On Wednesday, China’s Wanhua Chemical opened its R&D center in Cornellà de Llobregat near Barcelona, Spain, providing technical support and services to downstream customers in fine chemicals and materials on topics like product performance, application methods, and raw material selection.
On Thursday, Syensqo broke ground on its new battery-grade polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) facility in Augusta, Georgia, US. When complete, the site will be the largest PVDF production facility in North America, the company said.
Asahi Kasei announced that it will construct an integrated plant in Ontario, Canada for the base film manufacturing and coating of Hipore wet-process lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator. Asahi Kasei and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) have reached a basic agreement about the plant and are currently exploring the possibility of a joint investment.
Kühne Holding has agreed to purchase Aenova Group, a pharma contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), from BC Partners. BC will reinvest and retain a minority stake in Aenova. The financial terms remain undisclosed.
French biotech company Pili, a manufacturer of sustainable colorant and pigment, has produced several tons of anthranilic acid, a 100% biobased aromatic compound which the company already converts into dyes and pigments.
US-based multinational contractor KBR has been awarded a contract by SABIC Fujian Petrochemicals to license its phenol technology in China.
Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant Aramco has entered into discussions with Hengli Group regarding the potential acquisition of a 10% stake in Hengli Petrochemical, subject to due diligence and required regulatory clearances.
Biopharmaceutical company CureVac has announced a co-development and licensing agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop novel mRNA-based cancer vaccines.
Last week, LyondellBasell and Genox Recycling have opened their plastics recycling joint venture (JV) in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, which will operate under the name Guangdong Genox LyondellBasell New Material Co.
Linde announced that – through its subsidiary White Martins – will build, own and operate a second 5-MW pressurized alkaline electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen in Jacareí, São Paulo, Brazil. Start-up of the facility is expected in 2025.
Sumitomo Chemical has announced to divest all of its shares in two of its flat panel display (FPD) process chemical subsidiaries in China to Zhenjiang Runjing High Purity Chemical Technology (Runjing Tech). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of May this year. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Belgian chemical major Solvay has opened a new facility in Rosignano, Italy, for the production of Alve-One, a chemical blowing agent for the thermoplastic foaming industry.
Arkema is set to acquire a 78% stake in Proionic, a start-up specializing in ionic liquids production. These components are crucial for future lithium-ion batteries. This acquisition expands Arkema’s solutions and strengthens its position in the materials sector across various battery technologies.
BASF has started operations at its prototype metal refinery for battery recycling in Schwarzheide, Germany. The plant enables the development of operational procedures and the optimization of innovative battery recycling technology, processing end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery production scrap, the company said.
The Mexican start-up Neptunus Biotech extracts bioactive compounds from marine microalgae which are used as a bio-stimulant for crops. The assimilation of these molecules makes the plants more resistant to environmental stress.
US-based Vantage Specialty Chemicals is to expand taurate capacity at its major manufacturing site in Leuna, Germany, in particular for the production of N-methyltaurine.
Following regulatory approval of the deal, Italian chemical company Versalis has completed the acquisition of compounder Tecnofilm.
As part of its strategy to expand the company's application portfolio, Germany-based OQ Chemicals has mechanically completed the expansion of its US plant in Bay City, Texas, for the production of high-purity propionaldehyde.
Fujifilm announced an additional investment of $1.2 billion in its large-scale cell culture contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business to further expand the planned Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, bringing the total investment in the facility to over $3.2 billion. Plans for the new site were unveiled in September last year.
Air Liquide is to expand its capacities in biomethane, also known as renewable natural gas (RNG) in the US, with the construction of two new production units. These units, located in Center Township, Pennsylvania, and Holland Township, Michigan, will treat waste sourced from dairy farms.
Australia-headquartered lithium producer Vulcan Energy Resources has started production of lithium chloride (LiCl) at its lithium extraction optimization plant (LEOP) in Landau, Germany. The company started the plant up in November last year.
Novoloop, a plastic circular economy technology company, recently announced the successful startup of its pilot plant in India in collaboration with Aether Industries, a publicly listed specialty chemicals manufacturer.
US-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay approximately $4.9 billion in cash to acquire Alpine Immune Sciences, a compatriot biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative, protein-based immunotherapies.
In its Chemical Trends Report for March, CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, states that Europe has been more impacted by the energy crisis than other regions and structural issues need to be addressed.
Specialty chemicals company Orion, a producer of carbon black, broke ground on a battery materials plant in Texas, US. According to Orion, the facility will be the only one in the US producing acetylene-based conductive additives for lithium-ion batteries and other applications for the growing electrification.
Roquette, a French multinational supplier of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients, announced an investment by its venture capital arm Roquette Ventures in Danish start-up Biograil.
DKSH has announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Malaysia's Elite Organic Sdn. Bhd. This acquisition allows DKSH Performance Materials to enhance its capabilities in the promising pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical markets across the Asia Pacific region.
Finnish refiner Neste and South Korean chemical company Lotte Chemical agreed on a strategic collaboration to replace fossil resources with renewable raw materials in the manufacturing of chemicals and plastics. This, the partners said, will enable products and applications with a lower carbon footprint compared to those produced from fossil resources.
TotalEnergies and China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) have agreed to develop a production unit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a Sinopec's refinery in China.
German distribution giant Brenntag announced the acquisition of Lawrence Industries, an independent specialties distributor in the UK. The transaction, Brenntag said, further strengthens the company’s position within Material Science and across the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE), construction, polymer and rubber industries. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Azelis continues its acquisition spree, this time adding Indonesian distributor PT Marga Dwi Kencana (MDK) to its portfolio. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Danish drugmaker Genmab has agreed to buy privately-owned US biotechnology company ProfoundBio for $1.8 billion. ProfoundBio develops novel ADCs and ADC technologies for the treatment of certain cancers, including ovarian cancer and other FRα-expressing solid tumors.
Clariant, a specialty chemical company, announced it has completed the acquisition of Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, a provider of high-value ingredients for the cosmetics and personal care industry, from IFF for an Enterprise Value (EV) of $810 million (€746 million). The purchase price will be subject to customary net debt and working capital adjustments.
Upperton Pharma Solutions was joined by Sarah Gilbert, Professor and co-creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for the official opening of its new development and GMP manufacturing facility in Nottingham, UK.
Swiss construction chemicals major Sika has acquired Kwik Bond Polymers (KBP), a US-based manufacturer of polymer systems for the refurbishment of concrete infrastructure. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
