Grace Licenses UNIPOL® PP Process Technology to Sinochem Hongrun Petrochemical Co., Ltd.

Rhea-AI Summary

W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) has licensed its UNIPOL® PP Process Technology and UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software to Sinochem Hongrun in Qingzhou, China. This facility, expected to start in 2022, will produce 450,000 tons per annum of polypropylene, increasing the total licensed volume of UNIPOL® PP technology to over 27 million tons. Grace's technology is noted for its operational simplicity and cost-effectiveness, enabling Sinochem to meet the rising demand for complex polypropylene products in China.

Positive

• Licensing agreement with Sinochem Hongrun for UNIPOL® PP Process Technology enhances market reach.
• Total licensed volume for UNIPOL® PP technology exceeds 27 million tons per annum.
• Technology provides operational efficiency and competitive advantages to Sinochem Hongrun.

Negative

• None.

COLUMBIA, Md., April 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA), the leading independent supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and polypropylene (PP) process technology, has licensed its UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology and its UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® Process Control Software to Sinochem Hongrun Petrochemical Chemical Co., Ltd. (Sinochem Hongrun). The UNIPOL^® PP facility, located in Qingzhou, Weifang, Shandong, China will start up in 2022 and will include one reactor line with the capability to produce 450KTA of polypropylene.

The award increases the total amount of licensed volume for UNIPOL^® PP technology worldwide to more than 27 million tons per annum.

“Our team at Grace is excited to embark on this project with Sinochem Hongrun and welcome them to the UNIPOL^® PP Family. We are committed to their success through the services and solutions that we offer for the lifetime of the plant.,” Laura Schwinn, President of Grace’s Specialty Catalysts business said. Schwinn added, ”Sinochem Hongrun’s decision to purchase our UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® Process Control software allows them to optimize their plant operations and extract performance improvements on an ongoing basis, providing them with competitive advantages in cost, quality, and product differentiation. This, coupled with our process and product improvements program and the vast experience of our global technical services team, will ensure that Sinochem Hongrun meets their goal of producing a wide variety of resins for the Chinese market.”

Grace's all gas-phase UNIPOL^® PP Process technology delivers technology, innovation, and services for plant lifetime performance. The versatile process technology provides the broadest range of PP homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers in the industry.

The UNIPOL^® PP process technology is a state-of-the-art engineering technology that achieves mechanical and operational simplicity and delivers leading total installed cost and operating expense, accelerated project schedules, fast startups, grade transitions, and business results. The process technology, coupled with Grace’s proprietary catalyst and donor systems and the UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® Process Control software, allows for maximum performance.

As members of the UNIPOL^® PP Process technology community, licensees benefit from Grace’s long-term commitment to their success through the exchange of best practices, continuous process and product improvements, access to its superior catalyst and donor technology and dedicated technical support.

Sinochem Hongrun chose the UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology for their site in Shandong, China. because of ease of operation, product breadth, life-time economics and the support Grace provides during the lifetime of the plant. Sinochem Hongrun plans to produce polypropylene resins to meet the growing demand for more complex polypropylene products in China.

Visit Grace’s website for more information about Grace® polyolefin catalysts and process technology.

About Grace’s UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology

Grace is the leading supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and has the broadest portfolio of polyolefin catalyst technologies of any independent polyethylene/polypropylene catalyst producer. Grace is an industry leader in offering UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology, 6^th Generation non-phthalate CONSISTA^® catalysts and donors, and UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® Process Control software. UNIPOL^® and UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company or an affiliated company of Dow. W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. and/or its affiliates are licensed to use the UNIPOL^® and UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® trademarks in the area of polypropylene.

About Grace

Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. With approximately 3,900 employees, Grace operates and/or sells to customers in over 70 countries. More information about Grace is available at grace.com. 

This announcement contains forward-looking statements, that is, information related to future, not past, events. Such statements generally include the words “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “targets,” “will,” “expects,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “outlook,” “continues,” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expected financial positions; results of operations; cash flows; financing plans; business strategy; operating plans; capital and other expenditures; competitive positions; growth opportunities for existing products; benefits from new technology and cost reduction initiatives, plans and objectives; and markets for securities. For these statements, Grace claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Like other businesses, Grace is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from its projections or that could cause other forward-looking statements to prove incorrect. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: risks related to foreign operations, especially in emerging regions; the costs and availability of raw materials, energy and transportation; the effectiveness of its research and development and growth investments; acquisitions and divestitures of assets and businesses; developments affecting Grace’s outstanding indebtedness; developments affecting Grace's pension obligations; its legal and environmental proceedings; environmental compliance costs; the inability to establish or maintain certain business relationships; the inability to hire or retain key personnel; natural disasters such as storms and floods, and force majeure events; changes in tax laws and regulations; international trade disputes, tariffs, and sanctions; the potential effects of cyberattacks; and those additional factors set forth in Grace's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are readily available on the internet at www.sec.gov. Reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Grace's projections and forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates those projections and statements are made. Grace undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revision to the projections and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this announcement.

Media Relations
Caitlin Leopold
T +1 410.531.8870
caitlin.leopold@grace.com 

Investor Relations
Jason Hershiser
T +1 410 531 8835
Jason.hershiser@grace.com 

FAQ

What is the significance of the licensing agreement between W. R. Grace & Co. and Sinochem Hongrun?

The agreement allows Sinochem to use Grace's UNIPOL® PP Process Technology, enhancing their production capabilities and market competitiveness.

How much polypropylene will the new facility in China produce?

The facility will have the capacity to produce 450,000 tons per annum of polypropylene.

What is the expected startup year for the new polypropylene facility in Qingzhou?

The facility is expected to start operations in 2022.

How does the UNIPOL® PP technology benefit Sinochem Hongrun?

The technology offers operational simplicity, product diversity, and long-term support, improving cost, quality, and product differentiation.

How does this deal affect W. R. Grace & Co.'s market position?

This deal strengthens Grace's market position by expanding its licensed technology and reinforcing its leading role in polypropylene production.