First Commercial Scale Fossil-Free LDPE Facility

News    ⋅    First Fossil-Free LDPE Facility

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

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    ⋅     High Pressure SuperCooler™

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. 

NZRCC PDP Review

News    ⋅     NZRCC PDP Review

Last week, ECI Group had the pleasure of welcoming the project team from Sinopec’s Ningbo Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company Limited (NZRCC) and their engineering contractor to our Manchester office. The visit marked a significant milestone in our collaboration—the successful review of the preliminary Process Design Package (PDP) for NZRCC’s new 200kta EVA/LDPE plant.

This project, awarded to ECI Group in April 2025, utilizes ECI Group’s proprietary hybrid reactor technology. The plant will be located in Ningbo’s Zhenhai District in Zhejiang Province and will be a key component of NZRCC’s large-scale ethylene and downstream development. Once operational, the plant will produce 200,000 tons per year of LDPE, EVA, and other high-value copolymer products, with built-in flexibility for future product expansion.

ECI Group’s scope covers the technology license, process design package, expanded process design package, and detailed design for the high-pressure system for NZRCC, as well as technical procurement services for the project and on-site technical support during installation, start-up, and performance assessment.

The delivery of the PDP represents a major step forward in the project timeline. With this milestone achieved, we now move into the next phase: engineering the Expanded Process Design Package (EPDP) and initiating technical procurement for long -lead equipment items.

Wuxi Yadi Conference

News    ⋅     Wuxi Yadi Industry Technology Exchange Conference

Wuxi Yadi recently hosted a landmark two-day event to commemorate the successful delivery of its first batch of IP control valves for the Huayi project, licensed by ECI Group.

The event brought together industry leaders, technical experts, and key stakeholders from across the LDPE/EVA sector to celebrate this milestone and exchange insights on the future of high-performance polymer production in China.

The conference welcomed senior representatives from Huayi, DPEC, Gulei Petrochemical, and other major LDPE/EVA customers of Wuxi Yadi. Bal Sangha, General Manager of ECI Group China, Daping Li, Technical Project Manager, and Amy Wang, Office Manager from the Shanghai office attended the event, which also included a tour of Wuxi Yadi’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.

The event served as a platform for fostering collaboration, sharing technical advancements, and reinforcing the importance of domestic innovation in the high-pressure valve sector.

A highlight of the event was a keynote speech delivered by Bal Sangha, General Manager of ECI Group’s Shanghai Office. Bal extended heartfelt congratulations to Wuxi Yadi, praising the company for its technical innovation, commitment to quality assurance, sincerity, efficiency, and how they put their customers first.

He commended the event’s organization and expressed his appreciation for reconnecting with many familiar faces and long-standing partners.

“Since launching our technology in 2021, ECI Group is proud to have licensed over 1 million tonnes of capacity for LDPE, EVA, EnBA, and other high-value copolymer products in China,” Bal shared. “This achievement reflects our deep commitment to the Chinese market and our confidence in the capabilities of our Chinese partners.”

Bal emphasized ECI Group’s unique offering of full life cycle services—including PDP and EPDP engineering—and highlighted the critical role of trusted equipment suppliers like Wuxi Yadi in delivering tailored, high-performance solutions.

“A key component of our success has been our collaboration with exceptional equipment suppliers like Wuxi Yadi. Wuxi Yadi has consistently provided us with the best designs to meet our specific needs, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.”

In a strong endorsement of local capability, Bal reaffirmed ECI Group’s commitment to developing localized solutions for EVA licensed projects in China.

“We welcome domestic suppliers who can prove to be qualified, and credible partners based on our technology,” said Bal. “Our goal is to create value for our customers, and we are dedicated to supporting domestic suppliers in the PRC where possible and where quality and standards have been audited—just like Wuxi Yadi.”

The conference not only celebrated a significant technical achievement but also reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and trust in building a resilient and forward-looking industry. With partners like Wuxi Yadi, ECI Group continues to lead the way in delivering cutting-edge polymer technologies and supporting the growth of China’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Global Launch of ECI Group Academy

News    ⋅    Global Launch of ECI Group Academy

ECI Group is delighted to announce that our learning experience platform, ECI Group Academy, is now available globally!

