LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY - BASF AG and DuPont Co. are establishing a joint venture to manufacture and sell nylon intermediates in Asia. The 50/50 venture will combine the technical, manufacturing knowledge and marketing skills of both companies.
Although a plant site has not been chosen, China is the leading candidate. Construction on the $750 million facility is projected to begin in 1998 and be completed in 2001.
The manufacturing plant will produce about 600 million pounds of adiponitrile from butadiene per year. The adiponitrile will be converted into monomers for nylon production. The joint venture will serve mainly Asia-Pacific customers.
BASF is based in Ludwigshafen; DuPont is headquartered in Wilmington, Del.
Concor Tool looks to expand facility
HAYWARD, WIS. - Concor Tool and Machine Inc. is adding space and machinery to meet rising sales of feed screws and tool steel-lined barrels it makes for injection molding and extrusion companies.
The Hayward-based private firm will add 10,000 square feet of space this spring to expand its heat-treating and office areas. It also will install more lathes and milling machines this year, according to Steve Gerich, marketing coordinator. He did not provide a cost for the expansion.
Concor now employs 49 at its 12,500-square-foot facility.
Westlake increasing ethylene capacity
HOUSTON - Westlake Group, based in Houston, broke ground April 10 for an ethylene capacity expansion at its petrochemical complex in Sulphur, La.
The firm would not comment on the amount of the investment.
When completed, the expansion will increase Westlake's ethylene production capacity to 2.3 billion pounds annually. The company plans to begin operating the plant by the end of 1997, and to have 100 permanent employees.
The new facilities will use a system designed and constructed by Lummus Global Inc., called Short Residence Time, and will operate with ethane and propane feedstocks.
``The expansion is to give ourselves a sufficient long-term supply as we grow the other downstream portion of our business,'' said David R. Hansen, vice president of human resources.
