Arkema, BASF, Jayant Agro-Organics, an Indian castor oil specialist, and civil society body Solidaridad are to extend their ongoing Pragati project in sustainable castor bean production for a further three years in order to reach more Indian farmers and end users. In particular, it aims to double the number of farmers participating in India’s Gujarat state to 7,000.

Thomas Swan’s Advanced Materials division is to collaborate with nanomaterials technology manufacturer Graphene Composites (GC) to provide the graphene solution in their GC Shield armour products. This follows a development collaboration between the companies, together with the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) using Swan’s GNP-M grade graphene in the final product.

Four employees of AB Specialty Silicones were killed in a “massive explosion” and a subsequent fire that almost completely destroyed its facility in Waukegan, Illinois, about 80 km north of Chicago, on 3 May. The precise cause of the explosion was still unknown as SCM went to press but it is known that it took place in the building where silicone was produced and was accidental.

Industrial gases giant Air Liquide and semiconductor producer STMicroelectronics have announced plans to “engage in a collaborative initiative to accelerate the development of digital solutions for industrial applications”. ST is already a customer to Air Liquide for gas, materials and equipment at multiple sites.