Honeywell wins contract with Saudi-European petrochemical company

The project involves the implementation of advanced process control solutions on two Unipol polypropylene units. Honeywell Profit NLC is ideally suited for polymer applications and delivers many benefits, including: improvement in plant throughput during periods of high polymer demand and plant constraints; reduction in grade transition times and process upsets; and increased operational stability.

"We chose Honeywell for this project because they understand our business, our objectives, and our many different needs," said Mazyad Al-Khaldi, Technical General Manager at SABIC Ibn Zahr. "Honeywell technology will improve our operations by making us more efficient and will enable us to better serve our customers in the end."

Honeywell Profit NLC is a unique control and optimization solution designed specifically for the polymer industry. It controls nonlinear processes in both process gains and process dynamics. A rigorous process model describes process equipment geometry and chemical kinetics, and eliminates the need to step-test the plant. This model also combines the advantages of reliable multivariable control and optimization of on-line process and dynamic off-line simulation for new product grades. Profit NLC can be applied to Dow Unipol and other licensed technologies, such as, Basell Spheripol, Chevron Phillips Chemical Bulk Loop, BP Innovene and Catalytic Autoclave reactor.

"Honeywell is committed to providing long-term support to SABIC," said Zak Alzein, Global Business Director of Petrochemicals and Chemicals for Honeywell Process Solutions. "We'll continue to deliver high quality products and services that meet their changing needs in the future."

This agreement continues the longstanding relationship between Honeywell-as Honeywell Turki Arabia Ltd. (HTAL)-and SABIC in the Middle East. Honeywell has worked on automation projects for a number of SABIC affiliates over the past 20 years in Saudi Arabia, and has earned a reputation as a leading supplier of advanced process control solutions and comprehensive services for the chemical industry.

Headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, SABIC is one of the largest petrochemical companies in the world. Its strategic business units include basic chemicals, intermediates, polyolefins, PVC and Polyester, fertilizers and metals. SABIC Ibn Zahr is an affiliate of SABIC and produces polypropylene and fuel additive MTBE.