Orlen Unipetrol Plans DCPD Plant
Czech group Orlen Unipetrol plans to build a new plant for producing dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) using its own recently developed technology.
News
Petchems Age at Porto Marghera may really End
The age of petrochemicals seems to be finally ending at the Porto Marghera site near Venice operated by Italian energy group Eni’s plastics subsidiary Versalis. While the group has made no formal announcement, Italian press reports say Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi has informed the mayor of Venice and the unions that the cracker with nameplate capacity for nearly 500,000 t/y of ethylene and 250,000 t/y of propylene will be shut down in spring 2022.
EMA Gives All Clear for AstraZeneca Covid Shot
After a day’s deliberation, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has decided that AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective and that potential side effects observed across the EU are not too great to run the risk of being infected with the virus.
DSM Sells Solar Business to Worthen Industries
DSM is selling its Advanced Solar business in backsheet products for solar modules to Worthen Industries, a US-based chemical and technology manufacturer of industrial adhesives & coatings, extruded films and coated substrates. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
WuXi Buys Pfizer China Plant
China’s WuXI Biologics has agreed to buy Pfizer’s biologics manufacturing facilities in Hangzhou for an undisclosed price. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021. The Shanghai-based company said the acquisition will immediately boost its capacities for commercial drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) capacities to address surging manufacturing demand.
EU-UK Vaccine Cold War Gets Hotter
As the world awaited conclusive words from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on the safety of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 shot, the vaccine war between the UK and the EU appeared to be intensifying. With manufacturers struggling to meet supply commitments, both sides see their inoculation programs at risk.
Pharma Logistics: A Global Perspective
Over the past few years, Camelot has been monitoring pharma distribution in different regions of the world.
New Ammonia Synthesis Technology
Tsubame BHB was established in April of 2017 based on a new catalyst technology developed by Prof. em. Hideo Hosono at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), which allows an ammonia process at lower temperature and pressure.
CO2-Neutral Chemical Industry
The European Chemical Industry has set out on an ambitious path to become carbon neutral. Germany, as one of the major chemical manufacturing nations, has committed to achieve this goal by 2050.
Clariant and India Glycols Form Renewables JV
Clariant and India Glycols Limited (IGL) are forming a joint venture for renewable ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives. To support production, IGL has entered into long-term supply agreement for EO made from bio-ethanol as well as further utilities.
Thermo Fisher to Upgrade Bioprocessing Operations
Thermo Fisher Scientific plans to spend more than $600 million to upgrade its bioprocessing operations up to 2022. It aims to more than double current manufacturing capacity and support biopharma customers as they ramp up to meet short-term demands related to COVID-19. Another goal is to support its own long-term efforts to develop new vaccines and biologics for other conditions.
Not all Gloom for German Chemicals in 2020
Punctuated by lockdowns and gaps in raw materials supply, pandemic year 2020 presented major challenges for German chemical and pharmaceutical producers. However, due to a strong fourth quarter performance in which both sales and production rose against the third quarter, the industry association Verband der Chemischen Industre (VCI), said business was better than expected.
Tune Your Warehouse
The changes in customer needs and market requirements have not only been changing because of the pandemic influences within the last year, but traditional business models were quickly considered outdated in the current environment.
Complex Operations Call for Smart Tools
Gemsotec creates tailored solutions and applications that increase efficiency and safety in the process industry by applying the latest digital technologies.
Pharma 4.0: Smart Manufacturing
Marcus Michel, CEO of ACG Engineering, analyzes market trends in pharmaceutical engineering and manufacturing.
Developing Innovative Ideas, Creating New Markets
As Managing Director of Asahi Kasei Europe, Hideki Tsutsumi has implemented the Japanese chemical company's growth strategy in Europe.
Ajinomoto in Talks with Metex on Animal Feed Unit
Japan’s Ajinomoto has entered into exclusive negotiations with French fermentation firm METabolic EXplorer to sell its entire stake in Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition Europe (AANE), based in Amiens, France. The company said the sale its part of a strategic reshaping of its portfolio and a restructuring of non-core businesses.
