News in Brief
15 Jan 2000
Air Products' vinyl contract...
Air Products is to build an air separation unit at Runcorn, with a capacity of 180tons of oxygen per day, to supply the adjacent European Vinyls Corporation (EVC) plant. The unit, due to come on-stream in August, will also supply nitrogen to ICI's plants on the same site.
A $30 million air separation plant in Singapore will help expand Air Products' presence in Asia, according to Wayne Hinman, president of Air Products Asia. The plant, on the island of Pulau Sakra, is to be 'merged and consolidated into an integrated petroleum and petrochemical hub,' says the company.
Export drive for green tech
Science minister John Battle has launched a new initiative to provide export support services for UK environmental technology manufacturers. The Environmental Industries Commission Export Services Company (EIC-ESC) will provide market intelligence for firms, and will establish 'industry teams to respond to specific opportunities.'
CadCentre's boom months
Computer design systems specialist CadCentre saw its profits almost double in the six months to 30 September, compared with the same period the previous year; to £835000 from £367000. Turnover increased 6 per cent, to £8.25 million. The company signed 30 new accounts in the period, compared with 50 for the whole of the previous year.
CIA 'cautious' on pollution tax
The Chemical Industries Association has given a 'cautious welcome' to the government's plans for 'economic instruments' to reduce water pollution. The plans, outlined in a consultative document, involve a series of charges for companies that discharge wastes into rivers. 'It is welcome because we do believe that economic instruments can provide an incentive to reduce environmental impact; we are cautious because we would want to be sure that new charges were not being piled on top of existing charges,' the CIA comments.
