Solvay is taking new steps to simplify its organization and enhance long-term growth as it transitions to an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company.

“Over the past six years we built a business portfolio to generate superior and sustainable growth. Now we need to follow through and drastically simplify our organization and processes as well as align all our resources. This will allow Solvay to provide differentiated experiences for customers and maximize value for the group,” said CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu.

The move, however, is anticipated to result in about 600 net redundancies, mostly in functional activities. These include 160 in France, 90 in Portugal and 80 in Brazil. The company said natural turnover, voluntary leave and internal repositioning would help mitigate any impact. Solvay has already launched consultation procedures with employee representatives and said these should be completed at the end of June.

As well as simplifying its processes to focus on and better respond to customers, Solvay will relocate and upgrade its research and innovation (R&I) activities. As a consequence, it plans to relocate its French R&I activities from Aubervilliers, along with most of its activities in Paris, to Lyon, and to a lesser extent, to Brussels in Belgium.

In France, Solvay intends to upgrade its largest global research site in Lyon to a center for advanced chemistry. In Belgium, the expansion of R&I in advanced materials science will coincide with plans to revamp its Brussels headquarters. About 500 employees will transfer to Lyon and Brussels over the next four years.

In separate news, Solvay has completed the sale of its bio-based Epicerol technology to TechnipFMC. The technology converts glycerol to high-purity epichlorohydrin for use in coatings, composites and adhesive applications in a variety of industries. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“This technology will be of interest to downstream users who are interested in a cost-effective ECH production route while taking advantage of an abundant renewable feedstock to reduce their carbon footprint. Adding this technology is another step in our strategy to expand and differentiate our onshore technology portfolio,” said Stan Knez, senior vice president, onshore process technology for TechnipFMC.

The company said it will license the technology from its operating center in Lyon, France.