NEWS
MOVINGON
Relocations and expansions across Europe
BASF and PETRONAS Chemicals Group to build an integrated aroma ingredients complex in Malaysia
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ASF and PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) intend to invest USD 500 million (MYR 1.5 billion) in an integrated aroma ingredients project at their existing joint venture site BASF PETRONAS Chemicals in Gebeng, Kuantan. With this investment, the partners will help meet the globally growing demands of customers in the flavor and fragrance industry, especially in Asia Pacific.
At the heart of the complex will be a plant for citral and precursor plants. The partners will also invest in downstream production for aroma ingredients including a new world-scale plant for L-menthol and a plant for citronellol. Production will be developed in phases, with the first plants of the project operational in 2016, creating some 110 new employment opportunities.
“This investment is built on the solid, long-term relationship with our strategic partner PCG. Since the establishment of our joint venture, BASF and PCG have successfully served the needs of the region with high-quality and innovative products,” said Dr Martin Brudermüller, vice-chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific. Visit: www.basf.com
Solvay to build a speciality surfactant plant in Germany
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olvay is to build a speciality surfactant plant at an industrial park in Genthin, Germany, close to Berlin. The unit will develop and produce surfactant solutions for Solvay’s home & personal care and industrial customers serving central and eastern Europe. “This investment advances the successful execution of our growth strategy, expanding production and development capabilities close to our markets and customers,”
said Emmanuel Butstraen, president of Solvay Novecare. “In addition to strengthening our presence in the region, siting our investments in established manufacturing zones enables us to competitively scale up production.” The plant will produce speciality surfactants that aid in the delivery of functional performance attributes such as cleansing, dispersal, moisturising and texturising qualities. Visit: www.solvay.com
Daimler plans expansion of Romanian facility
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he Daimler AG board of management has decided to expand the MercedesBenz Cars powertrain production at the Romanian Daimler subsidiary, Star Transmission. For the production of a new generation of automatic transmissions more than €280 million will be invested in Romania. Overall, the company plans investments of more than €300 million there. Additional capacities will be built up in view of the high capacity utilisation as well as the lack of space for further expansion of transmission production in Stuttgart. “Star Transmission has been a reliable partner of our German powertrain locations for over 10 years. According to the current planning status and based on our excellent experience with Star Transmission, the preferred option for providing the additionally required assembly
New Mitsubishi Electric laser cutting division in Poland
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itsubishi Electric Europe BV has established a new laser processing division to cover central and eastern Europe (CEE). Located in Mitsubishi Electric’s CEE headquarter in Balice, Poland, the LPM (Laser Processing Machines) division will provide complete laser processing machine
20 Industry Europe
capacities in a flexible manner is to expand the activities there,” explains Peter Schabert, head of Powertrain Production and head of the MercedesBenz Untertürkheim plant. Visit: www.daimler.com
services for users as well as technical training, and will work with distributors to develop the business in the region. The first CEE distributor for the laser processing machines has been announced as Polteknik LTD Sp. Z o.o. Polteknik has more than 22 years’ experience in the metals industry and has established a strong reputation in the field of CNC machine sales. It also pro-
vides a range of complementary technologies such as cutters and press brakes. Visit: www.mitsubishielectric.com
