Top News

Desmet Ballestra S.p.A (Milano), worldwide leader in the supply of plants for production of surfactants, detergents, biofuels and intermediates for the oleo-chemical industry, is proud to announce the inauguration on November 18th 2008 of a new Biodiesel production factory of 200.000 t/y capacity executed on a turn key basis for Saras Energia SA at Cartagena, Spain.

This project utilises the technology developed by Desmet Ballestra for the continuous transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats already applied to the over 80 biodiesel plants implemented worldwide by Desmet Ballestra that, in the last 3 years, has been rapidly strengthening its role as the major international player in the supply of biodiesel production plants.

Desmet Ballestra is also currently engaged in the completion of three more Biodiesel projects, one for Oxem (Mezzana Bigli, PV) and two for Novaol S.p.A belonging to the French group Diester, the largest biodiesel producer in Europe.

The plant for Oxem is a 200.000 t/y unit that will be started in the first quarter 2009 while the two other plants, one of 100.000 t/y capacity supplied turn-key to Novaol Austria and the second one of 250.000 t/y capacity for Novaol Porto Corsini, will both reach completion by mid-2009.

Desmet Ballestra Italy (Milan) has been awarded in the last two months contracts for the design and supply of three sulphuric acid production plants starting from solid sulphur, based on the MECS DCDA Dry-Double Adsorption / Double Conversion technology, for a total value exceeding 120 millions USD.

Two new plants will be supplied to the Kazakhstan State Nuclear Company (Kazatomprom) subsidiaries, and the H2SO4 produced by both plants will be used for processing the uranium ore through the In-Situ Leaching process, an innovative uranium extraction technique used by Kazatomprom.

The first plant, with capacity 500.000 ton/year and complete with tank farm and utilities facilities, will be installed in a grass root factory in Zhanakurgan, in the Kyzyl-Orda province, to serve the Khorasan uranium mines, and will be coupled with a 18,5 MW steam turbo-generator. The electric energy produced will fully satisfy the factory demand, and the excess will be exported to the public grid. Desmet Ballestra will be also responsible for site construction management activities.

The Uranium mining complex in Khorasan will be managed by an international consortium including Japanese and American companies, beside Kazatomprom.

The second plant, with capacity 180.000 ton/year, will be installed in the existing Mining Chemical Complex in Stepnogorsk, controlled by Kazatomprom, to replace an old plant which has been recently shut-down for ecological reasons.

Both Kazakhstan plants will be fed with solid sulphur which is available in large quantities as an oil refining by-product from the petrochemical company Tengizchevroil, and will be realized with the most advanced technologies optimizing the energy cycle and with a minimal environmental impact.

Kazakhstan holds one fifth of the world uranium deposit, and has planned investments to become in few years the largest uranium producer in the world.

The third plant, having a capacity of 170.000 ton/year, will be installed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and will be integrated in a large mining complex owned by a large multinational company specialized in the production and supply of a wide range of commodities and raw materials. The sulphuric acid produced will be used for copper ore leaching, and the medium pressure steam co-produced will be totally employed within the ore processing.

The above contracts recognize the capability of the Desmet Ballestra to supply top level quality technology at competitive price in very difficult environments. Desmet Ballestra has recently supplied several sulphuric acid plants using MECS technology in Italy, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt all in operation successfully.

The Desmet Ballestra Group is present on the Russian and CIS market from more than 40 years with the supply of over 50 plants for the oil and fats processing, detergent, soap, chemical and oleochemicals industries.

Contract signature in Almaty - Sept. 12th, 2008 by Mr M.Galateri di Genola (DBI Exec. Vice President) with Mr M.Bekzhanov (Managing Director SAP-Kazakhstan)

Milan, October 6th, 2008

::: June 2008
7th World Surfactants Congress

Desmet Ballestra SpA will participate as usual to the CESIO2008-7^th World Surfactants Congress in Paris, June 22-25.

