chemicals' Lipton announces retirement plans; Pappas to be next President and CEO
  NOVA Chemicals announced today that Jeffrey M. Lipton, 66, its Chief Executive Officer has decided to retire effective May 1, 2009, after nearly 15 years with the Company and more than ten years as CEO.
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• Eastman Chemical To Shuffle Top Executive Posts Next Year
  Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN) said James P. Rogers will succeed J. Brian Ferguson as the company's president and chief executive in May. By John Kell
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• UPDATE 3-Dow Chemical to close facilities, cut 5,000 jobs
  Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N) said on Monday it will close 20 facilities, divest several businesses and cut 11 percent of its global workforce, the latest in a string of U.S. corporate actions aimed at tackling the global economic slump.
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• DuPont Cutting 2,500 Jobs; Sees Fourth Quarter Loss
  DuPont says it will cut approximately 2,500 employees and temporarily idle over 100 sites in order to address current market challenges and focus on maximizing cash flow. “We must get our cost and our cash in line with current reality,” says DuPont CEO Chad Holiday.
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• French Acacia Gum Manufacturer Alland & Robert Doubles Production Capacity
  French natural gum and resin processor Alland & Robert, which opened a spray drying facility in Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillon (Eure department) last year, is now able to double its production capacity with approximately 12,000 tons per annum.
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• Sabic Slashing Production in Europe
  Sabic Europe is operating polymer plants at reduced capacity because of a lack of demand, according to company officials. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• William Yau becomes CEO of Borouge's Marketing Company in Singapore
  William Yau has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Borouge Pte based in Singapore with effect from November 15, 2008.
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• PerkinElmer Announces Strategic Acquisition of Arnel Inc.
  PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and their environment, today announced the acquisition of Arnel Inc., a recognized leader in custom engineered solutions for gas chromatography applications in the petrochemical, food and beverage, and industrial hygiene markets.
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• LANXESS: Torsten Derr to be new Head of Material Protection Products business unit
  Torsten Derr (38) has been appointed Head of the Material Protection Products business unit effective March 1, 2009.
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• New Vice President, Marketing for Avery Dennison Roll Materials Europe
  Avery Dennison Roll Materials Europe has appointed Henrik Kajueter Vice President, Marketing, based in Leiden, the Netherlands.
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• R Mukundan to be new MD of Tata Chemicals
  Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL) announced that Mr R Mukundan will be the new Managing Director of the company, when the current Managing Director, Homi Khusrokhan retires in December 2008, upon reaching the age of superannuation.
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• Emilio Bunel named new head of Argonne's Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division
  Emilio Bunel has been named director of the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. 
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• UK: Evonik's Exclusive Synthesis Sells Seal Sands Site
  Evonik Industries AG sells its Seal Sands site and defined business to the management team at Evonik Degussa Seal Sands, Middlesbrough, UK. Silence has been agreed on the financial aspects of the deal.
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• Arkema Plans Further Restructuring of its Vinyls Business
  Arkema (Paris) has announced further steps to improve the competitiveness of its vinyls business, the least profitable of its three segments. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• Dow Chemical Reviewing Cost Cuts
  Dow Chemical says it is reviewing options to cut costs “focusing efforts on aspects of its business that are in its control, including proactively looking at all options to reduce costs and eliminate or defer capital spending at all locations.”
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• Czech Spolana to cut output by up to 50% from Dec
  Czech polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and caprolactam maker Spolana will reduce production by up to 50% from December and may have to cut wages and make lay-offs due to poor demand, the company said on Tuesday.
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• John Farrell to head RFID division at Avery Dennison
  Avery Dennison Corporation today announced the appointment of John J. "Jack" Farrell Jr. to the position of vice president and general manager, RFID Division. Farrell will be based in the RFID Division's headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
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• The Perstorp Group lays off 105 employees in Sweden
  The Perstorp Group needs to lay off 105 employees in Sweden as a result of the lack of orders of certain specialty chemical products and as part of a global rationalization scheme.
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• BASF to Shutter 80 Plants as Demand Shrinks
  BASF is temporarily shutting down about 80 plants worldwide and reducing production at approximately 100 plants as it responds a "massive decline in demand in key industries." The moves will account for 20%-25% of the company's overall capacity. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• Kemira: Timo Leppä appointed Director General of Chemical Industry Federation
  Timo Leppä, currently working as Executive Vice President, Group Communications of Kemira Oyj, and a member of Kemira's strategic management board, has been appointed Director General of Chemical Industry Federation of Finland as 1st of June 2009.
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• AkzoNobel targeting growth in India
  AkzoNobel is set to break ground on a new coatings manufacturing plant in India, signaling the company's ambition to become one of the country's leading industrial players.
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• Dow names head of Rohm and Haas unit
  Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N), which is in the process of closing its acquisition of Rohm and Haas (ROH.N), said on Thursday that Pierre Brondeau will head its Rohm and Haas Advanced Materials Division following the close of the deal.
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• New Head of Communications at Georg Fischer
  Markus Sauter, who has been Head of Communications at Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen, for many years, has expressed the wish to retire in the spring of 2009.
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• AkzoNobel opens Elotex production facility in China
  AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals has officially opened a new production site in Shanghai, China, for its Elotex building material additives business.
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• Chief Financial Officer to leave Ciba
  Juerg Fedier, Chief Financial Officer at Ciba Inc., will leave the Company at the end of 2008.
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• Chevron Phillips Chemical Names New Board Members
  Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC (Chevron Phillips Chemical) have announced the appointment of two new members to the company’s Board of Directors.
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• Phillip C. Widman Joins Lubrizol Board of Directors
  The Lubrizol Corporation announced today that Phillip C. Widman, 53, has been appointed to its board of directors.
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• Azelis creates platform in Austria
  Azelis has created a new company, Azelis Austria, following the purchase of the distribution assets of Weinzierl GmBH.
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• Ineos Shutters Two PP Units in the U.S.
  Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA says it intends to shut down two polypropylene (PP) bulk phase units at La Porte, TX by early 2009. The closure represents approximately 520 million lb/year of homopolymer and random copolymer capacity, the company says. One of the two lines will close by end of this year; the other by end of January. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• Dow Corning Names Fujii To Solar Market Business Unit
  Dow Corning has named Shuichi Fujii global major-market leader for feedstock and active-device products for its solar market business unit, which provides silicon-based solutions throughout the photovoltaic value chain.
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• DuPont Opens Office in Abu Dhabi, UAE
  DuPont has opened its second office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing specifically on strengthening the company’s relationships with the oil and gas industry.
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• Khalid Al-Falih Appointed President & CEO, Effective Jan.1
  His Excellency the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali I. Al-Naimi has announced the appointment of Khalid A. Al-Falih as president and chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco, effective January 1, 2009.
