Several major acquisitions and divestitures captured headlines in February, as well plans for new facilities. Powder & Bulk Solids released a roundup of chemical plant tour videos and ACS named a new VP of regulatory and technical affairs. Changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard were proposed last month. Powder & Bulk Solids editors selected these posts to provide our audience with an overview of some of the most interesting chemical industry-related developments that were reported in the last month.

7 Chemical Plant Tour Videos You Can’t Miss
As the pandemic continues to upend professional life, Powder & Bulk Solids created a list of videos to enable our audience to virtually “tour” some of the world’s most advanced chemical and petrochemical facilities.

Chemical Plant Explosion and Fire Leaves 2 Dead, 26 Hurt
Two people died and 26 were injured in a blast and fire in late February at the UPL Ltd. agricultural chemicals plant Jhagadia, India. The incident occurred when the facility was shut down for its annual boiler inspection.

Dow to Sell Infrastructure at Chemical Sites in Germany
Chemicals giant Dow is reportedly preparing to part ways with infrastructure related to its chemical plants in Germany. Unnamed sources told Reuters that the company intends to sell the assets for about €800 million, or about $966 million.

PMC Group Buys Copperhead Chemical Co.
Chemicals and pharmaceuticals firm PMC Group has purchased America’s sole manufacturer of the drug nitroglycerine, Copperhead Chemical Company Inc., as part of its acquisition of Cobra Investments Management Inc. Copperhead Chemical also produces custom drug dosage forms, energetic chemicals for the defense industry, as well as preservatives and antimicrobials.

W.R. Grace Strikes $570M Deal for Fine Chemistry Business
Specialty chemicals company W.R. Grace & Co. has struck a deal to purchase Albemarle Corporation’s Fine Chemistry Services (FCS) business for $570 million. The proposed transaction would enable Grace to bolster its pharma portfolio.

American Chemistry Council Names VP Regulatory and Technical Affairs
Kimberly Wise White, Ph.D. has been named vice president, regulatory and technical affairs of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the nation’s largest trade association representing the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry, effective Feb. 22, 2021.

Lanxess to Acquire Emerald Kalama Chemical for $1.1B
Specialty chemicals company Lanxess is accelerating its growth course and signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% shares in Emerald Kalama Chemical on Feb. 14, 2021.  The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021.

Air Liquide Erecting New ASU to Serve BASF Plant
French industrial gases firm Air Liquide has entered into a new long-term contract to provide oxygen and nitrogen to BASF’s battery materials plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. To support the relationship, Air Liquide also plans to build a new, €40 million (about $48 million) air separation unit (ASU) at the site.

OSHA Proposes Update to Hazard Communication Standard
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new proposed rule that would update its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the seventh revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

Eastman to Open $250M Plastics Recyling Site
Chemicals and plastics maker Eastman is committing $250 million to open a new plastic-to-plastic recycling facility at its existing location in Kingsport, TN over the next two years.

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