News Coverage
Heat Transfer Fluids Become Hot Issue
Pandemic prompts greater attention to condition monitoring
One Third Of Businesses Are Unprepared For Next Global Crisis
A global study by Chemtrec shows that almost a third of businesses under-prioritize their chemical emergency response and crisis management.
Pandemic Spurs Interest In Corporate Innovation
New report from Wellspring reveals that longstanding innovation ops issues constitute a deep-seated risk to corporate growth performance.
Chemical Company Ranking Shows Impact Of Pandemic
ICIS announces annual ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies listing of global producers ranked by 2020 sales.
COVID-19 Derailed Equipment Finance Industry In 2020
This reportedly marked the first time in a decade that businesses decreased their overall spending on capital equipment.
Texas Tech Professor Wins Grant For Indoor COVID-19 Detector
Chemical Engineering Professor Gerardine Botte receives a $999,047 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to work on the project.
NSF International Recognizes Leaders In Fight Against COVID-19
Digital campaign recognizes individuals and businesses making public health a top priority for 2021.
U.K. Chemist Creates Mask That Kills COVID-19 On Impact
The mask reportedly traps and kills the virus – and continues to kill it over a seven-hour period.
Asset Management: Plants Look Off Site For Insights
Pandemic fosters use of remote access and virtual attendance
Petrochem Workforce Braces For “New Normal” After Pandemic
According to new GWTI report, the petrochemicals workforce believes social distancing, workspace flexibility and reduced headcounts are here to stay.
Shift Handover Software Addresses COVID-19 Issues
Eschbach announces a partnership to integrate Shiftconnector and Cleared4, an employee health monitoring platform.
Brightening Outlook Buoys U.S. Chemical Industry
Despite the pandemic, most segments should see moderate growth
Consider Low-Flow Risk Assessment
Decreased operating rates caused by the pandemic can pose hazards.
Berkeley Scientists Build A Better Mask
Scientists from Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley respond to shortcomings in PPE supply chain.
COVID-19 Continues To Disrupt Equipment Finance Industry
New business volume dips in November.
PFAS Compound Is Linked To More Severe COVID-19
People with elevated levels of PFBA were twice as likely to have a severe form of COVID-19, according to the study.
Equipment Finance Industry Shows Resilience In Face Of Pandemic
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association releases Monthly Leasing and Finance Index.
Downstream Companies Report Lingering Impacts Of COVID-19
Deloitte releases new findings in three-part research series, “Building resilience in oil, gas, and chemicals: Navigating disruption and preparing for new opportunities in refining and petrochemicals.”
Pandemic Spurs Enforcement Revisions
A memorandum offers guidance on how best to implement fairness in regulatory enforcements as part of an executive order that aims to support economic recovery during COVID-19.
Uncertainty Surrounds Manufacturing Of COVID-19 Vaccines
Experts from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)’s COVID-19 Response Team provide valued expertise to the Royal Society and the Center for Global Development in key reports launched recently.
Conference Explores Impact Of COVID-19 On Process Safety
IChemE’s annual process safety conference, Hazards 30, will take place online November 26 and 27, 2020.
Fallout From Pandemic Unsettles Equipment Finance Industry
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation releases highlights of the COVID-19 Impact Survey.
Solvay Launches New Technologies To Fight Spread Of COVID-19
Solvay’s long-lasting disinfection solution as well as latest technology in antiviral and antibacterial polyamide textile serves the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Collaboration Helps Employees Return Safely To Work
Honeywell and Wolters Kluwer team up to help companies improve their risk, safety and operational excellence programs.
Report: Downturn May Have Lasting Impact On Oil, Gas And Chemicals
COVID-19 and the oil downturn make workforce and business transformation a strategic imperative.
Many Companies Embrace Remote Engineering Teams Post-Pandemic
Report indicates that 66% of engineering leaders plan to continue allowing remote work after pandemic subsides.
Report: COVID-19 Is Shifting The Landscape Of Global Trade
Jungle Scout releases its 2020 Global Imports Data & Trends Report.
Henkel Boosts U.S. Sanitizer Production With $23M Investment
Henkel's investment in New York and Pennsylvania facilities supports local job growth and increased production of essential products.
Pandemic Causes U.S. Manufacturers To Reevaluate China Operations
East West Associates surveys more than 150 Western companies with operations in China to see if their strategies for manufacturing, contract manufacturing and sourcing there had changed.
Mask Test Uses Fire To Prove Point
Short video that puts masks to the test. It involves fire, so it’s exciting. At least I think so.
NABE: Last Quarter Was One Of The Worst Since Global Financial Crisis
Firms have imposed a number of measures to limit the negative financial impact of COVID-19, including freezing hiring and terminating and furloughing employees.
