Sustainability and Energy Efficiency at a Turning Point
Flow chemistry was named as one of the ten technologies that have the potential to make our planet more sustainable in 2019 by the IUPAC.
Strategy
Sustainability in Production is Key - What Does Flow Chemistry Bring to the Table?
Numerous articles have been published within the last years in chemical science and business media (including this one) on the advantages of continuous reactions, aka flow chemistry.
Generative AI in Chromatographic Analysis
Generative AI can impact the field of chromatography in various innovative ways. However, great care needs to be taken to validate any use of this emerging technology from a technical, quality and regulatory perspective.
Revolutionizing Green Chemical Production with Ultrasound
Biorefining allows low-carbon feedstocks – such as lignocellulosic biomass – to be processed into intermediate chemicals that can be made into renewable plastics for the automotive industry. Sonichem has developed a breakthrough biorefinery technique that uses ultrasonic energy alongside mild organic acids to fractionate softwood sawdust into hemicellulose sugars, microcrystalline cellulose and high-quality lignin.
Breakthrough Supply Chains for the Pharmaceutical Industry
The pharmaceutical industry is a truly global and complex network of ingredients and materials suppliers, manufacturers, distributors for a variety of products ranging from vaccines to antibiotics and to therapeutic drugs for customers/patients.
Chemical Distributor Creates Opportunities Through Innovation
On January 1, 2024, Anna Bertona will take on the role of Group CEO, succeeding Hans Joachim Müller, who will retire after serving more than 11 years in that role. Ralf Kempf asked Müller and Bertona about the foundations for the group's continued success and plans for its future strategic direction.
The Chemical Distribution Industry
Lars Wallstein, IMCD’s Managing Director Germany, who was elected in September as President of FECC – the European Association of Chemical Distributors. He discusses current market trends and the organization's vision for the future of the sector.
Carbon Footprinting as a Competitive Advantage
Chemical industry's pivotal role in sustainability; Carbon accounting as a game-changer for competitiveness
Preparing for Sustainability-Driven Growth
Rising demand for sustainability-related products will create a huge growth opportunity for chemical companies.
Positioned for Growth: The New Age of Winning for Chemical Distributors
By enhancing offerings, ensuring performance, managing costs, and embracing sustainability, distributors prove as essential partners for long-term success amidst evolving challenges.
Unleashing CDMO Growth through Effective Pricing
In the rapidly evolving industry of contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), a well-defined pricing strategy is essential to drive growth and profitability. To stay ahead and participate in the expansion of the market, CDMOs need to transition to a structured value-based pricing approach that considers customer value, complexity, and specific needs.
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.
Intelligent Engineering for Optimized Pharma Manufacturing
The Covid pandemic and its repercussions have changed the pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare markets. Richard Stedman, the CEO of ACG Engineering, discusses the lessons learned from the global supply chain disruptions and how innovative equipment helps pharma manufacturers overcome the challenges.
Biosurfactants at Scale
In response to the urgent need for sustainable solutions in the surfactants industry, companies like Locus Ingredients are developing environmentally friendly biosurfactants.
Exploring Mega Trends and Value Chain Complexity with Cepsa Chemicals
In the dynamic realm of the chemical industry, surfactants serve as indispensable components with versatile applications, particularly in the home and personal care sector.
Quality and Safety in Biopharmaceutical Production
The biopharmaceutical industry is experiencing a drive towards biologic products due to their promise as treatments for chronic diseases.
New Biologics and Advanced Therapies
The pharmaceutical market is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by innovation among biologics and advanced therapies (ATs). This shift is not only redefining the treatment landscape but also presenting new opportunities and challenges related to the drug development and manufacturing value chain.
The Evolution of CDMOs
Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are a crucial part of the life sciences industry. Strangely, despite its current prominence, the CDMO industry is a relatively young one. There have been significant developments over its short lifespan, and it is likely that we see even more growth in the years to come.
European Chemicals Pulse Check
In its latest European Chemicals Pulse Check, Deloitte surveyed senior executives in the European chemical industry and industry associations about their views on current market challenges, trends and opportunities.
Rising Chinese Investments in New Chemical Segments
China’s chemical industry originally focused primarily on basic chemicals, in line with the domestic needs of a developing economy and the lower technology requirements for the production of these materials. By now, China dominates the global market for many such chemicals – for example, the country accounts for about 55% of the global capacity for acetic acid, about 50% of the global carbon black capacity and about 45% of the global capacity for titanium dioxide. For many such commodity chemicals, China started out as a net importer, then built up domestic capacity and ended up being a major exporter.
