12.12.2023 • News
Syensqo is Created Following Demerger of Solvay
Solvay’s shareholders supported the separation with 99.53 % approval, giving official birth to Syensqo.
News
12.12.2023 • News • Innovation
Accelerate Chemical and Material Development
Process manufacturing companies waste almost $100 billion globally every year while formulating novel materials and chemicals due to the trial-and-error approach to R&D and the lack of tools to leverage the experimental data in real-time.
11.12.2023 • News • Innovation
Making Lab Automation Actually Work
Manual experiment monitoring and data capture is still the status quo in most biotech and pharma labs, compromising efficiency and project timescales. But there is a better way.
11.12.2023 • News • Innovation
Accelerating Chemicals Innovation
The Spanish computational chemistry start-up Nextmol (Bytelab Solutions), a spin-off from the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that accelerates research and innovation in sustainable specialty chemicals through “in silico” experiments using molecular modeling and artificial intelligence (AI).
08.12.2023 • News
AkzoNobel and Wuxi El Pont Partner on E-Beam Technology for Coatings
AkzoNobel has signed a strategic agreement with China’s Wuxi El Pont Radiation Technology to develop a pioneering process that uses electron beams to cure coatings on metal substrates.
Surfactant Industry's Quest for Environmental Responsibility
Surfactants, a portmanteau of “surface” and “active” agent, play a pivotal role in various industries. These molecules are designed to work at interfaces, with the most common interface being the boundary between oil and water.
07.12.2023 • News
Umicore Breaks Ground for Fuel Cell Catalyst Plant in China
At the end of last week, Belgian chemicals and recycling company Umicore held the groundbreaking ceremony in Changshu, Jiangsu province, China, for its new large-scale fuel cell catalyst plant.
07.12.2023 • News
AbbVie to Acquire Cerevel Therapeutics for $8.7 Billion
In a move to complement its neuroscience portfolio, US drugmaker AbbVie has agreed to acquire Cerevel Therapeutics, which has a pipeline of multiple clinical-stage and preclinical candidates with potential across several diseases including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease (PD), and mood disorders.
06.12.2023 • News
Roche to Acquire Obesity Drug Maker Carmot
In a move to participate in the race for anti-obesity drugs, Swiss pharma giant Roche has agreed to acquire Carmot Therapeutics, a privately owned US company based in Berkeley, California.
06.12.2023 • News
Asahi Kasei Invests in Canadian Anion Exchange Membranes Manufacturer
Japanese manufacturer Asahi Kasei invests in Canadian startup Ionomr Innovations, known for its high-performance anion exchange membrane (AEM). The membrane has applications in cost-efficient and scalable green hydrogen production.
05.12.2023 • News
Kemira Divests Oil and Gas Business to Sterling Specialty Chemicals
In a move to focus on its core businesses, Finnish chemicals company Kemira has signed an agreement to divest its oil and gas-related portfolio for €260 million to Sterling Specialty Chemicals, a US subsidiary of Artek Industries, a global industrial chemicals group based in India.
05.12.2023 • News
Capchem USA Evaluating €320 Million Investment in Louisiana
Capchem Technology USA Inc., a subsidiary of Shenzhen Capchem Technology Co., may invest €320 million ($350 million) in building an integrated carbonate solvent and lithium-ion battery electrolyte facility in Louisiana, USA.
04.12.2023 • News
RoslinCT to Join Manufacturing Network for CRISPR-Based Therapy
UK’s RoslinCT, a cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, will be part of the Vertex Pharmaceuticals global network producing the CRISPR-based therapy exa-cel, which will be used for treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.
04.12.2023 • News
SK Bioscience to Expand Production Capacity for Pneumococcal Vaccine in Korea
South Korea-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) SK Bioscience wants to expand its vaccine manufacturing plant located in Andong, South Korea to approximately 4,200 m2 through joint investment with Sanofi.
04.12.2023 • News
CF Industries Completes Acquisition of US Ammonia Facility in Waggaman
US fertilizer producer CF Industries has completed the acquisition of the ammonia production complex of Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL) in Waggaman, Louisiana, USA, for $1.675 billion.
01.12.2023 • News
Arkema Closes Acquisition of 54% Stake in PI Advanced Materials
On Dec. 1, 2023, French chemicals and materials company Arkema has finalized the acquisition of Glenwood Private Equity’s 54% – based on a €728 million enterprise value – stake in South Korean company PI Advanced Materials (PIAM). Arkema said in a statement that this acquisition acquisition – first announced last June – complements its portfolio of high-performance technologies for the high-growth markets of advanced electronics and electric mobility.
01.12.2023 • News
AbbVie to Buy Cancer Drug Maker ImmunoGen for $10.1 Billion
US biopharma AbbVie has agreed to acquire ImmunoGen in a deal which values the company at about $10.1 billion and gives AbbVie access to flagship cancer therapy Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx), a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), as well as a pipeline of promising next-generation ADCs.
01.12.2023 • News
Elementis Plans New R&D Unit in Portugal
UK’s Elementis, a global specialty chemicals company, will be opening a new unit in Portugal, featuring a center of excellence and R&D laboratory. The new unit, which will be headquartered in Porto and is scheduled to open in the first half of 2024, will support the company’s business segments Personal Care and Performance Specialties and also reinforce the current R&D capacity of the Elementis' laboratories in Asia and the Americas.
