Honeywell has started operations at its hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) manufacturing plant in Geismar, Louisiana, on Tuesday.
The company invested $300 million in the project, which it says is now the largest global site for HFO-1234yf production. Honeywell told CW that the plant’s capacity will not be disclosed for “confidential and proprietary reasons.”
HFO-1234yf, a hydroflurocarbon refrigerant for automobiles, is a “more environmentally preferable technolog[y] without sacrificing performance,” says Ken Gayer, vice president and general manager of Honeywel’s fluorine products business. Honeywell initially announced the investment toward building a HFO-1234yf plant in December 2013.
Ray Will, an analyst at IHS Chemical, told CW that there is “very strong double digit ramp in consumption” for HFO-1234yf as environmental impact becomes a growing global concern. Honeywell says that its HFO-1234yf refrigerant is currently adopted in 20 million vehicles and expected to reach 40 million vehicles by year’s-end.
By Jing Chen
Source: Chemical Week
ExxonMobil Corp. (Spring, Tex.) announced the startup of two new chemical production units at its Baytown, Texas, manufacturing facility. The $2 billion expansion is part of ExxonMobil’s long-term growth plans to deliver higher-value products from its U.S. Gulf Coast refining and chemical facilities.
Ineos Enterprises has announced the acquisition of Eramet Titanium & Iron (ETI) from Eramet for €230 million ($245 million). The deal was completed on Sept. 21 and takes immediate effect, following the satisfaction of regulatory approvals.
Arxada has appointed Sanjeev Rastogi as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. He succeeds Marc Doyle who led Arxada since its foundation and will join the company’s board of directors as a non-executive member.