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• BASF sheds jobs amid rising costs and shrinking markets
  BASF battened down the hatches yesterday as the world's biggest chemical company steadied itself for a storm of declining markets and stockpiling by customers. By Carl Mortished
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• Sigma-Aldrich: Appointment of Rakesh Sachdev as CFO and Other Organization Changes
  Sigma-Aldrich announced the appointment of Rakesh Sachdev as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) along with other organization changes that are designed to deepen the bench strength of its management team and enable the implementation of its initiatives to drive growth at above market rates in 2009-2011.
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• Rohm and Haas Celebrates the Completion of Its New Manufacturing Facility in Turkey
  Rohm and Haas Company, the leading producer of specialty chemicals, celebrated the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Gebze, Turkey, for Plastics Additives Acrylic Impact Modifier and Processing Aids. The celebration corresponded with last year’s groundbreaking that took place on October 23, 2007.
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• Interview: Pierre Brondeau
  Pierre Brondeau, CEO-in-waiting of Philadelphia-based speciality chemicals company Rohm and Haas, knows his appointment comes at a difficult time for the industry. Aside from facing the general challenge of the economic downturn and rising energy costs, Brondeau is also starting his new job on the day the company gets taken over by Dow Chemical.
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• Dr Vernon Gibson will be new chief chemist at BP
  Dr Vernon Gibson will be joining BP’s research and technology team, in the role of Chief Chemist, on 1st November.
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• LANXESS strengthens the Leverkusen site
  Specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG is to strengthen its production site in Leverkusen through a some EUR 35 million investment to expand the globally unique network of facilities known as the aromatics network.
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• Kemira: Erkki Järvinen Appointed President And CEO Of Tikkurila Oy
  Erkki Järvinen, M.Sc. (Econ.), has been appointed President and CEO of Tikkurila Oy. He is currently working as President and CEO of Rautakirja Corporation, which belongs to Sanoma Oyj. He has held the position since 2001.
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• Husky Energy under no pressure to cut spending: CEO
  Husky Energy Inc (HSE.TO) plans to live within its means as it gets set to formulate its 2009 capital budget, but it is under no pressure to make big spending cuts, its chief executive said on Wednesday.
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• Avery set to expand Japanese operations
  Avery Dennison has made a major commitment to the Japanese pressure-sensitive label market with the opening of its first distribution center in the country and the appointment of a new president for its combined Japanese operations.
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• CEFIC President - ‘The Chemical Industry: a Solution Provider’
  Mr. Christian Jourquin, CEO of Solvay, has been elected President of CEFIC : European Chemical Industry Council by its General Assembly held in Athens. In his speech, the newly elected President recognized that the coming years would be crucial for the European Chemical Industry.
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• Voscherau New Chairman of Supervisory Board at SCHOTT
  Eggert Voscherau has been named the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SCHOTT AG, Mainz. The Supervisory Board unanimously selected the former BASF manager to succeed his predecessor, Tilman Todenhöfer, effective immediately.
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• OMV, Borealis to expand Burghausen refinery
  OMV AG and Borealis AG, both of Vienna, have invested €840 million (USD 1.1BN) to increase the petrochemical production capacity of the 72,000 b/d Burghausen refinery in Germany.
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• BASF strengthens position in Chinese automotive industry
  A new BASF plant for the manufacture of automotive spring aids made of Cellasto® for approximately five million vehicles per year is to be built in Shanghai by early 2010. The move allows BASF to create a base for close-to-the-customer supplies for the growing automotive market in China, according to the company.
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• Dow Izolan Announces New Leadership
  Dow Izolan, the joint venture company between The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and Izolan, announced today that Mikhail Tsarfin has been named Dow Izolan general manager, effective November 1, 2008.
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• Avery Dennison Names John Farrell Vice President and General Manager, RFID Division
  Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY:Avery Dennison Corporation) today announced the appointment of John J. "Jack" Farrell Jr. to the position of vice president and general manager, RFID Division. Farrell will be based in the RFID Division's headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
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• DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol Chooses Chicago Area for Global Headquarters, Announces Management Team
  DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) has selected Itasca, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, as its global headquarters location. Itasca offers proximity to a major metropolis with an international airport hub and to the U.S. Corn Belt, a growth area for the nation’s fuel ethanol infrastructure.
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• BASF completes capacity expansion at facility in Spain to meet growing demand for polyolefin catalysts
  BASF Catalysts has completed a significant debottlenecking project that has increased capacity at its production facility in Tarragona, Spain.
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• Univar Names Group Senior Vice President - Europe
  Univar, a leader in chemical distribution, announced that it has appointed John van Osch as Group Senior Vice President – Europe, effective January 1, 2009 reporting to Gary Pruitt, Univar President and CEO. 
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• Kemira Oyj to cut 298 jobs in Finland
  Finnish chemicals group Kemira Oyj (OMX Helsinki:KRA) said on Wednesday (8 October) that its personnel negotiations in Finland have been concluded. 
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• Solvay CEO Christian Jourquin elected President of CEFIC
  Solvay announces that its CEO, Christian Jourquin, was elected to a two-year term as President of Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, by the trade association’s General Assembly held in Athens on October 4.
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• Dow Corning Names Global Marketing Manager for Solar Business
  Hans ten Cate has been named global marketing manager of the Dow Corning Solar Market Business Unit. Based at Dow Corning’s European headquarters in Belgium, he is responsible for defining and leading the implementation of marketing and brand management strategies. 
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• Avery Dennison names Richard Hoffman SVP and CIO
  Avery Dennison Corporation announced the appointment of Richard W. Hoffman to the position of Senior Vice President (SVP) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective October 1, 2008.
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• DSM Anti-Infectives to close Clavulanic Acid production site in Sweden
  Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, today announces that DSM Anti-Infectives has decided to close its site in Strängnäs, Sweden. The site mainly produces clavulanic acid. Total cost of closure will be slightly above EUR 10 million (after tax) and will be reported as an exceptional item in Q4.
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• ConocoPhillips Announces Senior Management Changes
  ConocoPhillips [NYSE:COP] today announced the following actions concerning the company's senior management. Unless otherwise noted, these changes are effective immediately.
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• Michael F. Barry to Become CEO and President of Quaker Chemical Corporation
  Michael F. Barry, currently Senior Vice President and Managing Director - North America, Quaker Chemical Corporation's largest operation, will step into the role of CEO and President on October 4, 2008. He replaces Ronald J. Naples, who announced in May that he would step down as Quaker's CEO after 13 years, yet remain Chairman for a limited time.
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• Rohm and Haas Opens Technical Laboratory in Southeast Asia to Support Growth of Leading-Edge Paint and Coatings Applications
  Rohm and Haas Company, a supplier of binder and additives used to make paints and coatings, announced the opening of its new Southeast Asia Technical Laboratory in Singapore.
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• Lubrizol Announces Officer Changes to Support Continued Growth
  The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE:LZ) announced today several officer changes designed to better support the company’s business objectives that include driving organic growth, strengthening the product portfolio and improving profitability.
