News in brief

Nine-month results for Ciba Specialty Chemicals show the Swiss firm's turnover rise by 8 per cent in Swiss francs, to Sfr6.4billion -an 11 per cent increase in local currency terms. The company expects 1998 sales to slightly exceed market growth `despite difficult trading conditions.' Operating income should be `moderately higher' than last year's it adds.

* Elf buys DuPont peroxide

Elf Atochem has bought a 70 000tpa hydrogen peroxide plant from DuPont for an undisclosed sum. The plant, in Memphis, Tennessee, will enable the French firm `to extend its industrial, logistical and commercial activities into a geographical area with a high concentration of customers,' it explains.

* HSE updates pressure advice

A new guidance note from the Health and Safety Executive gives advice on safe systems of work while testing pressurised systems. The note includes information on assessing the potential for blast and missile formation and how to assess the thickness of materials needed to contain a pressure system failure. Contact the HSE's InfoLine for more information, on 0541 545500.

* BOC heads to Brazil

The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo has been chosen by BOC as the site for a 100tonne/day CO2 purification and liquefaction plant. Costing some £6million, the plant will capture and recycle raw CO2 from the Ultrafertil petrochemical plant at Cubatao, and should start up late next year.

* Coatings ventures

Air Products and Wacker Chemie have launched a pair of joint ventures combining their emulsion and redispersible powder coatings businesses. Expected to have revenues in excess of $800million, the ventures will be headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania (emulsions), and Burghausen, Germany (powders).

* Software acquisition

PC Soft has bought OPC specialist FactorySoft for an undisclosed sum. PC Soft explains that the acquisition will bolster its presence in the `soft control' area of the market.