We will be pleased to have you as our guest at our exhibition area (Booths 01-02-03), where many of our managers will be there happy to meet you and to discuss any technical and/or commercial matter you may wish to.

Desmet Ballestra has signed the contract for the design of a new H₂SO₄ plant (500.000 t/y) in Kazakistan on behalf of the State Mining Authority (Kazatomprom).

The H₂SO₄ produced will be used for processing the uranium ore produced in the Kizil Kurda mines through a new leading technology.

The plant will be realized with the most advanced technologies optimizing the energy cycle and with the minimal environmental impact. A co-generation power plant will also produce 18 Mw/h of electric energy.

Another Desmet Ballestra H₂SO₄ plant (on behalf of the Russian Authority for the Atomic Industry) is under construction near the town of Cita in Siberia. It will be in operation at the beginning of 2008 with a capacity of 250.000 t/y . Also this plant will be used for processing the uranium ore produced in the nearby open air mine.

Both these contracts recognize the capability of the Desmet Ballestra to supply top level quality technology at competitive price in very difficult environments.

The Desmet Ballestra Group is present on the Russian and CIS market from more than 40 years with the supply of over 50 plants for the food industry (production and refining of vegetable oils), detergents, soaps, chemicals and oleochemicals.
 

Desmet Ballestra has been awarded the contracts in Malaysia for the supply of two chemical plants producing Methylester Sulphonate (MES) from
Lion Eco Chemical Sdn Bhd, the Malaysia branch of a Multinational Japanese Company and from KLK Bhd, one of the biggest Malaysian producer of palm oil and oleochemicals. The two plants will have respectively a capacity of 30.000 and 50.000 T/y as dry MES powder. Both the plants will start the production at the end of 2008.

The plants are based on a new technology, developed in the
Desmet Ballestra R&D Center in Milano, with the aim to produce surfactants coming from renewable sources: MES will be produced starting from the saturated fraction of palm oil, therefore integrating with the production of Biodiesel currently carried over by several Malaysian companies (Desmet Ballestra has implemented or is implementing 10 Biodiesel plants in Malaysia and over 20 in the South East Asia area).

MES is gaining deep consideration world-wide as natural derived anionic surfactant as partial substitute of petrochemical derived surfactants (i.e.: Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate). Beside being produced from renewable sources, MES presents several advantages respect to the petrochemical based surfactants among which better biodegradability, higher detergency and better performances in hard water.

Thanks to these two contracts Desmet Ballestra is once more recognized as the world-wide leader in the design and supply of chemical plants for the production of surfactants and detergents.

Desmet Ballestra has been awarded the contract for the upgrading of an existing sulphonation plant to enable the production of top quality MES (Methylester Sulphonates). The location of the plant is still confidential.

The upgraded plant will be able to produce up to 16.000 ton/y of Dry MES powder to be used as partial substitute of other anionic surfactants of synthetic origin n the company's detergent powder formulations.

MES is a new anionic surfactant obtained exclusively from natural raw materials (mainly palm oil) which is considered by many as the new frontier in the detergent industry.

The use of MES in detergent powder formulations complies with the world wide trend of substitution of petrol derived chemicals with alternative products obtained from renewable sources.

This order strengthen the Desmet Ballestra's world wide leading position as supplier of surfactants production technologies.  

Desmet Ballestra has been awarded the contract for the supply of a new 15.000 ton/y sulphonation plant from American Chemical - Uruguay for its Montevideo Factory. The new plant will be designed for the production of anionic surfactants from ethoxylated alcohol and fatty alcohol and will be equipped with the most advanced technologies for the production of top quality surfactants meeting the most stringent quality specifications like:

• Vacuum Neutralization process for ultra low Dioxane content in SLES
• Alcohol Sulphate Drying unit for the production of "dental grade" SLS

Once in operation the plant will be one of the most modern and technologically updated sulphonation plant worldwide.

