Page 20 - Plastics News July 2017

COMPANY NEWS

SINOPEC and Linde ink EUR145 mln JV to strengthen air gases

supply in Ningbo industrial cluster

INOPEC, the biggest integrated refining and chemical in China in their growth aspiration. This year alone, we
Scompany in China, and The Linde Group, a world- have signed multiple projects for major investments
leading industrial gases and engineering company, have across China, which represents a significant part of
announced that they have established a EUR 145 million Linde's strategy for growth in Asia." "Linde operations in
50:50 joint venture to supply vital industrial gases to local Ningbo is an excellent example of our cluster strategy in
customers from key industries such as petrochemical, steel action. Leveraging Linde's gas and engineering expertise
and electronics, within the Ningbo Chemical Industrial and innovations, we are able to consolidate our plant
operations which enables our cluster customers to benefit
Zone in China's Zhejiang province. The newly formed
from economies of scale - improved energy efficiency,
better quality management, and safer and even more
reliable service," said Steven Fang, Regional Business
Unit Head, Linde East Asia. He added, "Linde's approach
is well aligned with the Chinese government's plans to
develop Ningbo into a modern petrochemical hub." Linde's
Engineering Division will design and construct the new
air separation unit. Linde's world-leading technology in
air separation design offers high energy efficiency and
operational reliability.

BASF unveils renovated plant in

Germany
Ningbo Linde-ZRCC Gases Company Ltd (Linde-ZRCC) is the ASF has cut the ribbon on its bigger compounding plant
sixth consecutive joint venture between the companies. Bin Schwarzheide, Germany, now the biggest works in
The agreement will see Linde-ZRCC acquire two existing its group.With the growth of the plant BASF expects to
air separation units (ASUs) from ZRCC and construct a third make up to 70,000 tons more Ultramid polyamide, and
for a combined 150,000 m3/h of oxygen capacity. The new Ultradur polybutylene terephthalate.
ASU, expected to be on stream in 2018, will incorporate
Linde's intelligent solutions for remote operation, About 50 new jobs will be created. Jürgen Becky, Head
diagnostics and analytics, as well as a modular design of BASF’s business unit Performance Materials, said: “The
to increase efficiency, reduce energy requirements and bigger plant enables us to accompany our customers’
enhance flexibility of production. These three additional growth in the long run, at the highest technical level and
ASUs will double Linde production capacity of air gases with the best plastics. “The expanded plant represents
state of the art technology in the plastics market and gives
in the Ningbo cluster and will be connected to Linde's us even more flexibility in our production process.” The
pipeline supply network across Ningbo. engineering plastics Ultramid and Ultradur are used to
Sanjiv Lamba, Member of the Executive Board, Linde make high-performance components for the automotive,
AG and Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific, said, "Linde electrical and electronics industries, as well as for the
is excited about the growth opportunities in China and construction and furniture sectors. The components
further strengthening of our partnership with SINOPEC. include oil pans, engine mounts, sensors and connectors,
Today's Linde-ZRCC agreement underscores not only the chairs and fastening elements. Latest innovations are the
trusted long-term partnership Linde has with SINOPEC, but speciality Ultramid Advanced N, the charge air duct made
also highlights the advantage of world-class technology and of the high-temperature polyamide Ultramid Endure in
operating expertise that Linde brings to our customers. the new Alfa Romeo Giulia and the TeamUP design chair
Linde remains fully committed to supporting our customers for the office of the future.

Plastics News | July 2017 20