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• EPCA 2008: Ineos Eyes Closure of U.K. Cracker
  Ineos is consulting with employees on the possible closure of the smaller of its two ethylene plants at Grangemouth, U.K. Speaking to CW on the sidelines of the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) annual meeting, currently taking place in Monte Carlo, Tom Crotty, CEO of Ineos Olefins, said that Ineos aims to take a decision in early 2009 on whether to close the company's 320,000-m.t./year G4 naphtha cracker.
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• AkzoNobel to cut 3500 jobs
  AkzoNobel is to cut at least 3500 jobs over the next three years, as it seeks streamline its operations following its 2007 takeover of ICI. By James Mitchell Crow
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• EPCA 08: SABIC to expand in Europe
  SABIC will seek to broaden its geographic footprint into central and eastern Europe and push further downstream but only up to three steps from the cracker, SABIC Europe CEO Boy Litjens said on Monday.
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• Trust Chem establishes European subsidiary
  Trust Chem group has established a European subsidiary. Trust Chem Europe, operating from the Deventer office (the Netherlands), will be responsible for technical, commercial and logistical aspects of supplies of the Trust Chem pigments (special organic pigments) into Europe. All team members have been recruited from within the industry. 
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• Clariant to be broken up after new CEO named-paper
  Swiss speciality chemicals company Clariant (CLN.VX) could be broken up after it named a new chief executive earlier this month, a newspaper reported on Sunday.
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• PPG Closing Several Coatings and Glass Plants
  PPG says it will rclose several U.S., Canadian, and European manufacturing units in a reoganization plan that is expected to yield approximately $100 million in pretax annual cost savings by the end of 2009. A pretax charge of approximately $160 million, or 65 cts/share, will be recorded in the company’s third quarter 2008 financial results, PPG says. By Rebecca Coons
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• DuPont Names Kullman As CEO Effective January 2009
  DuPont today announced that its board has elected Ellen J. Kullman as president and a director of the company effective October 1, and CEO effective January 1, 2009. Chad Holliday, chairman and CEO, will serve as chairman and as a member of the board until Kullman’s expected succession as chairman. By Robert Westervelt
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• H.B. Fuller Names Barry S. Snyder as Chief Technology Officer
  H.B. Fuller Company announced that Barry S. Snyder will join the company as chief technology officer on Oct. 27, 2008. Snyder, 45, of Bryn Mawr, Penn., comes to H.B. Fuller from Celanese Corporation, where he has served as global technology director for the emulsions/PVOH business unit since 2007. 
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• BASF cuts back polystyrene production in Europe
  As of October 1, 2008, BASF will be cutting back its production of polystyrene in Europe by 25 percent. The reason for this step is the diminished demand for the standard plastic polystyrene, a development that can be ascribed to the current economic downturn.
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• Syrris Establish Japanese Subsidiary Office
  Syrris has opened a new subsidiary office in Japan. Syrris Japan, Inc. officially opened for business in May, 2008 and has already received a significant number of orders. 
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• Shell announces six new biofuels research agreements
  Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) today highlighted its approach to biofuels innovation, announcing six new research agreements with experts in academic institutions across the world. They are part of a growing programme of agreements designed to complement Shell’s own biofuels research and development, and to accelerate results.
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• LANXESS to expand caprolactam production in Antwerp
  The specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG is to expand its site in Antwerp with capital expenditures amounting to some EUR 35 million. The plan is to raise the capacity of the caprolactam production plant in the port of Antwerp by 10 percent by 2010, principally in order to further strengthen the company's polyamide plastics business.
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• Dow to Focus on Innovation and Service to Oil and Gas Industry Through Launch of New Global Business Unit
  Sharpening its focus on customers and markets, The Dow Chemical Company today announced the launch of Dow Oil & Gas, a new business unit created to deliver innovative product, technology and service solutions to the oil and gas industry.
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• Bayer MaterialScience expands global production network for polyurethane dispersions
  Bayer MaterialScience has opened a state-of-the-art production plant at the integrated production site in Shanghai to manufacture polyurethane dispersions (PUD). The plant has an annual capacity of 20,000 metric tons.
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• OMV and Borealis: Significant expansion of Burghausen site
  In November 2006, OMV Aktiengesellschaft first announced their EUR 1.1 bn investment in Bavaria. So far EUR 640 mn have been invested in Burghausen refinery and an additional EUR 200 mn were invested by Borealis in the expansion of their neighbouring plastics production facilities.
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• Leviev Group, Evogene and Orfuel to Establish a Biodiesel Company in Namibia, Africa
  L.L Biofuel Namibia (PTY) Ltd. of the Leviev Group and Evogene Ltd. announced that together with Orfuel Inc., a US subsidiary of Ormat Industries Ltd (TASE:ORMAT), they have signed an agreement to establish a new company focused on the growth of specialized castor plants for use as feedstock for biodiesel.
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• DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC Names Joseph R. Skurla President
  DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) has appointed Joseph R. Skurla as president to lead the joint venture’s development and commercialization of low-cost cellulosic ethanol technologies that utilize non-food feedstocks.
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• New U.A.E. Distributor for Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Opens up Petrochemical Opportunities in the Middle East
  Industrial Nanotech, Inc. announced that NanoFan General Trading, a company that specializes in industrial solutions to petrochemical facilities and other heavy industry, has purchased the exclusive distributorship rights for the Company’s product line in the United Arab Emirates.
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• Jobs axe falls at chemical plant
  TWO dozen jobs are being axed at a South Tyneside chemical plant, it was announced today. By Terry Kelly
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• Bayer CropScience to invest 3.4 bln euros in R&D
  Germany's Bayer CropScience (BAYG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) plans to invest 3.4 billion euros ($5 billion) in research and development through 2012 to strengthen its grip on the near 50 billion euros ($73 billion) agrochemicals and seeds industry.
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• UPDATE 1-Clariant names Hariolf Kottmann as new CEO
  Swiss speciality chemicals company Clariant (CLN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has named Hariolf Kottmann as new chief executive, effective Oct 1, 2008, replacing Jan Secher.
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• Huntsman opens new Asia Pacific Technology Centre in Shanghai
  Huntsman Corporation announced the official opening of its Asia Pacific Technology Centre (ATC) in Shanghai’s Minhang Development Zone. The new Centre will initially accommodate research and technical experts from Huntsman’s Polyurethanes and Performance Products divisions, with the number of specialists expected to expand rapidly over the next few years.
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• Borealis creates new deputy ceo role
  Polyolefins producer Borealis has appointed Herbert Willerth in the newly created role of deputy chief executive, effective from today. By David Eldridge
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• DSM announces closure of its citric acid manufacturing plant in Wuxi (China)
  Royal DSM N.V. announces the closure of its citric acid manufacturing plant in Wuxi (China) by Q1 2009. The closure follows a request from the local government to relocate the plant from its current location as this location is needed for future urban developments.
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• Kemira: Susanna Aaltonen to lead Tikkurila Communications
  Susanna Aaltonen (38), Master of Science (Econ. & Bus. Admin.) and Bachelor of Political Science, has been appointed Vice President, Communications and member of the Tikkurila Management Board as from October 1, 2008. Tikkurila is responsible for Kemira's paints and coatings business. Aaltonen will be responsible for Tikkurila's Group communications and report to Visa Pekkarinen, President for Kemira Coatings.