The new American Chemical order is the duplication of a similar order placed with Desmet Ballestra in 2005 and successfully started up in 2006

Desmet Ballestra has been awarded the contract for the supply of a new 200.000 ton/y Biodiesel plant from the company OXEM-Italy.

The new Biodiesel plant will be designed to produce top quality Biodiesel, complying with the European standards (EN 2414) starting from blends of different crude oils (Rape seed, Soya beans, Palm oil)

The plant will be installed in OXEM's Mezzana Bigli factory and the beginning of the industrial operation is scheduled by the end of 2008.

With this new contract, the total number of Biodiesel projects awarded to the Desmet Ballestra Group exceeds ..... reconfirming the leadership achieved by Desmet Balletra world wide in the design and implementation of Biodiesel plants

::: January 2007
Barclays Private Equity France acquires Desmet Ballestra alongside management team

Barclays Private Equity just acquired a majority stake in Desmet Ballestra, the world leader in the fields of engineering and supply of plants and equipment for the edible oil industry, the detergent-surfactants and related chemical industry, the oleochemical and biodiesel industry. The management team will simultaneously invest in the group equity.

Desmet Ballestra benefits from a great worldwide reputation, thanks to 60 years of unequalled experience, a strong R&D capacity and most extensive customer references in the industry. The group has a network of 15 local subsidiaries throughout the world and a track record of setting up more than 6,000 processing units in 148 countries.

The group resulted from the merger of (a) Belgium’s De Smet Technologies & Services, the world specialist in oilseed and edible oil processing plants (b) Italy’s Ballestra, an undisputed leader in process plants for detergents, surfactants and related chemicals, and (c) their common subsidiary Desmet Ballestra Oleo the leading company in oleochemical plants design and supply, including biodiesel plants which have met an outstanding success thanks to their reliability, versatility and performances.

De Smet Technology & Services was owned (since early 2004) by a private investor benefiting from a previous knowledge and financial interests in the agri-food business, while Ballestra was owned by the founder family and management. Since 2004 the group companies have coordinated their worldwide operations, enhancing significant technological and commercial synergies so reaching brilliant successes both in sales and in financial results.

The association of the two companies created a world leading provider for seed crushing, edible oil refining, oleochemical and biodiesel production, detergents-surfactant and chemicals processing solutions.

Barclays Private Equity supports this three years old strategy, which now enables the group to take full advantage of the expected growth of the oils and fats, chemicals and biodiesel markets.

The Desmet Ballestra Group also contemplates several other internal and external growth opportunities worldwide.
 

::: October 2006
SWITZERLAND 6th World Conference on Detergents

We are pleased to inform you that we will participate to the 6th World Conference on Detergents in Montreux October 9-12.

We will have a large booth together with Mazzoni LB S.p.A. and Desmet Ballestra Oleochemicals S.p.A. and many of our managers will be there happy to meet you and to discuss any technical and/or commercial matter you may wish to.

GERMANY 53rd SEPAWA Congress with European Detergents Conference

53rd SEPAWA Congress with 2nd European Detergents Conference on 11. to 13. October 2006 at the Congress Centrum in Würzburg.

We are proud to announce our participation, together with Mazzoni LB S.p.A., to the 53rd SEPAWA Congress in Würzburg. Our Consultant, Mr. Peter Müller, will be pleased to meet you to our booth nr.61

AUSTRIA Sulphur 2006

We are pleased to inform you that we will participate to the world's leading sulphur and sulphuric acid annual event organised by British Sulphur Events which will take place 22 - 25 October 2006 at the Hotel Intercontinental in Vienna.

We will be pleased to meet you to our booth Nr. 5.
 

Masso Y Carol after 20 years operation with a Ballestra Multitube Film Reactor Sulphonation Plant has decided to build a new Factory in Barbastro (Huesca) installing a 20.000 t/y Ballestra Sulphonation/Sulphation Plant equipped with the most advanced Vacuum Neutralization System for the production of top quality 70% Lauryl Ethyl Sulphate.