3M, MIT Researchers Test Rapid Diagnostic Device For COVID-19
The goal is a new, highly accurate, mass-produced low-cost diagnostic device that delivers results in minutes.
Workforce Software Helps Companies Enforce Health And Safety Compliance
Suite incorporates elevated body temperature detection, digitized site entry compliance check, digitized workforce management, worker safety monitoring and provides remote collaboration capabilities.
Evonik’s New German Silicone Plant Starts Production Despite COVID-19
Additional analysis and safety measures put in place to observe social distancing and government guidelines.
IChemE Highlights Importance Of Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chain
As human trials of potential COVID-19 vaccines begin, IChemE calls on governments and public health organizations to recognize the importance of a robust manufacturing process to enable vaccines to be widely available in as short a time as possible.
3M Halts Fraudulent N95 Scheme
The resolution of a lawsuit permanently stops a fraudulent N95 scheme and requires cooperation from defendants with law enforcement.
COVID-19 Reshapes Production Team Collaboration
Lack of face-to-face communication necessitates changes
BASF Introduces New Disinfectants To Fight COVID-19 In Canada
BASF responds to COVID-19 with additional cleaning and disinfectant products.
Momar Partners With Georgia Tech On New Hand Sanitizer Formulation
Momar helps deliver 7,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to medical facilities in Georgia to battle COVID-19.
Arcadis Launches Wastewater Pilot Program For COVID-19 Detection
Arcadis seeks participants for wastewater monitoring pilot program.
ACC’s Swift: Chemical Industry Employment Set To Fall By 20,000
According to Dr. Thomas Kevin Swift, CBE, chief economist and managing director, American Chemistry Council, 2020 outlook remains one of the worst in decades.
Agrochemical Companies Diversify In Coronavirus Era
Chemical companies seek to lessen dependence on China.
NewAge Expands To Meet Pandemic-Driven Demand
NewAge Industries closes a deal to buy two building units at a location within seven miles of its southeastern Pennsylvania headquarters.
Atlas Copco COVID-19 Relief Program Delivers Water To Navajo Nation
The company’s employee-driven Water for All program supports the distribution of fresh drinking water to Navajo Nation.
Workplace Distancing Technology Enables “Next Normal” Manufacturing
Manufacturers are facing new challenges as they look to restart or maintain operations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
AcuTech Webinar Will Discuss Impact Of COVID-19 On Process Safety
AcuTech is hosting a free webinar to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on process safety management and risk management.
Impact Of COVID-19 Drives Down Expected GDP Growth
NABE panel expects GDP growth to fall 5.6% in 2020.
ProAct Safety Offers Businesses COVID-19 Safety Strategies
ProAct Safety publishes resource page for businesses with information on the business safety impacts of the pandemic and how to address them.
Researchers Develop Improved Filter For Anti-COVID 19 Masks
The filter has a smaller pore size than normal N95 masks, potentially blocking more virus particles.
U.K. Contract Manufacturer Shakes Up Production In Response To COVID-19
Cod Beck Blenders began producing hand sanitizer in mid-March in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
FM Global Guidance Helps Businesses Emerge From COVID-19 Crisis
FM Global’s property loss prevention engineers design guidance on how to approach the restart of operations to help ensure it is accomplished as smoothly and as safely as possible.
Pandemic Property Loss Guides Are Offered During COVID-19 Crisis
FM Global makes its industry-specific pandemic property loss prevention guides available to all during the COVID-19 crisis.
Scientific Publishers Step Up Peer Review Process For COVID-19 Studies
Scholarly publishers are joining forces to fast-track review of COVID-19 studies.
IChemE COVID-19 Response Team Identifies Ways To Decontaminate PPE
The Institution of Chemical Engineers was recently approached by NHS England and NHS Improvement to provide a proposal to review how personal protective equipment might be decontaminated and safely reused.
Badger IPA Technology Addresses Antiseptic Demand During COVID-19
Badger Licensing LLC offers a patented process to produce isopropyl alcohol (IPA) from acetone.
Arkema Repurposes Production Line To Help Fight COVID-19
Arkema Inc. donates hand sanitizer to help four states fight COVID-19.
Atlas Copco Uses 3D Printer To Produce PPE For COVID-19 First Responders
Atlas Copco Comptec supports its local first responders by using the facility’s 3D printer to create face masks and face shields.
Dow Shares COVID-19 Face Shield Design Through Open-Source File
The Dow Chemical Company designs a lightweight face shield to protect health care workers.
Eastman Supports Front Line Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19
Eastman outlines COVID-19 global response efforts.