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• Clariant Appoints Andy Piers Head of Group Technology and Member of the Board of Management
  Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has appointed Andy Piers as Head of Group Technology effective September 1, 2008. He will be a member of the Board of Management.
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• Trelleborg announces plant closure in the US - the action is part of previously announced program within Trelleborg Automotive
  As a part of the strategic and operational action program announced in November 2006, a decision has been made to close Trelleborg Automotive’s operations in Peru, Indiana, in the US. Accordingly production is expected to continue until the end of 2008.
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• Solutia names Voss to manage nylon business
  Solutia Inc. said Monday it named James Voss, senior vice president of Solutia and president of its technical specialties division, as the new manager of the company's nylon business.
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• DSM Invests in Food Ingredients Developer Provexis plc
  Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company headquartered in the Netherlands, today announces the closure of its citric acid manufacturing plant in Wuxi (China) by Q1 2009.
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• Change of Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG
  Dr. Werner Müller to step down on December 31, 2008 Dr. Klaus Engel nominated as his successor Supervisory Board will decide on September 16, 2008 The Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board of Evonik Industries AG, Essen (Germany), chaired by Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, has agreed to release Dr. Werner Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG, from his contract prematurely as of December 31, 2008 at his own request.
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• Bayer to start building plant in Shanghai
  
  Bayer (BAYG.DE) plans to start construction of a 250,000-tonne plant for foam raw materials in Shanghai this year, the German chemicals and drugs group said.
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• Dow Reichhold to shut down; 53 RTP workers affected
  Reichhold Specialty Latex, a joint venture of The Dow Chemical Co. and Research Triangle Park-based Reichhold Inc., said Wednesday that it will go out of business by the end of the year – a move that will eliminate 53 jobs in RTP. By Jeff Drew
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• AkzoNobel opens new protective coatings site in China
  AkzoNobel has expanded its presence in China with the opening of a new site for the manufacture and sales of protective coatings in Suzhou, China, about 80 kilometers west of Shanghai. 
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• Kemira: Tikkurila to establish a sales company in Minsk, Belarus
  Following its strategy of growth, Tikkurila, which is responsible for Kemira's paints and coatings business, will strengthen its position in East Europe by establishing a sales company called IP Tikkurila in Minsk to be responsible for the marketing, sales and distribution of Tikkurila's decorative paints and industrial coatings in Belarus. 
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• ExxonMobil Chemical to cut jobs
  EXXONMOBIL’S CHEMICAL ARM has announced that it is to cut jobs at its Advanced Elastomers Systems (AES) headquarters in Akron, Ohio.
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• LANXESS to move Group headquarters to Cologne
  Specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG plans to move its headquarters from Leverkusen to Cologne. Relocation is to be completed by 2011. LANXESS will now begin discussions with the city of Cologne to identify possible sites.
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• Borealis Appoints Eberhard Dreher as Third Chief Scientist
  Borealis has appointed Eberhard Dreher as its new Chief Scientist for Base Chemicals. The company produces a range of base chemicals, mainly for use at wholly-owned and joint-venture operations producing polyethylene, polypropylene and nitrogen chemicals such as melamine, urea and fertilizers. 
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• Albemarle promotes Dr. David Clary to Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer
  Albemarle Corporation has promoted Dr. David Clary to the newly created position of vice president and chief sustainability officer.
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• IChemE confirms new plans for China
  The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has announced plans to establish a greater presence in China, following the appointment of Dr Yan Tsaur as the country's first IChemE Operations Director. 
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• DuPont Engineering Polymers adjusts European sales & marketing structure to reflect global polymer market
  DuPont Engineering Polymers (EP) has realigned its European organizational and geographical structure to reflect the increasingly global nature of its business. The changes form part of the business' overall business strategy to deliver value to its customers through innovation, product quality & supply reliability and enhanced global capabilities. 
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• DSM appoints Margo Vliegenthart to the Supervisory Board of DSM Netherlands
  Royal DSM N.V. has appointed Mrs A.M. (Margo) Vliegenthart as member of the Supervisory Board of DSM Nederland B.V. ("DSM Netherlands") with effect from 1 August 2008.
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• Bayer appoints Greg Babe as new CEO for U.S. Organisation
  Greg Babe, President and CEO of Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) LLC, will become the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bayer Corporation, with headquarters based in Pittsburgh, United States. 
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• INEOS: Chemicals manufacturer, £18,824m
  Until recently, Britain’s largest private company was almost unknown to the public. That changed in April when Ineos and the low-profile entrepreneur who owns it hit the headlines as workers went on strike at its Grangemouth refinery over plans to close their final-salary pension scheme.
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• Rising Costs Force Mitsubishi to Delay Start-Up of Polycarbonate Resin Plant
  Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Tokyo) says it has decided to postpone the commercial operation of a new polycarbonate resin production facility at Kurosaki, Japan, due to the rising costs of feedstock and energy. The facility was originally scheduled to start up this month.
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• PolyOne Realigns Manufacturing Assets to Enhance Competitiveness and Supply Chain Efficiency
  As a next step in its strategic transformation, PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL) today announced that it is realigning certain of its manufacturing assets, primarily in North America.
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• Chemical firm to create new jobs 
  One of the world's biggest agricultural product companies has announced plans to boost operations at its Grangemouth plant.
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• LANXESS Opens New Rubber Research Center in China
  Specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG has opened a new center for rubber research in Qingdao, China. The Technical Rubber Products, Butyl Rubber and Performance Butadiene Rubbers business units have invested around EUR 10 million in the joint project.
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• Dow, Kuwait to Base Joint Venture in Michigan
  An $11 billion joint plastics venture between Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N) and a unit of Kuwait Petroleum Corp will be based in Michigan, the two companies said in a statement on Sunday.
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• Praxair to Expand Production in Germany
  Praxair Deutschland GmbH & Co., KG, a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., will expand its industrial gases production capability in the Rhineland area of Germany in order to meet increasing customer demand.
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• BASF Invests in a New Plant for the Production of Oxidized Waxes at its Ludwigshafen Site
  In the fourth quarter of 2008, BASF will begin construction of a second oxidizing plant for the production of synthetic waxes at its Ludwigshafen, Germany, site.
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• Phenomenex Expands International Network With New Office in the Netherlands
  Phenomenex Inc announced the grand opening of its new subsidiary in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The new entity, Phenomenex B.V., will enable the company to serve the growing research and development communities in the Benelux region with direct sales and service.
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• Dow and PIC of Kuwait Continue Progress on Proposed $11B Joint Venture 
  The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of the State of Kuwait, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), continue to make progress on their $11 billion proposed 50:50 joint venture.
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• CSM Plans to Sell its PURAC Gluconates Production Plant in the Netherlands
  CSM announced that negotiations with AVEBE have progressed so well that it has signed a Heads of Agreement with the intention to sell the gluconates production plant of its subsidiary PURAC in Ter Apelkanaal to AVEBE.
