Headquartered in Mexico City, Poliquimicos is a leading producer and supplier of specialized chemical solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp and paper markets in Mexico. “The acquisition of Poliquimicos will enhance Solenis' direct sales channel in the Mexican market and improve our production capabilities in the region,” said John Panichella, CEO of Solenis.

The takeover follows the purchase last month of the paper business of ChemSystems, a division of South Africa's AECI. ChemSystems also supplies specialized chemical solutions for water-intensive industries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including pulp, paper and tissue manufacturing.

Participation in Plastics Project

Solenis also announced it has joined the Piloting Alternatives for Plastics project, a global initiative to help develop the next generation of fiber-based materials to replace plastics in a variety of goods, including food packaging, filters and hygiene products.

During the three-year project, the group, which comprises 52 companies and is led by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, will identify materials and manufacturing methods best suited to full-scale development. The aim is to reduce the time it takes to move projects from initial laboratory results into commercial production.

Piloting Alternatives for Plastics will focus on several technical areas, including developing breakthrough technology to dramatically cut energy and water use in papermaking, replacing petroleum-based nonwovens with cellulose-based wipes and hygiene solutions, as well as using high-performance, cellulose-based materials to create 3D structures and improve water resistance.

The pilots are being carried out at VTT in Jyvaskyla, Finland. The project started on Apr. 1 2020 and ends on Mar. 31 2023. Its total budget is €6.7 million, with funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund, VTT and companies coordinated by the Regional Council of Central Finland.