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LG Petrochemical, ABB ink catalyst deal
FOCUS flagship product, EnerBurn Combustion Catalyst for Diesel Fuel, forms a non-hazardous catalytic surface on the diesel engine’s combustion chamber and piston heads. This catalyst reduces the combustion temperature of carbon and accelerates oxidation. Press release from: Gold Bond Resources Inc, 1511 S Riegel Court, Spokane, WA 99212, USA. Tel: +1 509 534 0063 (19 Nov 2003)
Grace 3Q 2003: Davison Chemicals For its 3Q 2003 (ends 30 Sep 2003), Davison Chemicals (the Catalyst and Silica Products division of WR Grace & Co) has reported sales of $267 M (+8.3% on 3Q 2002). Excluding the effects of favourable currency translation, sales were up 3.6% for the quarter. Sales of catalyst products, which include refining catalysts, polyolefin catalysts, and other chemical catalysts, were $189. 6 M, (+5.9%), primarily attributable to currency effects and an acquisition completed in Japan in Aug 2002. Grace 3Q Report 2003, 23 Oct 2003, 1-2 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
LG Petrochemical, ABB ink catalyst deal LG Petrochemical has agreed a contract with ABB Lummus to commercialise its new catalytic cracking technology by 2005. LG Petrochemical has invested Won 4 bn on development of the catalyst for high-yields of ethylene during 2003. The company has operated a pilot plant in Jeonnam, South Korea, since 2001 and it has applied for patents. Asian Chemical News, 10 Nov 2003, 10 (423), 4 & Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Nov 2003, 81 (45), 19-21 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
NE Chemcat begins production of diesel purifying catalyst In Oct 2003, NE Chemcat started production of diesel engine exhaust gas purifying catalysts at its Tsukuba, Japan, plant. The company had automotive catalyst sales of Yen 20 bn in 2002, and forecasts sales of Yen 28.4 bn in 2007. Japan Chemical Week, 13 Nov 2003, 44 (2245), 2
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NGK to halve automotive honeycomb production cost In the next three years, the cost of producing honeycomb for the treatment of automotive exhaust gases is to be halved by NGK Insulators under its Project 50. Current output is at least 50 M unit/y. Production is due to be started shortly in China. Technology for exhaust gas purification is to be developed by the company in a long-term project. There is increasing demand for systems for purifying the exhaust gases from diesel-powered engines. Mass production of diesel particulate filters, cordierite, and silicon carbide is being planned by the company. Japan Chemical Week, 30 Oct 2003, 44 (2243), 2
Nippon Petrochemicals to introduce metathesis; eyeing 150,000 tonne/y propylene expansion Nippon Petrochemicals is to introduce metathesis technology that will allow it to produce propylene from butene and ethylene. Ethylene and butene will be used from the company’s site in Kawasaki as well as from Nippon Oil Group’s FCC unit at the Negishi Refinery. Capital investments will amount to Yen 6-7 bn and the work will be undertaken during a maintenance closure at Kawasaki in Aug 2004. The new 150,000 tonne/y of increased propylene capacity will start up in Oct 2005. Japan Chemical Week, 6 Nov 2003, 44 (2244), 1
Novozymes A/S Group financial statement for nine months of 2003 Sales of Novozymes rose by 4% to DKR 4373 M during nine months of 2003 (DKR 4190 M in nine months of 2002). Net profit rose by 19% from DKR 452 M in nine months of 2002 to DKR 539 M during nine months of 2003. The company hopes that the return on invested capital will be about 14% for 2003 (13.1% in year ended Dec 2002). Net profit is expected to increase by 13%. Similarly, the outlook for growth in operating profit is 3-5% in spite of the unfavourable currency situation. Sales of technical enzymes increased by 3% for nine months of 2003. Sales of detergent enzymes were on par, while sales of other technical enzymes rose
by 9% in spite of the negative effect of the exchange rates. Sales of enzymes for the production of fuel ethanol and for the textile industry continue to show high growth rates. The growth in sales of other technical enzymes in during nine months of 2003 was negatively affected. Sales of food enzymes were 1% lower than in 2002. Sales of feed enzymes rose by 15%. Sales of microorganisms by Novozymes Biologicals rose by 34%. Novozymes A/S is a biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms for industrial use. Novozymes’ nine months of 2003 results, 5 Nov 2003 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com)
Novozymes results forecast for 2H 2003 Danske Equities is predicting that Novozymes will deliver poorer results in 2H 2003, with earnings falling slightly, compared with the strong results of 2H 2002. The trend of 2Q 2003 will continue, with a negative currency effect from the weakening American dollar, strong growth in the business areas of fuel ethanol and feed enzymes, and weak growth for cleaning agents. A 4% growth in earnings is forecast for 2003. Net Posten, 3 Nov 2003, (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
Shell, VW eye alternative fuels A joint programme for developing new engine and fuel technologies has been put in place by Shell and Volkswagen. The use of synthetic fuels manufactured using Shell’s gasto-liquids (GTL) technology are included in the project. Processes to make synthetic fuels from biomass will also be developed. Chemical Week, 19 Nov 2003, 165 (42), 39
