Rapid Response Team

News    ⋅     Rapid Response Team    ⋅     April 7, 2026

Unplanned downtime is one of the costliest challenges facing polyolefin producers today. In a market where margins are tight and reliability matters, every hour offline represents lost revenue, missed customer commitments, and increased operational risk.

To meet this challenge head‑on, ECI Group is proud to introduce our Rapid Response Team (RRT)—a new service ready to help plants stabilize operations, recover quickly, and return to safe, efficient production.

Across the global polyolefin industry, ECI Group has seen a clear trend emerge—particularly in older production facilities.

Many plants are operating with:

• Incomplete or outdated documentation
• Loss of institutional knowledge due to retirements and workforce changes
• Limited access to experienced technical specialists
• Increasing pressure to improve production, reliability, and margins

When incidents occur, these gaps can slow troubleshooting, complicate decision‑making, and extend downtime far beyond what is acceptable in today’s market.

ECI Group’s Rapid Response Team is designed to address exactly these scenarios.

From the moment we engage, our experts work alongside your team to stabilize operations, rebuild process understanding where needed, and accelerate recovery—often under intense time pressure.

Our RRT capability includes:

• Immediate response to critical plant issues
• Global on‑site mobilization
• Round‑the‑clock remote technical support

This is not a generic troubleshooting service. RRT is delivered by experienced Subject Matter Experts with deep hands‑on operational knowledge, capable of working effectively in complex, time‑critical environments.

While RRT is highly effective during emergency situations, we also help plant operators uncover opportunities for process optimization and reliability improvement—especially in legacy plants.

We help clients:

• Re‑establish process fundamentals
• Identify hidden production constraints
• Improve operating discipline and stability
• Reduce recurrence of chronic issues

Importantly, ECI Group supports a wide range of polyolefin processes and product grades across multiple licensors and technologies.

True rapid response requires trust.

That’s why, in the spirit of partnership, ECI Group may begin critical‑path activities in good faith, allowing recovery efforts to proceed while purchase order details are finalized. This approach minimizes delays, keeps teams aligned, and ensures focus remains on what matters most—restoring production safely and efficiently.

Downtime—whether caused by failures, lost knowledge, or operational complexity—doesn’t have to define your plant’s performance.

If you’re facing moderate to severe operational challenges, or simply want a trusted partner ready when things don’t go to plan, ECI Group’s Rapid Response Team is here to help.

Contact us for an initial scoping and consulting discussion at no cost. 

Visit our RRT page to learn more: https://ecigrouponline.com/rrt/

70 Years of Polymer Engineering

News    ⋅     70 Years of LDPE    ⋅     January 8, 2026

2026 marks 70 years since Simon Carves was awarded its first LDPE contract—a milestone that set the foundation for our world-class polymer projects across the globe. For seven decades, we’ve combined engineering excellence with technical expertise to deliver solutions that shape the future of polymers.

Today, with our proprietary Hybrid HPPE Technology, ECI Group continues to lead the way—supporting both new-build facilities and performance optimization for operating plants.

Take a couple of minutes to discover our journey and the evolution of polyethylene.

NZRCC EPDP Review

News    ⋅     EPDP Review     ⋅     December 12, 2025 

We were delighted to welcome the project team from Sinopec’s Ningbo Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company (NZRCC) and representatives from DPEC to our Manchester office this week.

The visit marked a major milestone: the successful review of the Extended Preliminary Process Design Package (EPDP) for NZRCC’s new 200kta EVA/LDPE plant.

This project leverages ECI Group’s proprietary hybrid reactor technology to deliver a world-class facility capable of producing 200kta of LDPE, EVA, and other high-value copolymers. Located in Ningbo’s Zhenhai District, Zhejiang Province, the plant will play a key role in NZRCC’s large-scale ethylene and downstream development strategy.

Completing the EPDP will enable us to move into the next phase: commencing detailed design whilst continuing the vital long-lead equipment process.

Combining the EPDP with the technology license package is unique to ECI Group’s offering. By combining cutting-edge technology with expert know-how, this integrated approach accelerates project delivery and ensures a comprehensive understanding of the technology throughout the design phase.

