UK: Micromeritics Instrument Corporation, a US-headquarted manufacturer of products for advanced material characterisation, has purchaed Freeman Technology. Freeman Technology specialises in providing instruments for the measurement of powder flow properties and other behavioural properties of powders. It manufactures instruments that deliver data to assist its customers in maximising process and product understanding, accelerating research and development toward formulation and commercialisation as well as supporting the optimisation of powder processes.

Philippines: Republic Cement has signed an agreement with its parent company Aboitiz Group to provide structural and mechanical upgrades to its plants at Bulacan and Cebu. The projects are scheduled to be completed by mid-2019, according to the Philippine Star newspaper. The cement producer is also considering increasing the clinker and cement production capacity at its plants at Teresa and Batangas, and increasing cement production at Iligan. The company is a joint venture run by Ireland’s CRH and local partner Aboitiz Group.

Germany: RKW has joined CEFLEX, a European consortium of companies promoting the recyclability of flexible packaging and the increased use of recycled plastic. It intends to become active in enhancing the sustainability of packaging and developing new industry standards.

CEFLEX is the collaborative initiative of a European consortium of companies that promotes the recycling of flexible packaging. The CEFLEX consortium includes more than 70 member companies that cover the entire value chain of flexible packaging, from raw material producers and flexible packaging manufacturers, to fast moving consumer goods manufacturers and recycling companies. CEFLEX aims to increase the contribution of flexible packaging to the circular economy by refining suitable system design solutions.

The RKW Group is a family-owned company headquartered in Frankenthal, Germany and a manufacturer of film solutions for hygiene, agricultural and beverage sectors. It also produces packaging for powdery goods. In addition, the company makes films and nonwovens for medical applications, for the chemical and converting industries as well as for the construction sector.

Nepal: Huaxin Cement has signed a project investment agreement with the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) to build a US$140m plant. Xu Gang, vice-president of Huaxin Cement signed the deal with Maha Prasad Adhikari, the chief executive (CEO) of IBN, during a visit by Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to Beijing, according to the Kathmandu Post. The unit will have a production capacity of 3000t/day. The local subsidiary, Huaxin Cement Narayani, has already acquired a limestone mine at Panikharkha in Dhading. The IBN will also support the project by assisting the government to build a transmission line to supply 18MW of electricity to the unit.

KP Sharma Oli also signed an agreement with the Chinese government to build a cross-border railway between Kathmandu and Kerung in Tibet.