Page 160 - CW E-Magazine (1-7-2025)

News from Abroad

AIDING INNOVATION

Nouryon inaugurates innovation centre for oilfi eld

solutions in US

Dutch speciality chemicals fi rm,
Nouryon, has opened a new innova-
tion centre for oilfi eld applications in
Houston, Texas, US. The centre will
focus on research and development
for sustainable drilling and comple-
tion, production, and stimulation
processes, and will also serve as a
platform for workshops and training
sessions. “Our chemistry experts are committed Services Offi ce in Houston in 2020.
to addressing challenges in the oilfi eld The company also manages four manu-
The centre is expected to be fully market and delivering solutions that facturing sites in Fort Worth, Pasadena,
operational in July and features state- enhance our customers’ performance La Porte, and Houston in Texas. Globally,
of-the-art testing facilities and capa- and sustainability targets,” said Johan Nouryon operates 14 innovation cen-
bilities in demulsifi cation, corrosion Landfors, Chief Technology Offi cer at tres – of which those focussed on
and scale inhibition, as well as stimula- Nouryon. oilfi eld applications are located in Dubai,
tion, ensuring alignment with the latest UAE, and Stenungsund, Sweden,
standards and customer expectations. Nouryon launched its Integrated besides Houston.

CLEARING DEBTS

Ascend to discontinue operations of HMD facility

in China

Ascend Performance Materials, the the wind down process over
US-based nylon, plastics and synthetic the next several months.
fi bres fi rm, which had fi led for Chap- The rest of the company’s
ter 11 bankruptcy protection in April Chinese operations, includ-
to strengthen its balance sheet and ing the Suzhou compound-
improve its fi nancial foundation, will ing facility, will continue to
wind down operations at its hexamethy- operate as usual.
lene diamine (HMD) production faci-
lity in Lianyungang, China. lenders, we initiated a fi nancial restruc- Ascend remains focused on cre-
turing process to reduce our debt and ating and delivering high quality per-
“This decision follows a compre- position Ascend for the future. As we formance materials for its customers
hensive evaluation of the facility’s evaluated the market conditions and worldwide, and expects to emerge from
long-term viability amid evolving ongoing trade disputes, we determined the Chapter 11 process later this year.
market dynamics and regulatory land- that the Lianyungang production faci-
scapes,” the company said. lity is no longer the best way to support Founded in 2009 and headquartered
our customers in the region. Accordingly, in Houston, Ascend has nine global
The company had declared bank- we have made the decision to wind locations, including fi ve fully integrated
ruptcy following mounting debts and down the facility,” said Phil McDivitt, manufacturing facilities in the south-eastern
faced with an oversupplied market. President and CEO of the company. US and an engineering plastics compounding
facility in Europe. The company has
“In April, with the support of our The company expects to complete nearly 1,650 customers globally.

160 Chemical Weekly July 1, 2025

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