We are proud to support NZRCC on this journey and look forward to continuing our collaboration through the EPC and start-up phases.

Strategy Week

News    ⋅     Strategy Week    ⋅     November 17, 2025

Last week, ECI Group’s Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors came together in Baton Rouge for our annual Strategy Week Meetings.

We celebrated our successes and key milestones from 2025, including:

• Establishing our Shanghai office
• Licensing 1 million tonnes of nameplate capacity LDPE
• Completing key safety reviews, inspections, and training to prepare our licensees for upcoming plant start-ups

Looking ahead, we planned our strategic roadmap for 2026 and beyond, focussing on supporting our clients in achieving their operational goals, and continuing to develop the skills and expertise of our global licensing and engineering team.

This week reinforced the importance of leadership, teamwork, communication, and future-proof strategic planning—all critical to driving sustainable growth and innovation.

A big thank you to everyone who brought their ideas, energy, and commitment to the table! Our roadmap isn’t just about growth—it is about defining and delivering solutions that drive our clients’ successes. We are excited to innovate and shape the future of polyolefins—together.

LDPE Global Summit

News    ⋅     LDPE Global Summit    ⋅     October 14, 2025

ECI Group was delighted to attend and sponsor BHDT’s LDPE/EVA/EAA Global Summit in Vienna!

The event kicked off with an exciting Workshop Tour of BHDT’s process equipment and valves production facility in Kapfenberg. Day 2 was filled with engaging presentations from experts across the polymer production industry, focussed on the topic of mastering increased market demands. 

Francisco Larenas, ECI Group’s Director of Consultancy Services gave an insightful presentation on “Plant Improvement Plans: Improving Profitability for New Build and Operating Plants.” Francisco showcased ECI Group’s structured approach to boosting productivity, reliability, and margins using case studies from multiple facilities to demonstrate a comprehensive path to profitability.

Francisco’s presentation sparked lots of follow-up discussions and queries, highlighting just how relevant and timely these strategies are for today’s plant operators as global demand for high-quality LDPE and co-polymers continues to rise.

While the summit may be over, the conversations are just beginning. If we didn’t get a chance to connect in Vienna, we’d still love to hear from you. Whether you’re exploring ways to boost plant performance or looking for tailored consultancy support, our team is here to help you achieve your operational goals. Get in touch with us to continue the conversation.

ELT Training

News    ⋅     Leadership Training    ⋅     October 8, 2025

Last week in Baton Rouge, ECI Group’s Executive Leadership Team wrapped up a year-long leadership development program focused on strengthening strategic thinking, enhancing collaboration, and building future-ready leadership capabilities.

Over the past year, the team has taken part in a series of dynamic training sessions—gaining practical tools and fresh perspectives to help steer ECI Group’s long-term vision. Leadership plays a critical role in shaping every aspect of organizational success. As Liliane Joris, international business coach and trainer of the ECI Group’s Executive Leadership Team, highlighted in every step of the program: everything is connected.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for their commitment and energy throughout the journey. We’re excited to apply what we’ve learned and continue pushing the boundaries of excellence at ECI Group!

First Commercial Scale Fossil-Free LDPE Facility

News    ⋅    Fossil-Free LDPE    ⋅     September 2, 2025

MANCHESTER, UK & ZUG, SWITZERLAND – September 2, 2025

Vioneo awards ECI Group contract to build world’s first LDPE plant using entirely fossil-free feedstock

Vioneo, a European pioneer in fossil-free plastics, has awarded a major contract to ECI Group, a global leader in polymer technology licensing and engineering services. The project will deliver the world’s first low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant to operate using an entirely fossil-free feedstock.

The facility, to be built in Antwerp, Belgium, represents a pivotal step in the transition to sustainable plastics. It will use ECI Group’s proprietary autoclave technology to produce 110,000 tonnes of LDPE per year from certified green methanol. The venture is backed by A.P. Moller, with ECI Group’s product partner, Repsol, providing essential market knowledge and product expertise.