The online digital platform, hosted by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), was successfully launched for our UK workforce in October 2024. Since then, we’ve been working closely with ECITB to find ways to make this platform available to all our workforce.

Together we’ve been pioneering the global and commercial roll out of ECITB’s online learning platform. We are excited to announce that going forwards, all ECI Group employees will have access to the ECI Group Academy; providing a world of knowledge at your fingertips, designed to enhance your skills and propel your career forward.

The ECI Group Academy offers a diverse range of training playlists, carefully curated from more than 8,500 courses to meet our employees’ professional development needs. Covering everything from the development of leadership and line management skills, enhancing soft skills, and covering core office safety and data management learning, the ECI Group Academy is designed to work hand-in-hand with ECI Group’s performance development process.

We’re always looking for innovative ways to provide training and facilitate the professional development of our staff. We will continue to develop ECI Group Academy for the future, so look out for further announcements as we do so!

18th LDPE Plant Improvement Conference

News    ⋅    18th LDPE Plant Improvement Conference

2^nd – 3^rd June 2025, Izmir, Türkiye

ECI Group was proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the 18th LDPE Plant Improvement Conference, hosted by Uhde High Pressure Technologies.

Held in the vibrant city of Izmir, Türkiye, the event brought together nearly 200 LDPE plant operators, equipment manufacturers, and service providers from around the globe.

This annual gathering continues to be a cornerstone for sharing insights, addressing challenges, and showcasing innovations in the operation, maintenance, and enhancement of high-pressure LDPE and EVA plants.

This year, the conference featured a diverse range of technical presentations across 2 days, covering: safety-focused decomposition and relief processes; market trends and predictive analysis; advanced modelling for optimal plant performance; best practices in cutting-edge equipment and operations.

These sessions fostered open dialogue and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Burckhardt Compression’s LDPE Technology Day followed the conference on June 4^th, providing informative discussions and knowledge exchange on optimizing compressor performance on LDPE & EVA Plants.

A major highlight was the unveiling of the ECI Group SuperCooler™, presented by ECI Group’s Vice President and HPPE Division Director, Chris Brock.

In his talk, ‘The evolution of modularization: introducing the ECI Group SuperCooler™’, Chris introduced the next big leap in ECI Group’s high-pressure technology offering.

The ECI Group SuperCooler™ will offer significant plant improvements, including:

• Reduced pressure drop
• Increased annual heat transfer effectiveness
• Reduced ethylene inventory and reduced reactor bay footprint
• Significant capital and operating cost savings

Designed for both new build and retrofit projects, the SuperCooler™ represents the next-generation innovation in high-pressure polyethylene plant performance.

Interested in learning more? Contact us to explore how the SuperCooler™ can transform your operations.

On Day 2, Francisco Larenas, ECI Group’s Consultancy Services Director, delivered an insightful presentation on ‘Plant Improvements for LDPE & EVA Operators: Increasing Productivity, Reliability, and Margins.’

The presentation focused on the importance of developing a structured and strategic roadmap to enhance the performance of an operating high-pressure polyethylene plant to a leading competitive position.

Francisco shared a practical example of ECI Group’s Plant Improvement Plan in action, drawing on case studies from multiple facilities to demonstrate a comprehensive path to profitability.

Explore our Consultancy Services, including zero-capital plant improvements, to see how we can support your plant’s journey to peak performance.

Beyond the technical sessions, the conference offered great opportunities for networking and cultural immersion.

Day 1 wrapped up with the annual conference beach volleyball tournament which sparked friendly competition and camaraderie.

Day 2 featured a gala dinner at the historic Agora of Smyrna, where attendees enjoyed traditional Turkish cuisine and a captivating performance of traditional Zeybek dancing.

The event concluded with a scenic sunset dinner at Konak Pier, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea—a perfect end to a memorable conference

The 2025 conference was a resounding success, offering valuable insights and forging stronger industry connections. ECI Group has been a long-term sponsor of the event and we’re already looking forward to the 19^th LDPE Plant Improvement Conference, set to take place in Shanghai next year.

