US polymer and fibre manufacturer Invista (Wichita, Kansas; www.invista.com) has signed a technology licensing agreement for its butanediol (BDO) manufacturing technology with the chemical subsidiary of Chinese furniture manufacturer Markor (Urumqi, Xinjiang Province; www.markorfurniture.com). Markor Chemical manufactures methanol, formaldehyde, acetylene, tetrahydrofuran and BDO at group headquarters in Urumqi.

As part of the agreement, Invista will provide the Chinese group with manufacturing processes, technologies, product formulations and engineering services for Markor’s 100,000 t/y BDO plant.

Invista says it has been licensing its technologies in China since 1990 and so far has participated in more than 40 projects in the People’s Republic. Its Chinese licenses now exceed EUR 3.5 bn.