Süd-Chemie restructure global catalyst business Süd-Chemie is reorganising its catalyst production business to achieve further growth and development by considering strategies such as acquisitions, divestments, and plant closures. The company is evaluating its production sites in the US, Asia, and Europe, focusing on its major business areas
JANUARY 2004
Grace 3Q 2003: Davison Chemicals For its 3Q 2003 (ends 30 Sep 2003), Davison Chemicals (the Catalyst and Silica Products division of WR Grace & Co) has reported sales of $267 M (+8.3% on 3Q 2002). Excluding the effects of favourable currency translation, sales were up 3.6% for the quarter. Sales of catalyst products, which include refining catalysts, polyolefin catalysts, and other chemical catalysts, were $189. 6 M, (+5.9%), primarily attributable to currency effects and an acquisition completed in Japan in Aug 2002. Grace 3Q Report 2003, 23 Oct 2003, 1-2 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
LG Petrochemical, ABB ink catalyst deal LG Petrochemical has agreed a contract with ABB Lummus to commercialise its new catalytic cracking technology by 2005. LG Petrochemical has invested Won 4 bn on development of the catalyst for high-yields of ethylene during 2003. The company has operated a pilot plant in Jeonnam, South Korea, since 2001 and it has applied for patents. Asian Chemical News, 10 Nov 2003, 10 (423), 4 & Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Nov 2003, 81 (45), 19-21 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
NE Chemcat begins production of diesel purifying catalyst In Oct 2003, NE Chemcat started production of diesel engine exhaust gas purifying catalysts at its Tsukuba, Japan, plant. The company had automotive catalyst sales of Yen 20 bn in 2002, and forecasts sales of Yen 28.4 bn in 2007. Japan Chemical Week, 13 Nov 2003, 44 (2245), 2
4
ON
C ATA LY S T S
NGK to halve automotive honeycomb production cost In the next three years, the cost of producing honeycomb for the treatment of automotive exhaust gases is to be halved by NGK Insulators under its Project 50. Current output is at least 50 M unit/y. Production is due to be started shortly in China. Technology for exhaust gas purification is to be developed by the company in a long-term project. There is increasing demand for systems for purifying the exhaust gases from diesel-powered engines. Mass production of diesel particulate filters, cordierite, and silicon carbide is being planned by the company. Japan Chemical Week, 30 Oct 2003, 44 (2243), 2
Nippon Petrochemicals to introduce metathesis; eyeing 150,000 tonne/y propylene expansion Nippon Petrochemicals is to introduce metathesis technology that will allow it to produce propylene from butene and ethylene. Ethylene and butene will be used from the company’s site in Kawasaki as well as from Nippon Oil Group’s FCC unit at the Negishi Refinery. Capital investments will amount to Yen 6-7 bn and the work will be undertaken during a maintenance closure at Kawasaki in Aug 2004. The new 150,000 tonne/y of increased propylene capacity will start up in Oct 2005. Japan Chemical Week, 6 Nov 2003, 44 (2244), 1
Novozymes A/S Group financial statement for nine months of 2003 Sales of Novozymes rose by 4% to DKR 4373 M during nine months of 2003 (DKR 4190 M in nine months of 2002). Net profit rose by 19% from DKR 452 M in nine months of 2002 to DKR 539 M during nine months of 2003. The company hopes that the return on invested capital will be about 14% for 2003 (13.1% in year ended Dec 2002). Net profit is expected to increase by 13%. Similarly, the outlook for growth in operating profit is 3-5% in spite of the unfavourable currency situation. Sales of technical enzymes increased by 3% for nine months of 2003. Sales of detergent enzymes were on par, while sales of other technical enzymes rose
by 9% in spite of the negative effect of the exchange rates. Sales of enzymes for the production of fuel ethanol and for the textile industry continue to show high growth rates. The growth in sales of other technical enzymes in during nine months of 2003 was negatively affected. Sales of food enzymes were 1% lower than in 2002. Sales of feed enzymes rose by 15%. Sales of microorganisms by Novozymes Biologicals rose by 34%. Novozymes A/S is a biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms for industrial use. Novozymes’ nine months of 2003 results, 5 Nov 2003 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com)
Novozymes results forecast for 2H 2003 Danske Equities is predicting that Novozymes will deliver poorer results in 2H 2003, with earnings falling slightly, compared with the strong results of 2H 2002. The trend of 2Q 2003 will continue, with a negative currency effect from the weakening American dollar, strong growth in the business areas of fuel ethanol and feed enzymes, and weak growth for cleaning agents. A 4% growth in earnings is forecast for 2003. Net Posten, 3 Nov 2003, (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
Shell, VW eye alternative fuels A joint programme for developing new engine and fuel technologies has been put in place by Shell and Volkswagen. The use of synthetic fuels manufactured using Shell’s gasto-liquids (GTL) technology are included in the project. Processes to make synthetic fuels from biomass will also be developed. Chemical Week, 19 Nov 2003, 165 (42), 39
Süd-Chemie restructure global catalyst business Süd-Chemie is reorganising its catalyst production business to achieve further growth and development by considering strategies such as acquisitions, divestments, and plant closures. The company is evaluating its production sites in the US, Asia, and Europe, focusing on its major business areas
JANUARY 2004