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• Dr. Alan Fletcher Joins PerkinElmer as Vice President of Bio-Discovery Business Development
  PerkinElmer, Inc. announced that Alan Fletcher, Ph.D., has joined the Company as vice president, business development for PerkinElmer's Life and Analytical Sciences business.
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• Eastman Announces Vice President Appointments in its CASPI and PCI Business Segments
  Eastman Chemical Company has announced new appointments in its Performance Chemicals and Intermediates (PCI) and Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers and Inks (CASPI) business segments.
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• Eastman Announces Retirement of CFO and Polymers Business Group Head; Names New Senior Management Appointments
  Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced the retirement of two executives and several resulting senior management appointments that demonstrate the company’s depth of management expertise.
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• BASF: Investments in PU System Solutions for Growing Markets in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia
  As the leading supplier of polyurethane (PU) system solutions worldwide, BASF is further expanding its global network.
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• Eastman Chemical CFO to Step Down
  Eastman Chemical Co (EMN.N) said on Tuesday that Richard Lorraine will step down as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective Sept. 1.
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• Süd-Chemie Takes Over AlzChem's Metallurgical Foundry Chemicals Production in Hart
  Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, has reached agreement with AlzChem Hart GmbH, Trostberg, a member of Evonik Industries AG, on the purchase of the foundry chemical production facilities at the AlzChem site in Hart, Upper Bavaria.
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• Change in Georg Fischer Executive Committee
  Jürg Krebser, Head of GF AgieCharmilles and for 14 years a member of Georg Fischer's Executive Committee, will, at his own request, relinquish his post on 1 August 2008. He will be succeeded by Michael Hauser, who will also join the Executive Committee.
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• Dr. Bernd Burkhart Appointed Head of BASF's Aroma Chemicals Business
  Effective as from June 1, 2008, Dr. Bernd Burkhart is the new head of BASF Aroma Chemicals business. He succeeds Dr. Ulrich Schaefer-Luederssen, who died unexpectedly in April earlier this year.
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• Jørgen Ole Haslestad Appointed New Yara CEO
  After a successful period as CEO of Yara International, Thorleif Enger will retire from the company. He will be replaced by Jørgen Ole Haslestad (57), who will become the new CEO of Yara International as of September 2008. Mr. Enger steps down at his desired retirement age of 65 years.
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• Sven Ombudstvedt to Leave Yara
  CFO and Head of Strategy Sven Ombudstvedt has decided to step from his position and will leave Yara International on 4 July 2008.
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• Bayer plans to invest EUR 100 million in Brazil
  Bayer plans to invest roughly EUR 100 million at its Brazilian sites through the end of 2009.
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• Novozymes to build new USD 80-100 million production facility in Nebraska to meet future demands for enzymes in the bioethanol industry
  Novozymes has selected Blair, Nebraska as the location for its new production facility bringing approximately 100 new jobs to the state initially.
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• LyondellBasell to Boost its Global PP Compounding Capabilities by More than 30% by End of 2009
  LyondellBasell Industries has announced plans to expand its global polypropylene (PP) compounding capacity to 1.2 million tonnes per year by the end of 2009, which represents a growth rate of more than 30 percent.
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• SABIC to Build New PP Compounding Plant in Genk, Belgium
  SABIC is to build a new compounding plant in Genk, Belgium. The plant will have an initial production capacity of 110kt SABIC® PPcompound and 30kt of SABIC® STAMAX long glass fiber PP. It is expected to come on-stream at the beginning of 2010.
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• Kemira to Concentrate on Water and Fiber Businesses
  Kemira's Board of Directors has made a strategic decision to concentrate on water and fiber related businesses in the future.
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• Dow Water Solutions Announces $88 Million Edina Expansion
  Dow Water Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, has announced that it will expand its presence in Edina, Minn., to further its commitment to addressing the world's growing demand for high quality water.
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• Evonik Expands Silica Capacity in Turkey
  The Chemicals Business Area of Evonik Industries AG has expanded the silica capacity of its joint venture Egesil AS in Adapazari, near Izmit, Turkey.
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• Kemira Cutting 1000 Jobs
  The Finnish-based manufacturer and supplier of fertilizers and industrial chemicals Kemira is planning to cut a thousand jobs. It will announce later this summer how hard the workforce reduction will hit operations in Finland.
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• Dow to Idle Latex Plants at Pittsburg, California and Varennes, Quebec
  The Dow Chemical Company announced it will idle latex production facilities at Pittsburg, California and Varennes, Quebec by year end 2008. The Latex plants are two of six facilities that serve the North American paper, carpet, and performance latex industries.
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• Arkema Appointments New Group Presidents
  Effective July 1st 2008, Marie-Pierre Chevallier, present Group President of the Hydrogen Peroxide BU is being appointed Group President of the Acrylics BU. At the same date, Xavier Durand-Delacre is being appointed Group President of the Hydrogen Peroxide BU.
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• Rohm and Haas to Cut 925 Jobs
  Rohm and Haas (R&H) says it will cut about 925 jobs in an effort to restore profitability in its North American chemicals business. R&H says it will reduce 30% of installed capacity in its emulsions network in North America, reduce overhead expenses for the specialty materials group in mature markets, adjust the infrastructure for its electronic materials group, as well as several other initiatives in other business regions.
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• Lubrizol Continues Realignment of U.S. Coatings Manufacturing Facilities
  The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) announced today that after an assessment of selected product lines and assets, it is transferring or exiting some of its Performance Coatings product lines and market applications where it does not see significant opportunity to grow the business profitably.
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• Brenntag Opens New Storage and Distribution Center in the Netherlands
  Brenntag opened a new site in the Chemiehaven of Rotterdam Port (The Netherlands). At the new facility, which will replace the 40 years old former location on the opposite of the Chemiehaven, Brenntag will store, handle and distribute a broad range of bulk and packed solvents and products.
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• DSM Reorganizes Dutch Site as it Prepares to Sell Assets
  DSM says it will reorganize its manufacturing and services actitivies at the Chemelot industry park in Geleen, the Netherlands as it prepares its previously announced divestment program, which will transform the company into a life sciences and materials sciences organization under its Vision 2010 strategy.
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• Sika Opens its New, Highly-Modern Production Plant
  Sika opened its new factory for Sikaflex® polyurethane adhesives in Düdingen, Switzerland. More than CHF 100 million were invested in this major project. Sika is establishing some 150 jobs on the 40,000 m² factory surface. This investment underscores Sika's trust in the industry location Switzerland.
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• Evonik Restructures Colorants Business
  Evonik Industries AG's Coatings & Additives Business Unit is reorganizing its colorants business to position itself early in the fiercely competitive international market. Under a matrix model, market responsibility will be exercised in the future at the local level, while central marketing, technology, and operation functions will be globally aligned.
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• Novozymes Signs Largest Ever Danish Climate Deal
  Novozymes and DONG Energy have entered into a partnership that will make Novozymes in Denmark CO2-neutral for electricity as early as 2012.
