Citing the European slowdown, Brazilian chemicals firm Braskem is delaying the construction of its two new ethanol-based plants in Brazil and a naphtha-based PP plant until 2013 and will instead maximise production capacity in existing plants and modernise its current petrochemical park.

Industry analysts polled by ValorEconomico speculate that Braskem bases much of its resin production on naphtha in Brazil, and not cheaper natural gas, and this has dragged down the company’s performance. The company is making huge investments with state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobas) in the new petrochemical complex in Rio de Janeiro, called Comperj. Budgeted at US$13 billion, Comperj will produce natural gas (70%) and naphtha (30%) with two refineries managed by Petrobras and a petrochemical complex where Braskem is majority partner with US$4 billion invested.

US firm Huntsman Corp. has acquired the remaining stake of Huntsman NMG, its Russian PU joint venture with NMG, the manufacturer of PU in Russia and other areas of the former Soviet Union.

Shanghai Sinopec Mitsui Elastomers, a 50:50 joint-venture between Chinese firm Sinopec and Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals, will build an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPT) production plant in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

Swiss speciality chemicals group Clariant is acquiring the remaining 40% share of a joint venture between Alvigo and Chemie.

Belgian firm Solvay has started up its EUR21 million speciality polymers compounding plant at Changshu, targeting the electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial applications markets.

German automotive Tier 1 supplier Faurecia has opened a major R&D centre in Pune, India. Employing 800 automotive engineers, the facility will serve interior systems, automotive seating and automotive exteriors.

US international aerospace and industrial manufacturing and service provider Barnes Group will acquire privately held hot runner maker Synventive Molding Solutions for US$335 million.

US firms Bermis has tied up with Norwegian Thin Film Electronics to develop the Bemis Intelligent Packaging Platform for the commercial development of functional sensor labels manufactured from new and emerging printed electronic technology made from Thin Film’s propriety read/writable printed memory and programme logic

Not only did German robot maker Krauss-Maffei Automation celebrate its 30th anniversary since its foundation, it also marked it with its 1,000th robot delivery from the “robot wharf” of its branch in Schwerin.