ECI Group’s President and CEO, Joaquin Flores, commented, “We’re proud to have been selected to support Vioneo’s vision to create the world’s first green LDPE plant and the first new autoclave LDPE plant to be built in Europe in forty years. This project aligns perfectly with our vision of providing technology solutions that drive sustainable innovation.”

Vioneo, backed by A.P. Moller Holding, is dedicated to pioneering fossil-free plastics production. The plant will form part of the Vioneo’s planned production complex in Antwerp, Belgium which aims to address fundamental environmental challenges associated with conventional plastics manufacturing and will position Europe at the forefront of the transition to a sustainable ‘fossil-free’ plastics industry.

“Vioneo is driving the transition of the plastics industry by demonstrating the economic viability of large-scale, cleaner production using green methanol instead of fossil fuels. This initiative offers Europe the opportunity to lead the €5 trillion chemicals and materials sector’s defossilisation. Our partnership with ECI Group is a crucial step in realising this vision,” said Alex Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Vioneo.

The LDPE plant will use a green methanol feedstock derived from biogenic CO₂, ensuring a fully fossil-free, traceable, and ISCC PLUS-certified product. Powered by renewable electricity, the facility will significantly reduce lifecycle emissions while delivering high-performance LDPE suitable for critical applications in healthcare, automotive, packaging, and consumer goods.

“This project is a landmark moment for the polymer industry. By combining green methanol with our high-pressure polyethylene technology, we’re enabling a truly fossil-free approach to plastics manufacturing. We look forward to working with Vioneo to deliver this first-of-its-kind facility,” said ECI Group’s Director for HPPE Technology, Chris Brock.

ECI Group’s proprietary technology offers a wide range of high-pressure polyethylene products, providing unrivalled operational efficiency, reliability, and flexibility. Building on ECI Group’s decades of experience within the polymer industry, their technology has been optimized to make use of modern materials, design techniques, standards, and industry best practices for construction, operation, and maintenance. In the four years since 2021, ECI Group has licensed over one million tonnes of annual capacity, all using ECI Group’s standardised design approach.

Repsol, the multi-energy company, will support ECI Group as product partner, bringing its extensive technical, operational, and commercial expertise. Repsol has over 55 years of experience producing LDPE, EVA, and EBA polymers at its industrial complexes in Spain and Portugal.

About ECI Group
ECI Group comprises Engineers and Constructors International, Inc., headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Simon Carves Engineering Ltd., headquartered in Manchester, UK, as well as the International Technical Excellence Center (ITEC). With its history stretching back nearly 150 years to the formation of Simon Carves in 1878, ECI Group provides world-leading technology and engineering solutions for polyolefins around the world, offering proprietary technology solutions and multi-discipline engineering services that cover the full lifecycle of the project and the operating plant.
Learn more about our HPPE technology here:  www.ecigrouponline.com/polymers.

About Vioneo
Vioneo aims to pioneer the defossilisation of the chemical sector by using green methanol to produce fossil-free polypropylene and polyethylene at a commercial scale. The first plant, based in Port of Antwerp, will use green methanol to produce app. 300,000 tonnes of fossil-free virgin plastics. Vioneo is owned by A.P. Moller Holding. www.vioneo.com.

Huayi Technical Training

News    ⋅    Huayi Technical Training    ⋅     August 8, 2025

ECI Group recently delivered comprehensive training services for Guangxi Huayi Energy Chemical Co., Ltd.’s (Huayi), operations, technical, and maintenance personnel.

Huayi signed a licensing agreement to use ECI Group’s Hybrid Technology to build two 200kta EVA copolymer lines as part of their integrated plant in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. With construction progressing well, ECI Group’s technical team delivered training ahead of the commissioning and start-up phases.

The on-site training program at Huayi’s facility in China spanned three weeks and included:

• Detailed review of the Process Design basis and technology basis
• Product and applications training
• Technology and operations unit theory training
• Operations process, including start-up, shutdown, and normal operations
• Quality assurance training

The training is designed to equip plant personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate the plant at optimal efficiency, ensuring the highest product quality and safety standards. The training forms part of ECI Group’s licensing package and is tailored to meet the individual needs of our licensees.