BASF Starts Hand Sanitizer Production In Canada
High-quality sanitizing product manufactured at BASF’s Windsor site will be donated to health care facilities and essential services across Canada.
Employees Live At Plant For 28 Days Making Material For COVID-19 PPE
More than 40 employees spent 28 straight days at Braskem America in a marathon effort to make the material needed for personal protective equipment.
Geon Helps SMBs Get COVID-19 Related Products To Market
Geon Performance Solutions launches Project Collaboration, an opportunity for companies to take advantage of the intellectual and manufacturing know-how of the GEON workforce to support the fight against COVID-19.
IChemE Identifies Key Volunteer Areas To Support Global COVID-19 Response
IChemE’s COVID-19 Response Team creates new workstreams to help reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Water For All Program Supports Community During COVID-19 Outbreak
Atlas Copco USA’s employee-driven Water for All program teams up with charitable organization Can'd Aid to support the distribution of fresh drinking water to the most in-need Americans.
Dekra Warns Of Fire Risks Related To COVID-19 Hand Sanitizer Production
Dekra offers advice to help protect workers and firefighters.
Swagelok Foundation Gives $100K To Nonprofits During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Swagelok Foundation is donating $100,000 to help sustain direct-service nonprofit organizations who are facing a sudden increase in economic and medical needs.
Fluke Offers Resource Center For Industries In Crisis
Fluke hand-selects articles to help industries during the COVID-19 crisis.
Perstorp Produces Disinfectant For Swedish Healthcare Industry
Perstorp converts part of its plant to make hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant.
ABB Expedites Access To Remote Tools During COVID-19 Crisis
ABB accelerates remote connectivity for customer operations.
ACC Economic Forecast Projects Downside Risks Linked To COVID-19
The American Chemistry Council releases an abbreviated, interim update to its Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook.
Hydrite Donates Sanitizer Specially Formulated To WHO Guidelines
Hydri-San 3C Hand Sanitizer is specially formulated according to the World Health Organization's and Food and Drug Administration's guidelines issued during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Cork Scientists Produce Chemical Reagent Critical To COVID-19 Testing
A team of scientists from Cork, Ireland avert a potential testing crisis by producing a necessary chemical reagent.
Swagelok Donates Surplus N95 Masks To Healthcare Workers In Ohio and Pa.
Swagelok is donating up to 20,000 N95 respirator masks to local emergency medical services and hospital systems in Ohio and Pennsylvania to support the fight against the novel coronavirus.
COVID-19 Reduces Global Demand For Helium, Disrupts Supply Chain
The global helium market has been impacted by COVID-19 in a number of ways.
MOL Converts Hungarian Facility Into Sanitizer Plant To Fight Coronavirus
The facility, which is operating 24/7 in three shifts, has a production capacity of 50,000 liters of sanitizer.
UNEP Postpones International Conference On Chemicals Management
The conference is postponed for nine months because of the global Covid-19 crisis.
Report: Economic Fallout Due To COVID-19 Comes Into View In U.S.
National Association for Business Economics releases results of flash survey.
Workforce Assessment Tool Helps Companies Manage COVID-19 Risk
The tool helps customers survey the physical and mental well-being of their workforce, manage.
Scientists Share Views On Coronavirus Pandemic
Researchers share perspectives on coronavirus pandemic in various ACS journals.
NABE Webinar Will Look At Current Economic Fallout From Coronavirus
The National Association For Business Economics will host two webinars examining the economic fallout from COVID-19.
Insurer Warns Companies Not To Neglect Idle Facilities Amid COVID-19
Commercial property insurer FM Global warns neglecting idle facilities amid COVID-19 will cost companies dearly.
Huntsman Responds To Swiss Appeal For Hand Sanitizer To Fight COVID-19
Huntsman Corporation will begin making hydro alcoholic solution to produce hand sanitizer in the Swiss Canton of Vaud and the General Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Honeywell Ramps Up New Plant To Produce Millions Of Protective Masks
Honeywell will open a new protective mask manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona to meet demand during the COVID-19 crisis and plans to hire up to 500 people.
Companies Can Use Remote Worker Software At No Cost During COVID-19 Crisis
Iconics offers free use of its CFSWorX remote assistance software for companies to address the travel and social distancing issues related to COVID-19.
Solvay And Boeing Team Up To Produce Coronavirus Face Shields
Solvay is supplying high-performance, medical-grade transparent film to Boeing for its production of face shields.
Air Liquide Prioritizes Production Of Medical Oxygen For U.S. Healthcare
Air Liquide increases production and inventory of essential medical gases, like oxygen, and is actively managing its gas assets and safety hardgoods inventory to prioritize the needs of the U.S. healthcare system and government.
