Page 23 - Plastics News February 2018

COMPANY NEWS

Clariant opens new masterbatch Grace Licenses UNIPOL® PP

production site in Saudi Arabia Process Technology to Grupa

. R. Grace & Co., the leading supplier of polyolefin
lariant, a world
Cleader in specialty Wcatalyst technology and polypropylene (PP)
che micals, t oday process technology, has contracted to license its
officially opened its UNIPOL® PP Process Technology to PDH Polska S. A.
new state-of–the art for a new facility in Police, Poland. With a capacity
masterbatch production of 400 kilotons per year, the PP line is expected to
site in Yanbu, Saudi begin operations in 2022. The PDH Polska operation
Arabia. The site is owned is a subsidiary of Grupa Azoty S. A. of Tarnów, Poland.
by Clariant Masterbatches Saudi Arabia, a joint venture Grace's gas-phase UNIPOL® PP Process Technology
between Clariant and Rowad, a leading plastic products provides the most advanced and broadest range of PP
manufacturer in the Middle East and part of Tasnee, Saudi homopolymers and copolymers in the industry. As the
Arabia's second largest industrial company. “As part of its simplest of all PP process technologies, with fewer
commitment to intensify growth and increase profitability, moving parts and less equipment than any alternative,
Clariant invests in capacity expansions that provide its reliable, stable, and predictable operation
competitive and innovative solutions to its customers. This leads to lower capital,
joint investment with Rowad (Tasnee) expands our global operating, and maintenance
network with a stronger position in the Middle East and costs. Andrzej Niewinski,
Africa region, one of the important growth markets for President of the Board,
plastic applications,” said Patrick Jany, CFO of Clariant. PDH Polska S. A., said, “As
The new site is located in Yanbu, a city on the Red Sea we expand our capabilities
which is home to many of Saudi Arabia’s leading industries into PP production, we do
including petrochemicals, hydrocarbon and minerals. It so with a technology that
has been constructed on a 38,000 square meters property has demonstrated success
in Yanbu Industrial Zone 2 and will focus on the production in making both leading
of white masterbatches. This location provides the site commodity and superior
easy access to key raw materials and enables it to supply specialty grades. This is in line with our track record
customers in Saudi Arabia as well as the wider Middle East of meeting the expectations of our customers.”Al
and Africa region thanks to a good logistics network that Beninati, President of Grace’s Specialty Catalysts
includes the nearby seaport and airport. business segment, said, “Grace is proud to partner
with Grupa Azoty and continue our record of service to
It is the second manufacturing hub for Clariant customers in Europe. The broad product capability and
Masterbatches in Saudi Arabia, supplementing an existing unparalleled flexibility of the UNIPOL® PP process will
site in Riyadh. “The project is one of the most important enable them to deliver the resins that are in highest
investments for the Business Unit Masterbatches in recent demand from their customers.”
years and I am very proud to see it being opened. It’s a
logical next step of our relationship with Rowad (Tasnee) Grace is the leading supplier of polyolefin catalyst
and allows us to offer a broader product portfolio to technology and has the broadest portfolio of polyolefin
customers in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East and catalyst technologies of any independent polyethylene/
Africa region", said Marco Cenisio, Head of Business Unit polypropylene catalyst producer. Grace acquired
Masterbatches, Clariant. Saeed Al Ajrafi, Board Member UNIPOL® PP, a proprietary gas phase polypropylene
of the Clariant Masterbatches Saudi Arabia Joint Venture process technology for the production of a broad range
and Vice President Plastics at Tasnee, added: "We are of polypropylene products. Our UNIPOL® PP licensing
very pleased to officially open this site. The additional and catalyst business also includes UNIPOL UNIPPAC™
capabilities allow us to grow and extend our market share Advanced Process Control software. Grace is an industry
in this region's downstream plastics industry." leader in offering UNIPOL® PP Process Technology.

23 Feb ruar y 2018 Plastics News