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• AkzoNobel Announces New Head of Decorative Paints Business
  AkzoNobel announced that Tex Gunning will join the company as Managing Director of its Decorative Paints business with effect from September 1, 2008.
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• Dow Corning Expands Wiesbaden Silicone Rubber Operations
  Dow Corning expanded its silicone rubber operations at Wiesbaden, Germany June 2, enhancing its ability to meet growing demand for silicone rubber in Europe and the Middle East.
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• Evonik to Close its Orthoesters Plant in Niederkassel
  Evonik Industries AG, Essen (Germany), will be shutting down its production plant for orthoesters in Niederkassel (Germany) in the third quarter of this year. It has been forced to take this step due to overcapacity, the difficult competitive situation and high raw material prices.
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• Borealis Announces Key Personnel Changes in its Moulding Business
  Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, announces that Wim Roels, currently Vice President (VP) for Innovation and Technology, assumed the role of Vice President for the Moulding Business Unit in Vienna, effective June 1, 2008.
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• WACKER SCHOTT Solar Plans Site Expansion in Jena, Germany
  After commissioning a new wafer production facility at the so-called "Jena Site 2" in mid-April, WACKER SCHOTT Solar GmbH is continuing its production-site expansion. The company announced this during a visit by Jena mayor Albrecht Schröter.
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• American Petroleum Institute CEO Red Cavaney to Retire Nov. 1 after Decade of Service
  The oil and gas industry's top representative in Washington is retiring and will be replaced by the leader of the chemical industry's trade group.
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• USCBC Elects Dow Chemical Chairman & CEO Liveris as USCBC Chair, Welcomes New Board Members, Officers
  Andrew Liveris, chairman & CEO of The Dow Chemical Company, has been elected as new chairman of the US-China Business Council, USCBC President John Frisbie announced today. Liveris will serve for two years, according to Frisbie, who also outlined other new officers and directors of the organization.
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• Borealis Appoints Alfred Stern to Head its Innovation and Technology Programme
  Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, announces the appointment of Alfred Stern as Vice President (VP) for Innovation and Technology, effective June 1, 2008.
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• Utz Tillmann - Now Director General of VCI
  Dr Utz Tillmann (54) is now Director General of the German chemical industry association VCI. He is starting in his new role on 1 June 2008.
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• Dow Corning Expands German Silicone Rubber Plant
  Dow Corning has expanded its silicone rubber operations at its facility in Wiesbaden, Germany, to meet the growing demand for the product in Europe and the Middle East, the US-owned company said.
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• Air Liquide Invests EUR110 Million in New Production Capacities in Europe
  In Western Europe, the industrial gases market continues to grow, energised by the manufacture of capital and infrastructure goods, by automobiles, the food industry and the photovoltaic market.
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• Germany's Lanxess to Cut 93 Jobs at Belgium Plant
  Lanxess (LXSG.DE) will cut 93 jobs at its Zwijndrecht, Belgium, synthetic rubber facility to lower production costs, the German chemicals group said on Wednesday.
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• DSM Powder Coating Resins Opens R&D Facility in China
  Patrick Niels, BU director of DSM Powder Coating Resins, performed the official opening ceremony for the new R&D synthesis laboratory at the DSM Powder Coating Resins site in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China (PRC).
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• Akzo Nobel Relocating its Chelates HQ to China
  AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals is relocating the headquarters of its Chelates business from the Netherlands to China. The move has been prompted by the growing importance of the Asian market.
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• DuPont to Open New R&D and Production Facilities for Growing Solar Energy Market
  DuPont announced it will soon begin construction on a research center in Hong Kong and a manufacturing facility in Shenzhen to support the rapidly growing photovoltaic (PV) solar energy industry.
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• Rohm and Haas to Build Plant in Vietnam
  Rohm and Haas Company (NYSE:ROH) said today that it intends to build an acrylic emulsion facility in Nhon Trach city, within the Dong Nai province of Vietnam, in order to meet the fast-growing needs for the paints and coatings market.
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• Dow Corning Opens Solar Solutions Application Center
  ow Corning Corp. opened a Solar Solutions Application Center in Freeland, Michigan, to collaborate with customers to develop, evaluate and pilot materials solutions used to manufacture solar panels.
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• Quaker Chemical to Spend $20M on Plant Expansion
  Quaker Chemical Corp. will centralize much of its North American production at its Middletown, Ohio, plant, and spend almost $20 million to expand the site.
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• Flexsys to Exit Operations At Ruabon, Wales Industrial Facility
  Solutia Inc. (NYSE:SOA) today announced that its Flexsys(r) subsidiary intends to cease manufacturing at its facility in Ruabon, Wales, by the end of 2008, with complete site exit by the end of 2011.
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• Chemtura Expands Calcium Sulfonate Capacity by Over 25%
  Chemtura Corporation announced the expansion of manufacturing capacity for its Hybase(R) Overbased Calcium Sulfonate production line in West Hill, Ontario, Canada.
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• BASF Expands Manufacturing Capacity for Certain Amines
  BASF will double its manufacturing capacity for certain alkylethonalamines (AEOA) by mid-2009. This expansion is the company's response to increases in its customers' demand for these products.
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• Ineos Expected to Shut Norwegian PP Unit
  Ineos plans to close the polypropylene plant at the Bamble complex in Norway that it acquired from Borealis last year, according to reports from Germany.
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• Alcoa Board Elects Klaus Kleinfeld President and CEO
  Alcoa's Board of Directors has elected Klaus Kleinfeld, 50, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He succeeds Alain Belda, 64, as CEO. Mr. Belda will continue as Chairman of the Board.
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• DuPont Invests $150 Million in Key Growth Markets for Ethylene Copolymers
  DuPont has announced that it is investing approximately $150 million to expand and upgrade manufacturing facilities in Europe, the United States and Asia to meet strong demand for its specialty ethylene copolymers in photovoltaics, packaging and automotive markets, as well as for new infrastructure in emerging economies.
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• BASF Strengthens Network of Admixture Systems Plants in China
  BASF opened a new concrete admixture plant in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The facility has been established to manufacture advanced concrete admixtures to benefit customers in central China's major provinces including Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi.
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• LyondellBasell to Stop Producing Polypropylene at its Morris, Illinois Plant
  LyondellBasell Industries announced today that it will stop producing polypropylene at its Morris, Ill. plant in the fourth quarter of 2008. Production will be shifted to other sites. Polyethylene production at the site will not be affected.
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• BASF to Strengthen its Automotive Business in India
  BASF announced its plans to expand its offerings for the automotive industry in India with investments in plants and technology. The company will build a new engineering plastics compounding plant at its existing site in Thane, which is expected to come on stream by the second half of 2009.
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• European Chemicals Bureau Hands Over to New Chemicals Agency in Helsinki
  On 29th April 2008, the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre celebrates 15 years of contributing to a high level of protection for workers, consumers and the environment through the identification of dangerous chemicals.
