OCI Nitrogen has teamed up with Re-N Technology to develop a large-scale biogas plant on the Chemelot industrial site. The plant is set to make a major contribution to solving the problem of surplus manure in the Netherlands. At the same time, it will make OCI Nitrogen's production process more sustainable.

Royal DSM announced it is in the process of expanding the capacity of its specialty polymers plants in Emmen and Geleen, the Netherlands. DSM is responding to strong customer demand in high temperature polyamides (PAs) and thermoplastic copolyesters (TPC) with this expansion.

SABIC continues its global expansion with the inauguration of a new polypropylene (PP) pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, and the announcement of a new investment in a state-of-the-art PP extrusion facility to be built at the same location.

The facility capacity raised to 1.5 million tonnes of fertilizer per year and extraction systems installed. The space has been ergonomically designed for better operation and maintenance. A variety of preventative and repressive measures have been taken. Previously a fairly dusty 120-metre cellar has become a clean, pleasant working environment with up-to-date technical facilities.

The plant, which will use gas-phase polymerization technology, will support the production at nearby full-scale plants of superior materials that meet the needs of the different industries like automotive, pipe, appliances and advanced packaging.

Investment by Sappi after global review of potential sites: Brightlands Chemelot Campus is a R&D and teaching campus focused on performance materials, biomedical materials and bio-based materials. The pilot plant builds on technology developed by Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University. Pilot plant will test the manufacturing of dry re-dispersible Cellulose NanoFibrils (CNF) and determine options for commercial production. Nanocellulose has potential to be used in a huge range of applications.

Quality Circular Polymers, is a new company that will provide brand owners and plastics convertors with polymers of high and consistent quality, based on used plastics.

The largest production line for the Keltan-branded EPDM synthetic rubber at the LANXESS’ site of Sittard, Geleen, The Netherlands, has been successfully converted to the company’s innovative ACE technology. The ACE process offers LANXESS a more sustainable process and makes higher value EPDM grades accessible that were beyond reach of conventional technologies. The new ACE-line has a capacity of 95,000 metric tons per year.

Specialty chemicals company operates its global EPDM rubber business from new headquarters in Sittard-Geleen. Bundling of management, administration, production and R&D on the Chemelot Campus. Conversion of EPDM production to sustainable ACE Keltan technology proceeding on schedule

The project will lead to a capacity increase of 24,000 tons per year, which means over 10% of the existing capacity of 235,000 tons per year. The investment will be around EUR 15 million. The project will be finalized in 2007. The additional capacity will be available as of Q3, 2007.