Expansions: ECI Group secures license for 150 kta copolymer plant with China’s YECC; Indorama consolidating polyester filament yarn production in Italy, transferring output from Germany

UK-based ECI Group has signed a licensing agreement with Shaanxi Yanchang China Coal Yulin Energy & Chemical Co (YECC) to deliver a 150 kilotonnes/year copolymer plant project, using ECI’s proprietary hybrid reactor technology.

YECC is part of the Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group, China’s fourth largest oil producer with significant petrochemical production facilities based in Shaanxi, Northwestern China. The plant will be located in Yangqiaopan, Jingbian County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. ECI Group’s technology will enable the plant to produce 150,000 tonnes per year of LDPE, EVA, EBA and other high-value copolymer products, with the ability for future expansion of both capacity and product capability.

ECI will provide the technology license, process design package, expanded process design package, and detailed design for the high-pressure system as well as technical procurement services for the project and on-site technical support during installation, start-up, and performance assessment.

ECI will be supported by chemical firm Repsol, who will provide extensive technical, operational, and commercial expertise. Repsol has over 40 years of experience producing LDPE, EVA, and EBA polymer products in its industrial complexes in Spain and Portugal.

ECI’s hybrid reactor technology has been developed from the well-proven ICI autoclave technology and offers a wide range of high-pressure PE products, providing unrivalled operational efficiency, reliability, and flexibility.

ECI’s hybrid reactor technology offers significant improvements in the product range, reliability, and expandability to the original ICI technology, and has been optimised to make use of modern materials, design techniques, standards, and industry best practices for construction, operation, and maintenance.

Since 2021, ECI Group has licensed plant capacities of 50 kta, 100 kta, 150 kta and 200 kta, all using ECI Group’s standardised design approach.

Meanwhile in other news, Thailand-based polyester fibre supplier Indorama Ventures says it is concentrating large parts of its high-performance polyester filament yarn production for the European textile industry around 100km west to Milan, Italy.

The company expects to shift current polyester filament yarn production from Germany, and bundle its spinning, draw texturising and dyeing expertise in Sandigliano and its neighbouring site in Saluzzo, Italy. Indorama adds this is in line with its strategy to transform its global asset network into a focused footprint that can serve volatile markets.

It says that European textile filament customers will benefit from efficient, reliable supply of high-quality, coloured, spun and package dyed, as well as functional yarns for a vast range of applications in customised quantities. End use applications are, among others, in apparel, home textile, woven label and automotive interior markets.

“While European customers value our expertise and supply capabilities from within the region, they also expect us to be highly cost competitive,” explains Vipin Kumar, COO of Indorama Ventures’ fibres business. “Consolidating our capabilities will be most efficient moving forward and allow us to continuously serve our European customers with highly specialized and proven quality-products and services competitively.”

The company’s twisting and air texturising processes will continue to be performed out of Bulgaria.

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