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• Per Westin Named Regional Commercial Manager Europe for Angus Chemical Company
  Per Westin has been named regional commercial manager for Europe, East and West, for ANGUS Chemical Company (ANGUS), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow). This role will be in addition to Per's current role as regional commercial manager of Dow Biocides, a business unit of Dow.
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• Agfa-Gevaert Finalizes New Management Structure With Appointment Of Luc Delagaye As President Agfa Materials
  (ABN Newswire) - The Board of Directors of Agfa-Gevaert announced today that it decided to appoint Luc Delagaye as President Agfa Materials, effective May 5, 2008. He will replace in this function Albert Follens, who remains Vice President of the Executive Committee.
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• US Chemical Firm Tetra Technologies to Open Arkansas Calcium Chloride Plant in 2009
  TETRA Technologies Inc., an oil and gas services company has started work on a new chemical processing facility in El Dorado, Arkansas, which will produce calcium chloride, a feedstock for the firm's completion fluids business as well as for applications in a variety of other markets, inckuding the food industry.
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• Changes in the Board of Directors of Holcim Ltd
  The company's articles of incorporation stipulate that the terms of office of the members of the Board of Directors of Holcim Ltd are scheduled such that every year the term of office of approximately one third of the members expires. The Board of Directors of Holcim Ltd will be proposing to the Annual General Meeting on May 7, 2008 that Christine Binswanger and Robert F. Spoerry be elected to the company's most senior supervisory body to replace Willy R. Kissling and Gilbert J. B. Probst, who have opted not to stand for re-election.
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• Dow Corning Announce Opening of Multi-Million Dollar New Silicone Rubber Plant for Asia
  Dow Corning has announced the opening of a multi-million dollar investment in a new silicone rubber plant to support growing demand from customers in Asia.
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• Auguste Takes Helm of Veolia Water North America
  Veolia Water North America has named Laurent Auguste president and chief executive officer.
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• Husky Appoints Chief Financial Officer
  Mr. John C.S. Lau, President & Chief Executive Officer, Husky Energy Inc., is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alister Cowan as Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Husky Oil Operations Limited effective April 28, 2008.
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• DSM Announces Investment Plan for Powder Coating Resins
  Royal DSM N.V. announced its long term manufacturing plan to expand its polyester powder coating resin facilities and prepare its manufacturing network for the future. The capacity at three of its locations will be expanded, while preparations have started for further expansions.
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• New Executive Committee for ECSPP
  At its Annual General Meeting held last month, ECSPP members elected a new Executive Committee to serve for the coming two-year period. Fred du Plessis (Kline Consulting Europe, UK) was elected President.
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• BASF Announces Major Bioplastics Production Expansion
  BASF SE has announced plans for a significant expansion of its production plant for the biodegradable plastic Ecoflex® at the company's Ludwigshafen site.
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• Syngenta to Build Major Global Biotech Research Center in Beijing, China
  Syngenta today announced that it will build a new biotech research & technology center in Beijing, China. Its focus will be on early-stage evaluation of GM and native traits for key crops such as corn and soy, in the areas of yield improvement, drought resistance, disease control and biomass conversion for biofuels.
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• German Chemical Industry Workers Win Large Pay Increase
  Some 550,000 workers in Germany's chemical industry have won pay increases of nearly 5 percent this year and another 3.3 percent in 2009, negotiators said Wednesday.
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• Cereplast Opens European Headquarters
  Cereplast, Inc., manufacturer of proprietary bio- based, sustainable plastics, officially opened its European headquarters in France today to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable plastics throughout Europe.
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• Agrium Opens Office in China
  Agrium Inc. announced the establishment of a representative office in Beijing, China. The office will be led by Dr. Mark Wong who will serve as President of Agrium (China) Inc.
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• Ashland Distribution Expands China Market Presence
  In support of its geographic expansion strategy, Ashland Distribution, a division of Ashland Inc., has increased its logistics capabilities to better serve the growing China market.
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• Lanxess to Reduce Layoffs
  Job cuts at Lanxess Inc. may not be as severe as first feared. Lanxess spokesperson Bernadette Taylor said the company has offered early retirement and voluntary severance packages to unionized employees.
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• Eastman Chemical Company Exits Vitamin E TPGS Business
  Eastman Chemical Company is announcing it will be closing its manufacturing site located in Wales, U.K., and is ceasing production of EASTMAN Vitamin E TPGS ("TPGS"), which is currently manufactured at the site.
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• Borouge Announces Further Strategic Expansion of Polyolefins Operations Beyond Borouge 2
  Borouge announced that it has initiated the feasibility study for Borouge 3: a further expansion of its polyolefin operations in Abu Dhabi to add approximately 2.5 million tonnes per year of capacity by end of 2014.
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• Foundation of Grameen-Veolia Water Ltd in Bangladesh
  Grameen Bank and Veolia Water agreed today to set up a new company called Grameen-Veolia Water Ltd to supply drinking water to the poorest people of Bangladesh.
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• Sasol-Huntsman Joint Venture to Pursue Major Maleic Anhydride Expansion in Germany
  Sasol-Huntsman GmbH & Co. KG, a 50/50 joint venture between Huntsman Corporation and Sasol Chemical Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, located in Moers, Germany, announced plans to expand its maleic anhydride manufacturing capacity from 60 mt to 105 mt by the first quarter of 2011.
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• Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies UK Appoints a New CEO
  Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (VWS) announced the appointment of Dr Ian Stewart as CEO for the company's operations in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
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• Gen. James L. Jones Nominated to Chevron Board of Directors
  Chevron Corporation announced that Gen. James L. Jones (retired, United States Marine Corps) has been nominated for election to Chevron's board of directors.
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• PerkinElmer Announces Global R&D Expansion in Singapore
  PerkinElmer, Inc. celebrated the opening of a new Center of Excellence in Singapore. The PerkinElmer Inc. Center of Excellence in Singapore comes as part of PerkinElmer's continued global R&D expansion efforts.
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• New Chemicals Industrial City Planned for Abu Dhabi
  The International Petroleum Investment Company (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E) and Borealis AG have signed a memorandum of understanding along with Abu Dhabi Investment Council to prepare jointly for the first phase of the development of a planned new Chemicals Industrial City to be located in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
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• Lubrizol Unveils $200M Investment Plan
  Lubrizol Corp., which makes fuel and oil additives, said Tuesday it plans to spend about $200 million to increase and upgrade global capacity.
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• Dow to Increase Refined Ethylene Oxide Capacity in Terneuzen, The Netherlands
  The Dow Chemical Company announced that it will transition to ethylene oxide (EO)-only production at its EO/EG plant in Terneuzen, The Netherlands, shutting down production of ethylene glycol (EG) at the site before the end of 2008.
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• BASF China Cracker Submits Feasibility for Approval
  German chemical giant BASF and partner Sinopec Corp have submitted feasibility studies for a planned $900 million expansion for their China cracker, companies said on Tuesday.
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• IPIC, Borealis to Develop UAE Chemicals Complex
  Abu Dhabi government-owned IPIC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Austrian subsidiary Borealis to develop a chemicals complex in the United Arab Emirates, UAE state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.
