Solvay Opens New Blowing Agent Production Facility in Italy
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.
News
Arkema Acquires Majority Stake in Proionic for Next-Gen Batteries
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 Launched Prototype Metal Refinery for Battery Recycling in Germany
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.
Neptunus Biotech – The Power of the Ocean in Benefit of the Soil
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.
Vantage Expands Taurate Manufacturing Capacity in Germany
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.
Versalis Buys Italian Compounder Tecnofilm
Following regulatory approval of the deal, Italian chemical company Versalis has completed the acquisition of compounder Tecnofilm.
OQ Chemicals Completes US Propionaldehyde Expansion
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 Invests Additional $1.2 Billion in CDMO Business in North Carolina
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 Expands Biomethane Capacities in the US
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.
Vulcan Produces Europe's First Green Lithium Chloride
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 and Aether Attain Continuous Operations of Pilot Plant
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.
Vertex to Acquire Alpine Immune Sciences for $4.9 Billion
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.
EU Chemical Industry Confidence Shows Upward Trend
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.
Orion Breaks Ground on Battery Materials Plant in Texas
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 Invests in Danish Start-up Biograil
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 Performance Materials Acquires Elite Organic
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.
Neste, Lotte Chemical Collaborate on Renewable Chemicals and Plastics
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, Sinopec to Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel
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.
Brenntag Acquires Specialties Distributor in UK
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 Acquires Personal Care Distributor in Indonesia
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.
Genmab to Acquire ProfoundBio for $1.8 Billion
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 Completes Acquisition of Lucas Meyer Cosmetics
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 Opens New Development and GMP Manufacturing Facility
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.
Sika Acquires Concrete Refurbishment Company in the US
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.
Archroma to Expand Operations in South Carolina
Swiss specialty chemicals producer Archroma announced plans to expand its US operations in Martin, South Carolina.
Wolfgang Wienand to Join Lonza as New CEO
Lonza has appointed Wolfgang Wienand as its new CEO. He will join the company during the summer of 2024 and succeed Albert M. Baehny, who took on the additional responsibility of interim CEO in October 2023 while the search for a permanent CEO took place.
Ineos Completes Acquisition of TotalEnergies’ Petrochemical Assets at Lavera
Ineos has completed the acquisition of Naphtachimie, Gexaro and Appryl, which were 50:50 Joint Ventures between Ineos and TotalEnergies at Lavera in Southern France.
Aragen Launches First Phase of Biologics Facility in India
Aragen, a CRDMO, has launched the first phase of its biologics manufacturing facility in Bangalore, India. The $30 million project, executed by its subsidiary Aragen Biologics Pvt Ltd, has completed its first small-scale manufacturing project for a US-based organization, producing a novel anticancer monoclonal antibody.
Syensqo Inaugurates Application Development Labs in Italy
Syensqo has opened its application development labs (ADL) in Bollate, Italy. The project includes an expansion of 1,300 m2 in a new building and represents a €10 million investment over the past three years and underlines the Bollate research center’s pivotal role in developing new applications for high-tech industries, the company said.
Chemours Names Denise Dignam Permanent CEO
US specialty chemicals and materials company Chemours has appointed Denise Dignam as the company’s permanent CEO and president, as well as a member of the board of directors, effective immediately.
Celanese and Secarna Collaborate on Long-Acting Antisense Therapies
US chemical group Celanese and Germany’s Secarna Pharmaceuticals, an antisense drug discovery and development company, entered a research collaboration for the development of long-acting implants that deliver antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs).
Sandoz Opens Antibiotic Production Facility in Austria
Sandoz, a generic and biosimilar medicines manufacturer, recently opened a new production facility in Kundl, Austria, to serve more patients with affordable life-saving drugs produced entirely in Europe.
Dow to Build World-Scale Carbonate Solvents Facility on US Gulf Coast
Dow announced its intent to build a world-scale carbonate solvents production facility for lithium-ion battery production on the US Gulf Coast. The plant will serve customers in the lithium-ion battery sector, in which carbonate solvents are used as a component in electrolytes.
Novo Nordisk to Acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals
Novo Nordisk is to acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals for up to €1.025 billion Euros, including an upfront payment and additional payments if certain development and commercial milestones are achieved.
Johnson Matthey to Sell its Medical Device Components Business
UK’s Johnson Matthey (JM) has signed a definitive agreement to sell 100% of its Medical Device Components (MDC) business to Montagu Private Equity for $700 million (£550 million).
