Westlake Chemical Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement with Hexion to acquire their global epoxy business for approximately EUR 1.0 billion.
Based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Hexion’s epoxy business is an industry leader in the manufacture and development of specialty resins, coatings and composites for a variety of applications, including wind turbine blades and light-weight automotive structural components. In the twelve months ended September 30, 2021, Hexion’s epoxy business had net sales of approximately EUR 1.3 billion.
The transaction is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2022 and following customary closing conditions, Westlake intends to significantly expand its integrated business by adding a downstream portfolio of coatings and composite products to its businesses.
Professor Sir Peter Gregson has been appointed Chair of the Henry Royce Institute, the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation.
A Materials’ Scientist by background and recipient of the Rosenhain Medal and Prize of the Institute of Materials in 1996, Sir Peter Gregson has served as Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast (2004-13) and Cranfield University (2013-21).He has been Non-Executive Director of Rolls-Royce Group plc and served on the Councils of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils. He is currently Trustee of the Royal Anniversary Trust and of Lloyds Register Foundation.
Speaking about his appointment, Sir Peter said: “The Henry Royce Institute is a national asset for Advanced Materials Research and Innovation for a Sustainable Society.I pay tribute to the exceptional work of Baroness Brown of Cambridge, CEO Professor David Knowles and Chief Scientist Professor Philip Withers and all the Partners in establishing this outstanding academic partnership. In looking forward, Royce will need to work ever more closely with business to accelerate the research, development and commercial exploitation of advanced materials for the benefit of society, and I look forward to working with the Governing Board, the leadership team and partners in Government and industry to realise this ambition.”
A recent report discussed the work by researchers on a highly efficient bio-based anti-corrosion coating material based on a reduced graphene oxide and epoxidised linseed oil nanocomposite.
The composite eco-friendly coating material was prepared by direct incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into the linseed oil without using any organic solvent. Electrochemical data indicated that the corrosion rate of mild steel was reduced, with protection efficiency of 99.98% in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution.
The study was published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 159, October 2021.
The Henry Royce Institute (Royce) and the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) have launched a joint report which sets out how materials science and innovation will help the UK achieve net-zero.
The document aligns into the Government’s Ten Point Plan for
a green industrial revolution, the precursor to the subsequent Net Zero Strategy, which sets out how the UK will deliver on
its commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and outlines measures to transition to a green and sustainable
future including helping businesses and consumers to move
to clean power.
The reporthighlights the importance and cross-cutting nature of materials science and demonstrates how different materials systems are applicable to each of the themes in the Government’s Ten Point Plan, as well as the applications and enabling technologies that will allow the plan to be put into action, which include, amongst others, .advancing offshore wind, driving the growth of low carbon hydrogen, delivering new and advanced nuclear power, and investing in carbon capture, usage and storage.
The complete report can be found at,
https://www.royce.ac.uk/news/royce-and-iom3-launch-materials-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution/
The Engineering Council, the regulatory body for the engineering profession in the UK, has issued updated Guidance on Risk. This guidance is suitable for engineering professionals at all career stages, and across all sectors and specialisms.
The Guidance on Risk describes the role of all those engaged in engineering in dealing with risk, and their responsibilities to society. The revised Guidance on Risk sets out the key stages of managing risk and emphasises the need to exercise informed judgment and identify what is an acceptable level of risk – the risk appetite.
This Guidance sets out six principles to ensure all engineering professionals integrate understanding of the environment and sustainability of resources into all aspects of their work. The full Guidance on Risk leaflet, and a convenient wallet card of the six principles, can be downloaded free from: www.engc.org.uk/risk
The Guidance is reviewed periodically and (following consultation with the engineering community) this edition replaces and updates the previous Guidance on Risk.
The Engineering Council has announced that it has become a Corporate Supporter of the “Building a Safer Future Charter”.
This aligns with their existing work on building safety, including the development of new contextualised competence requirements that complement their internationally-recognised standards.
The Building a Safer Future Charter was created to promote an urgent and positive culture and behavioural change in the safety of the built environment, and is about putting people’s safety first in how we plan for, design, build, maintain, and look after the safety of the buildings we live, work or play in, and protect those that use them.
The Charter sets out five commitments that demonstrate commitment to protecting life by putting safety first, ahead of all other building priorities. Corporate Supporters, including the Engineering Council, agreed to support these commitments and promote them within their sphere of influence.
Engineering Council CEO Alasdair Coates said “The Engineering Council’s vision is to maintain society’s confidence and trust in the engineering profession. We achieve this through working strategically with partners and are pleased to be supporting this important Charter, part of our wider work
on competence and the crucial issue of building safety”.
Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent inquiry into building regulations and fire safety
clearly identified failure of leadership and culture as key underlying causes of the Grenfell Tower disaster. The ‘Building a Safer Future Charter’ was initiated in response by a group of early adopters including contractors, housing associations and local authorities supported by MHCLG with a vision of having an industry committed to putting people’s safety first.
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