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• Changes in Clariant's Board of Directors
  Clariant's Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting to elect Dominik Koechlin, Hariolf Kottmann and Carlo G. Soave to the Board of Directors.
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• Global Chemical Company Plans World Leading Manufacturing Facility
  Global Chemical Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AlMansoori Specialized Engineering, has announced plans for a new specialized chemical manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi.
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• Pharmaceuticals: Nycomed to Shift European API Production to India
  Pharmaceuticals firm Nycomed (Zurich, Switzerland) says it plans to transfer its current API production from facilities at Linz (Austria) and Singen (Germany) to Zydus Nycomed (Mumbai, India) in the next three-to-four years.
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• Eastman Expanding Eastman Tritan Copolyester Capacity
  Eastman Chemical Company announced it is investing in commercial scale operations that will expand production capacity for Eastman Tritan copolyester products at its facility in Kingsport, Tenn.
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• SGL Carbon AG Plans Conversion into a European Company (SE)
  The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of SGL Carbon AG will submit a proposal to its shareholders at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on April 25, 2008 on converting the SGL Carbon Aktiengesellschaft into a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE) named SGL CARBON SE.
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• ExxonMobil Announces Senior Management Changes
  Integrated energy giant ExxonMobil's board of directors is expected to elect Michael Dolan as senior vice president of the organization, effective April 1, 2008.
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• Borealis Announces New Vice President for Business Unit Pipe
  Borealis announced the appointment of Jane Toogood as Vice President for its business unit Pipe, effective immediately.
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• DSM intends to close Agro plant in IJmuiden (NL)
  The Dutch Ministers Cramer (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) and Eurlings (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) and DSM announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on the termination of ammonia transport by rail between Geleen and IJmuiden.
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• Hexion Specialty Chemicals Announces Post-Merger Senior Leaders
  Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. announced the post-merger senior leaders for the company, contingent on the close of its acquisition of Huntsman Corporation.
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• LANXESS: Holger Hüppeler Appointed Head of Group Function Procurement
  Holger Hüppeler (40) is the new head of the Group Function Procurement at specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG. Hüppeler, who was previously in charge of Marketing in the Basic Chemicals business unit, assumed his new responsibility on March 3, 2008.
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• Avery Dennison Appoints Three Execs
  Avery Dennison has appointed a vice president of its roll materials division and promoted two other executives, the company said Thursday.
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• Borealis Creates Science and Technology Advisory Board
  Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, announces the creation of a Science and Technology Advisory Board to provide further impetus to its step change in innovation programme.
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• Henkel to Sell Ecolab Shares, Cut Jobs
  Germany's Henkel, maker of Persil detergent and got2b hair products, posted flat fourth-quarter earnings hurt by high raw-material costs and said it would cut jobs and sell shares in Ecolab Inc to buy part of National Starch.
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• Changes on BASF’s Communications Team
  Frank Halder (49) will head Corporate Communications Europe at BASF SE effective May 1, 2008. He will succeed Elisabeth Schick (41), who will become the new head of BASF’s Corporate & Governmental Relations department as of the same date. Schick will succeed Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt (51), who will become responsible for the Safety, Security & Emergency Response department as of May 1.
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• Veolia Announces New Senior Managemen
  Veolia Water Indianapolis LLC (VWI) President David Gadis today announced the promotion of three employees to senior management positions within the company.
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• Changes in Kemira's Management
  Pekka Ojanpää has been appointed President of Kemira Water business area as of February 6, 2008. Mr. Ojanpää is currently working as President of Kemira Specialty.
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• Borealis Announces New Executive Vice President for Polyolefins
  Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, announces the appointment of Lorenzo Delorenzi as Executive Vice President for its Polyolefins business group and member of the Executive Board, effective immediately.
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• Simen Lieungh Appointed President & CEO of Aker Kværner ASA
  Simen Lieungh (47), a former Aker Kvaerner executive vice president and 20-year company veteran, has been appointed President & CEO of Aker Kværner ASA. Martinus Brandal will be nominated as new Chairman of the Board of the company.
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• Alcoa Appoints Two New Directors; Stan O'Neal and Michael G. Morris to Join Company Board of Directors
  Alcoa announced that the board of directors has appointed Stan O'Neal, 56, former chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch, and Michael G. Morris, 60, Chairman, President and CEO of American Electric Power Company to its board of directors.
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• Appointment to Arkema's Executive Committee
  Pierre Chanoine will be appointed, on February 1st, member of Arkema's Executive Committee, succeeding Philippe Goebel. Pierre Chanoine will remain in charge of the Fluorochemicals Business Unit and will supervise the Technical Polymers and Specialty Chemicals (CECA) Business Units.
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• Verenium Announces Appointment of Executive Vice President
  Alternative fuel technology firm Verenium has announced the appointment of Gerald Haines as executive vice president and chief legal officer. He will report directly to Carlos Riva, Verenium's president and CEO.
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• National Starch Personal Care Announces Ralph Manrique as Global Marketing Manager, Skin Care
  National Starch Personal Care has announced the appointment of Ralph Manrique as Global Marketing Manager for Skin Care. Mr. Manrique will implement the marketing plans for skin care ingredients offered in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
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• Tronox Names Michael Foster General Counsel
  Tronox Incorporated has named Michael J. Foster vice president, general counsel and secretary.
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• Borealis Announces New Executive Board structure
  Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, announces the new structure of its Executive Board.
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• Flexicon Corporation Doubles Size of Engineering Department
  U.S. based, bulk solids handling specicialists Flexicon Corporation have doubled the size of their Engineering Department and increased engineering personnel by 50 percent at the 90,000 sq ft manufacturing facility.
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• ZEOX Appoints Dr. Francis A. Via as Vice President Development
  Mr. LuVerne E.W. Hogg, President and CEO of ZEOX Corporation (TSX VENTURE: ZOX), is very pleased to announce that the Company has appointed Dr. Francis Via as Vice President of Development for the Company effective immediately.
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• Dynamotive Appoints David B. McMillan as President, Dynamotive USA
  Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, a leader in biomass-to-liquid-fuel technology, yesterday announced the appointment of David B. McMillan as President, Dynamotive USA.
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• Holly Corporation Announces Management and Organizational Changes
  Holly Corporation ("Holly"), an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel, has announced that Bruce R. Shaw has been elected to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
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• Spartech Names Myles Odaniell President, CEO; 25 Year Industry Veteran
  Spartech Corporation, a leading producer of plastics materials and packaging, said Thursday that Myles S. Odaniell has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors.
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• Sun Chemical Names Lenz CEO
  Sun Chemical, the world’s leading manufacturer of printing inks and organic pigments, appointed Rudi Lenz (BIO) as its Chief Executive Officer and President, effective January 1, 2008.
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• Akzo Nobel Transformation Gathers Pace as New Structure is Unveiled
  Akzo Nobel has finalized plans for the new structure of the company ahead of its acquisition of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), which is scheduled for completion on January 2, 2008.
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