The new Plant will be also equipped with the necessary facilities for the production of MES and is expected to be in operation in the second half of 2006.

SAO 12/05

Logosystem S.p.A. has ceased to operate as from Oct. 2005.
For any inquiry concerning the operation and maintenance of Logosystem units installed in the Ballestra plants, Ballestra is in a position to provide the full service.
Please contact our Technical Service: Mr. Storti - fabio.storti@ballestra.com for any requirement.

Ballestra was awarded during 2004/2005:

• March 13, an engineering and supply contract for 10.000 t/y sodium sulphate plant which uses the Marchi process Italy.
  Client: NATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL SULPHUR
  Location: Dammam – Saudi Arabia
• June 15, a basic and detail engineering contract for 200 t/day sulphuric acid plant starting from SO2
  Client: SO.RI.S S.p.A. (ENI Group)
  Location; Serravalle Scrivia, the plant will be installed in an existing site 100 km south of Milan (Italy).
  Process technology by Ballestra
• July 1, an engineering and supply contract for 500 t/day sulphuric acidplant, double absorption process, Monsanto is supplying the license
  and basic engineering.
  Client: Confidential information
  Location: North -West of Milan. Italy
• November 11, an engineering and supply contract for 500 t/day sulphuric acid plant, double absorption process, Monsanto is supplying the license and basic engineering.
  Client: TVEL INVEST
  Location: Krasnokamensk - Chita - CSI
  
  These contracts confirm the leading position of Ballestra in the area of sulphuric acid plants and relevant sulphate derivatives

MiniLAB Plants

Desmet Ballestra, the “Global Solution Provider” for the surfactants, detergent, soap, edible oils and fats and chemical industries is pleased to announce that the first MiniLAB plant, which is based on UOP DetalTM LAB alkylation technology has been successfully started up and is now in commercial operation.

The new plant of 30.000 t/y capacity has been supplied by Ballestra to EMALAB and has been installed in Jebel Ali, Dubai – UAE.
The MiniLAB plant concept is the result of UOP/Ballestra joint development work focused to make the installation of medium capacity LAB plants economically viable to serve regional markets where LAB production is insufficient.

The UOP Detal process technology is the “state of the art” alkylation process for the manufacture of LAB. The MiniLAB plant starts from n-paraffins (C10-C13 carbon range) and benzene feedstocks and also includes the UOP PacolTM, DeFineTM and PEPTM processes.

The Detal process uses the new Detal solid catalyst that replaces the traditional liquid acid catalysts (HF or AlCl3) for better product quality, safer plant operation, limited environmental impact and overall improved plant performance.

The successful completion of the EMALAB MiniLAB project will allow Desmet Ballestra (www.desmetballestra.com) to consolidate its position in the chemical plants market aimed to provide the best technologies through the Group integrated international network of companies.

On May, 24, Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Ballestra have signed the Contracts for the supply of a sulphonation plant, which is intended to be the first step in forming the production of full range of anionic surfactants necessary for the detergent industry.

NKNH, one of the largest petrochemical complex in Russia, already produce all the main raw materials for the surfactant and detergent industry such as ethylene/ethylene oxide and benzene. From those products the major intermediates for the surfactants industry can be manufactured such as alfa olefins, alcohol ethoxylates and linear alkylbenzene as well as their sulphonated derivatives.

The new sulphonation plant will be the most modern one in Russia and CIS Republics in a position to produce top quality sulphonates including dry AOS that has great export potential.

Its location in Nizhnekamsk will be ideal to serve the Russian detergent industry located in the Volga river basin and East of the Urals. Almost all such plants are not integrated with surfactant production so becoming NKNH potential clients.

Implementing this project NKNH will become the major Russian manufacturer of detergent intermediates such as Alfa Olefin sulphonates, LABS, Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohol sulphates etc., most of which are not yet available in Russia, so helping the growth of the Russian household products industry still depending partially from imported products.