30.11.2023 • News
Borealis to Acquire Mechanical Recycler Integra Plastics
Olefins and polyolefins producer Borealis has signed an agreement to acquire Integra Plastics, a Bulgarian advanced mechanical recycling company. Closing of the transaction, for which no financial details were disclosed, is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
27.11.2023 • News
UK Government Unveils £29.5 Billion of Investment at Global Business Summit
On Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced £29.5 billion ($36.8 billion) of private sector investment in Britain at a gathering of global executives intended to showcase Britain’s appeal to global investors.
24.11.2023 • News
Novo Nordisk to Invest €2.1 Billion in French Production Site
Novo Nordisk wants to make another major capital investment in production capacity for its diabetes and obesity therapies. The Danish drugmaker announced to spend more than 16 billion Danish kroner (€2.1 billion euros) starting in 2023 to expand its production site in Chartres, France, adding aseptic production and finished production processes and an extension of the current Quality Control Laboratory.
22.11.2023 • News
EuroAPI Completes Acquisition of BianoGMP
EuroAPI has completed the acquisition of BianoGMP, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in oligonucleotides.
22.11.2023 • News
TotalEnergies and SABIC Consider Selling US Chemical Plant
Major French oil company TotalEnergies SE and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) are considering selling a jumbo US plant that produces styrene and polystyrene, used in products such as plastic packaging, disposable cups, and insulation.
22.11.2023 • News
Merck & Co. to Acquire Caraway Therapeutics
Merck & Co. (MSD) and Caraway Therapeutics announced that the companies have agreed Merck & Co., through a subsidiary, will acquire Caraway Therapeutics for a total potential consideration of up to €557 million ($610 million), including an undisclosed upfront payment and contingent milestone payments.
21.11.2023 • News
Ineos and Sinopec Open New ABS Facility in China
Ineos Styrolution, a styrenics producer, has opened a new world-scale ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) facility located in Ningbo, China, together with its joint venture partner Sinopec. The facility has an annual nameplate capacity of 600,000 tons.
21.11.2023 • News
Orion Opens Second Plant in China
Orion opens its first greenfield project – a carbon black plant in eastern China that will supply fast-growing demand in Asia.
20.11.2023 • News
AGC Expands Production Capacity for Agrochemicals and Pharmaceuticals in Japan
AGC Wakasa Chemicals, part of Japanese group AGC, has completed a new large-scale production line at its Kaminaka Plant in Fukui prefecture, Japan, as it expects demand for agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals to grow steadily against a backdrop of population growth and improvement of living standards.
20.11.2023 • News
CEFIC Anounces EU Responsible Care Award Winners
The European Chemical Industry Council, CEFIC, announced 26 companies and national associations as the key initiatives featured in the 2023 European Responsible Care Awards Gallery.
17.11.2023 • News
Brenntag Supports Energy Sector with New US Site in Louisiana
German chemicals and ingredients distributor Brenntag has opened its new facility in Maurice, Louisiana, USA. Strategically positioned along the US Gulf Coast, the new site will be the primary operations hub for Coastal Chemical, a subsidiary of Brenntag, in addition to serving other areas in the region, the company said.
17.11.2023 • News
AkzoNobel to Build Facility for Bisphenol-Free Coatings in Spain
AkzoNobel is investing €32 million in a new plant at its Vilafranca site in Spain, which will produce bisphenol-free coatings for the metal packaging industry in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). AkzoNobel expects facility to be operational by mid-2025 and to create around 40 jobs.
16.11.2023 • News
Harmonization of Carbon Accounting Methodologies
The $5 trillion chemical industry plays a pivotal role in the global economy, serving as the foundation for countless sectors from paints to plastics that rely on its products and processes. With a rich history of innovation, chemical companies are well-positioned to lead the charge on decarbonization.
16.11.2023 • News
Air Liquide and Eneos Partner on Low-Carbon Hydrogen in Japan
French industrial gases group Air Liquide and Japanese energy company Eneos have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on accelerating the development of low-carbon hydrogen in Japan and contribute to the energy transition, covering the entire low-carbon hydrogen value chain.
15.11.2023 • News
OCI Global and Röhm Announce Production of MMA Using Bio-Ammonia
OCI Global, the world’s third largest nitrogen fertilizer and ammonia producer, is supplying Röhm, a leading manufacturer of methacrylates, with bio-ammonia for the production of methyl methacrylate (MMA), an important precursor for Plexiglas.
15.11.2023 • News
Merck to Relocate US Healthcare Headquarters to Boston
German chemicals, pharmaceuticals and life sciences group Merck, which operates its Healthcare business as EMD Serono in the US and Canada, announced that it plans to move its US Healthcare headquarters, currently located in Rockland, Massachusetts, to Boston’s Seaport district.
14.11.2023 • News
Hexpol Buys US Thermoplastic Elastomer Compounder Star Thermoplastic
Sweden’s Hexpol has acquired the American thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) compounder Star Thermoplastic Alloys and Rubbers for $26.5 million from Thomas A. Dieschbourg, who founded the company in 1993 and will remain as its president.
