THE world's largest producer of phenol and acetone chemicals has awarded AK Engineering Services (AKES), of Stockton, the contract to upgrade a plant in Belgium.

Ineos Phenol wants to increase production capacity at its site in Doel.

The company's products are used in the manufacture of a range of products, including aspirin, car bumpers, household appliances, compact discs and acrylic glass.

The plant in Belgium was designed in 1993 to produce 200,000 tonnes of phenol a year and was expanded to produce 420,000 tonnes a year with a second line in 1997.

Further work carried out in conjunction with AKES's parent group, Aker Kvaerner, has increased that capacity to 450,000 tonnes a year.

Now, Ineos Phenol wants to increase capacity to 640,000 tonnes a year, with start-up set for October 2006.

Malcolm Oliver, managing director of AKES, said: "Our long track-record and experience gained in the successful completion of similar expansion projects will be very beneficial in ensuring we deliver cost-effective, reliable and technically integrated engineering services on this capacity increase."