UJS, a Syrian Company controlled by Daaboul group and to whom Al Raji Group (Saudi Arabia) participate for 25% is in regular commercial operation, producing 30.000 t/y LAB.

The plant, which is the first large petrochemical project implemented in Syria by private investors, uses UOP HF Alkylation process and Ballestra has provided all engineering and project management services.
One third of the total investment of 50.000.000 $ was financed by IFC (World Bank).

Huntsman Performance Products, a business division of Huntsman Corporation (NYSE:HUN), has announced plans to modernize and enhance its sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) Dried Products business.

Huntsman has committed $8 million to the initiative, which involves the installation of new drying technology at the company’s Castiglione, Italy manufacturing facility.

Daniele Ferrari, business Vice President, commented, “this is a significant investment that underscores our commitment to the European surfactants industry. It involves the implementation of wiped film production technology, which is much more energy efficient than the existing spray drying process and will lead to substantially lower emissions of waste heat into the environment .

The new production unit will be supplied by Ballestra, a world leader in surfactant manufacturing processes and plant, and is scheduled to begin operation in mid-December, 2005. Huntsman will then decommission its spray drying plants in the UK and Italy.

“The consolidation of SLS Dried Products manufacturing at Castiglione will allow us to rationalize the number of product grades we offer to the market, said Ferrari. “We will be able to maintain the same benefits to customers with about half the number of products and package combinations.”

Huntsman is working with the customers of its SLS Dried Products to implement the change during this year.

The new dryer technology project is a key element in the overall restructuring of Huntsman’s European surfactants business, which involved combining the company’s range of specialty surfactants and specialty amines.

Lanitex is completing the erection in St. Petersburg a new integrated factory for the production of a wide range of top quality anionic sulph(on)ated surfactants, betains, alkanolamides and ethoxylated products supplied by Ballestra.
The factory includes an ethoxylation plant, a sulphonation plant and a multipurpose batch reactor plant all based on Ballestra proprietary know how.
The first units will be on stream the secon half of 2005

 

Ballestra is completing the supply of two new biodiesel plants using its latest continuous interesterification process. The first plant 60.000 t/y capacity is being installed at Tracopol – Portugal, the second, 30.000 t/y capacity, is being installed at Thessaloniki in Greece.

 

Ballestra has successfully started up for Novaol, the largest European producer of Biodiesel, a new continuous Biodiesel production plant for the Livorno factory.
The new plant has a capacity of 100.000 t/y of Biodiesel meeting the European quality standard EN 14214 and is designed to process many different types of oils, including Used Frying Oil, so to enhance the plant operating flexibility and its economics.
The plant is based on the most modern and technologically updated continuous process jointly developed by Ballestra and Novaol.
With the installation of this new plant the overall capacity of Novaol Livorno factory reach 250.000 t/y of Biodiesel.
 

UJS, a Syrian Company controlled by Daaboul Group and to whom
Al Raji Group (Saudi Arabia) participate for 25%, has successfully started up a 30.000 t/y LAB plant in Damascus (Syria)

The plant, which is the first large petrochemical project implemented in Syria
by private investors, uses UOP HF Alkylation process and has available all
necessary auxiliary facilities, including a five MW power station.
One third of the total investment of 50.000.000 $ was financed by IFC (World
Bank).

Ballestra S.p.A. (Milan) has provided the project management, the detail
engineering services, the plant power distribution and computer control
system and the commissioning services.
UJS LAB will be marketed mainly in Syria and the nearby countries where
demand is constantly growing.

The plant design allows for a capacity increase up to 50.000 t/y and over to
cope with the expected increase of the Middle East detergent market.

For more information contact Mr. Baraa Daaboul,
tel. 963 11 6940940, fax 0096311 6940101,
e-mail baraa.daaboul@ujscpi.com or visit UJS web site www.ujscpi.com