We’re going to be working closely with Uhde to deliver expanded technical content for our licensees next year, so watch this space!

Brunch & Learn

News    ⋅     Brunch & Learn May 2025

ECI Group was delighted to host a technical ‘Brunch & Learn’ session yesterday at Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans. The event brought together 25 technical professionals with backgrounds in LDPE and High-Pressure Copolymer technology and plant operations from across North America and Europe.

With the central theme of ‘Economics of High-Pressure Plant Retrofits: Maximizing Profit of Aging Assets’, ECI Group’s Subject Matter Experts gave presentations on:

• Capacity Increase Case Studies: traditional debottlenecking and ECI’s hybrid reactor technology routes
• Co-monomers Addition: Case Studies, Products, and Challenges
• License to operate: Reactor Blowdown System – Alternative Selection for Brownfield Applications
• Extending the Life and Performance of Your Plant

The event also provided opportunities for open discussions and networking over a relaxed brunch atmosphere. Attendees shared valuable insights and practical knowledge from their unique expertise, making the session highly interactive and enriching.

It was great to connect with so many experts within the industry. We look forward to hosting more such events in the future!

For more information about the solutions we provide for plant optimization, visit our ECI Group Consultancy Services page.

HP Recycle Exchangers

News    ⋅    HP Recycle Exchangers Shipped

In an exciting project milestone, the HP Recycle Exchangers have been shipped from Funke Heat Exchanger Systems’ facility in Changzhou to our client’s site.

The plant, which is being built in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China by Guangxi Huayi Energy Chemical Co., Ltd. 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.

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. The Hybrid technology offers the higher capacities of tubular lines with the expanded product capability of autoclave lines. In addition, ECI’s various proprietary design features and enhancements contribute to the overall effectiveness of the process and result in higher production with lower operating costs.

ECI Group is committed to developing localized solutions for our EVA licensed projects in China. The shipment of these HP Recycle Exchangers is a testament to the successful cooperation between ECI Group, Funke, and Huayi. Thanks to our combined efforts, these key equipment items will soon be installed on the plant, marking a major milestone in the plant construction.

200kta EVA/LDPE Award

News    ⋅     NZRCC Selects ECI Group’s HPPE Technology

Shanghai, China, April 29th, 2025

ECI Group, a world leading technology licensor and engineering services provider for the polymer industry, announced a contract award from Ningbo Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company Limited (NZRCC) for a 200kta EVA/LDPE Plant using ECI Group’s proprietary hybrid reactor technology. This award marks a total of 1 million tonnes of nameplate capacity licensed by ECI Group since they began licensing their technology in 2021.

NZRCC is a key refining and chemical subsidiary of Sinopec in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. The 200kta EVA/LDPE plant will form part of a large ethylene and downstream facility being developed by NZRCC in Ningbo’s Zhenhai District. ECI Group’s technology will enable the plant to produce 200,000 tonnes per year of LDPE, EVA, and other high-value copolymer products, with the ability for future expansion of product capability.

“It is with great pride that we announce our client NZRCC has selected ECI Group’s technology for their project,” said Joaquin Flores, ECI Group’s President and CEO. “This award comes the same week that we launch ECI Group’s office in Shanghai and reinforces our position as technology of choice for HPPE plants. We look forward to successfully delivering this project for NZRCC and helping them to deliver their highly competitive polymer production facility.”

Abhi Shivraj, ECI Group’s Commercial Director, said, “This is a landmark award for ECI Group, crossing one million tonnes of nameplate LDPE/EVA capacity licensed using ECI Group’s autoclave and hybrid technologies. Our offering represents a modern approach to high-pressure polyethylene plant design, providing the best combination of flexibility and reliability for multiple products and capacities.”

ECI Group’s scope covers the technology license, process design package, expanded process design package, and detailed design for the high-pressure system for NZRCC, as well as technical procurement services for the project and on-site technical support during installation, start-up, and performance assessment.

ECI Group’s hybrid reactor 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 plant capacities of 50kta, 100kta, 150kta and 200kta, all using ECI Group’s standardised design approach. This licensing agreement with NZRCC demonstrates the reputation and versatility of ECI Group’s hybrid reactor technology.