A Journey towards the Smart Factory
Achieving sustainability targets and productivity improvements are primary levers that make operations teams successful. At MBCC Group, one of the leading construction chemicals players, Wayne Towell, Vice President of Operations has been driving various initiatives to track, monitor and enhance productivity of their plants across the globe.
Creating added value through innovation and transformation
As a global specialty chemicals company, Altana develops innovative technologies, solutions, and products with a clear customer focus. The company aims to strengthen and expand this position in the long term. The topic of digital transformation plays a key role.
Creating added value through innovation and transformation
As a global specialty chemicals company, Altana develops innovative technologies, solutions, and products with a clear customer focus. The company aims to strengthen and expand this position in the long term. The topic of digital transformation plays a key role.
Increasing the Sustainability of API Production
For Siegfried, sustainability is much more than a phrase with a green coating. The term, which encompasses social and economic criteria in addition to ecological aspects, is one of five central corporate values. One of the biggest levers for reducing energy and resource consumption in the pharma supply chain lies in the efficient production of active ingredients and pharmaceuticals. The company therefore works consistently on optimizing its processes.
Opportunities and Limits of Sustainability
The Pharmaceutical industry must prioritize sustainability. Jürgen Roos, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Siegfried, explains opportunities and limits of sustainability.
Special Issue: Swiss CDMO Siegfried Celebrates 150th Anniversary
There are only a few chemical and pharmaceutical companies that look back at a history of 150 years. Certainly, many companies claim such a long legacy, but if you only count those that have been operating and thriving under the same name for a century and a half, the number boils down significantly.
Sustainability – The Many Facets of Action
Climate change, energy crisis, the call for a more environmentally compatible production method and socially responsible action do not stop at the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Sustainability is becoming a central competitive and reputation factor and carries a high economic value. This need not be to the industry´s disadvantage. It helps companies to make processes more efficient, reduces energy consumption and keeps costs in check. But is the pharmaceutical industry already doing enough in this regard?
Siegfried Demonstrates Biologics Expertise in Hameln
The Fill & Finish of biologic drugs is expensive and poses special technological challenges for CDMOs. At the German site in Hameln, Siegfried has successfully proven these capabilities over the past two years by producing Covid-19 vaccines and a significant number of clinical batches for several biological companies. By investing in its competencies, capacities and flexibility, the company intends to further expand this demanding but promising business area.
"We Want to Be a Big Fish"
The CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organizations) business has a bright future, of that Siegfried CEO Wolfgang Wienand is certain. The economic advantages alone speak for this compared to in-house production by the pharmaceutical companies themselves. Although Siegfried has already reached sufficient critical size within its industry, he sees the company continuing on its growth path. The goal is to take over an even larger share of the value chain from pharmaceutical companies in the future.
Navigating Uncertainty in the Biopharma Market
Biopharma companies are facing funding challenges in 2023 as interest rates rise and investors are becoming more risk adverse. There is hope on the horizon, say some analysts, while others project a prolonged slump due to inflation and global instability. Established pharmaceutical companies are often seen as safer investments, with larger developers expected to perform well in 2023, especially if litigation threats against drugs like Zantac disappear. However, concerns about revenue gaps continue for big companies like GSK and Sanofi, and their strategy and leadership will be closely monitored in the coming months.
Chemical Distribution in China
The Chinese chemical distribution market is very likely the largest in the world. To be successful in this competitive market, foreign distributors in particular need to consider some important aspects.
On Track for a Sustainable Future
Interview with Annegret Vester, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), CHT Germany
Resilience Is the Strategy for Success in Volatile Markets
For its annual report "Value Creation in Chemicals 2022 – Building Resilience as the Crisis Unfolds," the strategy consultancy Boston Consulting Group examined the performance of leading international chemical companies between 2017 and 2021. The results show that the chemical industry, even in difficult times, has outperformed other sectors.
Using Digital Twins for Sustainable Manufacturing Processes
Sustainable manufacturing is one of the most common demands industries, such as the pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnological industries, are faced with today.
Containment Solutions for HPAPI Manufacturing
Clear incentive for drug manufacturers to equip their production facilities with the capacity to process highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs). HPAPIs now account for 25% of all drugs produced globally, with some analysts projecting that it will reach a value of $40 billion by 2027.