Saudi Ministry Approves Advanced Petrochemical Complex
Advanced Global Investment Company (AGIC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian PP producer Advanced Petrochemical, has received approval from the Ministry of Energy for the allocation of feedstock to supply its proposed petrochemical complex in Jubail Industrial City.
Germany Seeks Self Reliance in Vaccine Production
As one glitch after another at Covid vaccine suppliers upends deliveries, the German federal government is drawing up plans to build up production within its borders, federal health minister Jens Spahn said at a weekly news conference, thereby confirming remarks made by future vaccine commissioner Christoph Krupp in a pre-published newspaper interview.
Streamlining the Path to Peptide Market Supply
Interview with Michael Postlethwaite, Senior Director, Sales & Business Development, European Territories, AmbioPharm
Petronas Signs Abu Dhabi Collaborations
Malaysian state-owned oil and gas group Petronas has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and renewable energy company Masdar, both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
AstraZeneca-EU Relationship Sours Further
Astra Zeneca’s relationship with the EU is at rock bottom. Within three days, news emerged of deaths from blood clots in people receiving the UK drugmaker’s vaccine, and drugs regulator European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it was studying reports that 41 people receiving the shot in the UK had suffered an anaphylaxis reaction. What’s more, the company just took back another supply commitment.
EU Firms in Alliance for Green Hydrogen
Seven companies from the European GET H2 hydrogen initiative, including chemical producer Evonik, have established a consortium to help promote industrial offtake of climate-friendly green hydrogen from renewable energies.
Advancing Scientific Breakthroughs
Interview with Christophe Couturier and Claudia Berrón, Avantor
Container with New Perspectives
Originally engineered for the transport of chocolate, tank containers with agitators have discovered a wide range of uses.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Chemical Industry
Besides digitalization, sustainability and the circular economy are the key issues facing the chemical industry at present and in the coming decades.
Weylchem Advanced Intermediates Broadens Scope of Market Activities
CHEManager Interview with Antti Koivisto and Michael Badine, WeylChem Advanced Intermediates
Recycled and Carbon-neutral Precious Metals
Over the years, sustainability has evolved from an aspirational goal to an operational priority. Companies in every industry are being asked to incorporate more environmental stewardship into their operations and business practices.
Innovation is the Driver to Delivering Value
Michael Reubold talked to Evonik’s Sanjeev Taneja about the role of catalysts in the company and their value to the industry and the society.
Renewable Hydrogen
To take advantage of the opportunity hydrogen presents, the European chemical industry must engage in the emerging hydrogen market now, setting up specific pilots, develop an appropriate partner and ecosystem network and, most crucially, adapt the R&D portfolios and investment plans needed to capture a share of the hydrogen opportunity.
IMCD sells Nutri Granulations to Huber
IMCD has agreed to sell its Nutri Granulations business to Huber Engineered Materials, a division of J.M. Huber, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to close by Apr. 1. The Dutch distributor originally acquired the business as part of its takeover of US specialty chemicals distributor E.T. Horn in June 2018.
OMV Plans Glycerin-to-Propanol Pilot Plant
Austrian energy and chemicals company OMV has announced plans to invest about €30 million in a pilot plant that will produce propanol from glycerin. Construction is planned to start in the second quarter of 2021, with the plant due to go into operation in 2023.
Eight Countries Halt AstraZeneca Shot on Blood Clot Fears
AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine is drawing negative headlines again after several incidences of blood clots have been reported, including the death of a 49-year-old nurse from multiple thrombosis 10 days after receiving the shot. On Mar. 10, eight countries had suspended injections from a batch labeled ABV5300 or halted use of this vaccine pending clarification.
EMA Clears J&J Covid Vaccine for Marketing
The EU cleared Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine for conditional marketing in all 27member states on Mar. 11 as expected. The single-dose adenovirus shot made by subsidiary Janssen Biotech, under a rolling review since December 2020, is the fourth to be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