Checklist: Keep Your Business Running During COVID-19 Crisis
Checklist offers nine steps to protect companies.
Dow Expands Hand Sanitizer Production To Fight Coronavirus
Dow is shifting production at its plants around the world.
Report: Only 29% Of Companies Fully Operational Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
New research indicates that just 29% of companies can continue to be fully operational with employee work restrictions in place and 57% expect to be partially operational amid COVID-19 crisis.
Anti-Bacterial Coating May Protect Surfaces From Coronavirus For A Year
Hungarian cleantech firm Resysten offers an anti-bacterial coating that protects surfaces up to a year no matter how many times they are touched or cleaned.
ARC European Industry Forum Moves Online Due To Coronavirus Concern
ARC European Industry Forum will be live streamed as a virtual event.
Ineos Aims To Build Two Hand Sanitizer Factories In 10 Days
The UK company aims to produce one million bottles of hand sanitizer a month.
ACC Urges Collaboration Among G20 Leaders To Fight COVID-19
ACC President and CEO Chris Jahn is urging G20 leaders to work toward an agreement to lift tariffs and export restrictions so that more life-saving products can get into the hands of workers in healthcare and other essential industries helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
DuPont Ramps Up Tyvek Production During Coronavirus Pandemic
DuPont’s Spruance plant in Richmond, Virginia is working to ramp up production of Tyvek protective material to shield those on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.
3M Will Ship 500K Respirators To Cities Hit Hard By COVID-19 Outbreak
3M announces it will send 500,000 N95 respirators to New York and Seattle.
Hydrophobic Effect Explains How Soap And Water Destroy Coronavirus
Emory University Chemist Bill Wuest explains how plain soap and water alongside social distancing is the best defense against a COVID-19 infection.
Covid-19 Plea: Donate PPE To NYC Hospital
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has bluntly spoken about the city’s urgent need for personal protective equipment.
Shell Suspends Work On Cracker Plant Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Royal Shell halts construction on its Beaver County, Pennsylvania petrochemical complex in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Video: Soap Makes COVID-19 Fall Apart Like House Of Cards
“It breaks up non-covalent interactions so the virus falls apart like a house of cards.”
ACC Compiles List Of EPA Pre-Approved COVID-19 Fighting Products
The American Chemistry Council's Center for Biocide Chemistries compiles a list of products that have been pre-approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens and can be used during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
DHS: U.S. Chemical Industry Is Essential In Fight Against COVID-19
DHS recognized the chemical manufacturing sector and its employees as having “a special responsibility to maintain your work schedule.”
BASF Lends Hand To Alleviate Sanitizer Shortage
BASF has now reallocated several metric tons, in particular of isopropanol, to the production of hand sanitizers to aid in combating coronavirus.
Coronavirus Uncertainty Hits Equipment Finance Market
Equipment leasing and finance industry confidence dips in March amid uncertainty around coronavirus.
ACC Cancels April GlobalChem Conference
ACC leadership made the decision to cancel the GlobalChem Conference and Exhibition scheduled for April 6-8, 2020, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC.
Helpful Chemical Processing Content
Podcast: Leading Through A Crisis
Trish Kerin, director of the IChemE Safety Centre, and Traci Purdum, senior editor with Chemical Processing, discuss how to lead with care and purpose during uncertain times.
Essential Plants Need Effective Engineers
Operating during a pandemic demands a different attitude and approach
Podcast: Operating During A Pandemic And Process Safety Documentation
Senior Editor Traci Purdum looks for insight from Trish Kerin, director of IChemE Safety Centre, on ways to navigate during a national emergency. The duo also discuss proper process safety documentation.
Successfully Restart Idled Assets
A thoughtful approach and several specific steps can prevent pitfalls.
Shutdown Tips: Tame Turnaround Tribulations
Long times between shutdowns increase the importance of proper preparation
eHandbook: Optimize Process Safety
The need for process safety in the chemical industry is paramount. Technical knowledge and understanding of hazards and risks associated with operations in addition to the implementation of that knowledge into practice are the keys to keeping workers and the environment safe.
eHandbook: Take A Closer Look At Process Safety
Dealing with safety issues can involve sophisticated techniques for hazard analysis and prescriptive measures for plant design and operation. It also can involve rethinking a process to make it inherently safer.
Outside Resources
How To Stay Safe As A Contractor During COVID-19 Pandemic
Process Safety During A Pandemic
Jerry Forest, a renowned process safety expert who works for Celenese, discussing industrial process safety efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Downloadable Poster: COVID-19 Surface Cleaning and Disinfection
IChemE COVID-19 (coronavirus) – information and advice to members
and customers