Special thanks to our technical team members—Dr Daping Li, Greg Johnson, Christopher Willy, and Sanjay Padhiar—for their excellent work in delivering the training. Huayi’s team was highly engaged, asking insightful technical questions and actively participating in the sessions.

ECI Group’s Hybrid Technology offering is unique in the industry as it allows for production of EVA and other high-value copolymers at capacities of 200 kta and higher, which was previously only possible with tubular reactors. Our Hybrid Technology offers the higher capacities of tubular lines with the expanded product capability of autoclave lines. In addition, ECI Group’s various proprietary design features and enhancements contribute to the overall effectiveness of the process and result in higher production with lower operating costs.

Huayi’s project utilizes ECI Group’s Hybrid Technology on two copolymer lines and will be capable of producing 400,000 tonnes per year of EVA.

ECI Group provided the technology, design, and training for the two lines, and will continue to provide support through commissioning, start-up, and production.

SuperCooler™

News    ⋅     SuperCooler™    ⋅     July 30, 2025

At ECI Group, we’ve always been at the forefront of innovation in high-pressure polyethylene (HPPE) technology. As the global demand for polyethylene continues to grow, so does the need for efficient, scalable, and cost-effective production solutions. That’s why we’re proud to introduce our latest breakthrough: the High Pressure SuperCooler™.

ECI Group is a global leader in HPPE technology and engineering solutions. Since 2021, we’re licensed eight new LDPE/EVA trains utilising our proprietary Hybrid HPPE technology, ranging from 50 KTA to 200 KTA, and now offer capacities up to 500 KTA. Our expertise spans the full plant lifecycle—from R&D and engineering to commissioning and operational support.

As polyethylene plants scale up, they face a paradox: increased gas flow demands larger reactor tubes, which in turn reduces heat transfer efficiency and increases pressure drop. This leads to:

• Higher compression costs
• Larger ethylene inventory
• Bigger reactor bays
• Increased capital and operating expenses

ECI Group’s SuperCooler™ is a patent-pending high-pressure heat exchanger that solves this paradox. Compared to standard double pipe modules, it offers:

• Significantly reduced pressure drop → Lower energy consumption
• Enhanced heat transfer effectiveness → Shorter reactor tubes
• Reduced ethylene inventory → Smaller reactor bay footprint
• Lower capital and operating costs

In simulated comparisons:

• Pressure drop was almost halved
• Heat transfer effectiveness tripled
• Ethylene inventory dropped by 50%
• Reactor bay area shrank by 50%
• Reactor bay total installed cost (TIC) savings exceeded $35 million

The SuperCooler™ is ready to be integrated into all of ECI Group’s high-capacity lines (300–500 KTA) and is suitable for:

• Intercoolers
• Feed gas coolers
• Pre-heaters and pre-coolers
• Reactor cooling zones
• Product and after-coolers

Its modular design also simplifies maintenance, reduces spare parts inventory, and supports assembly-line fabrication.

The SuperCooler™ can be adapted for both new build projects and existing operating plants.

ECI Group’s technology is built for product and capacity flexibility. Our lines can produce a wide range of polymers and copolymers—including LDPE, EVA, and ENBA—within a single configuration. With scalable designs from 50 KTA to 500 KTA, ECI Group ensures our clients can grow and adapt with market demands.

At ECI Group, we believe that innovation should deliver measurable value. The High Pressure SuperCooler™ is more than a technological advancement—it’s a strategic solution that empowers our clients to scale efficiently, reduce costs, and stay competitive in a dynamic market.

Talk to us to discover how the SuperCooler™ can add benefits to your plant.

Let’s engineer the future of polyethylene—together.

Chris Brock, ECI Group’s Director of  High Pressure Polyethylene Business Technology Unit, introduced the SuperCooler™ during his presentation at the 18th LDPE Plant Improvement Conference.

Listen to highlights of his presentation here.