Digitalization

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Navigating the Future of Chemical Distribution

In 2024, the chemical distribution industry is at a pivotal moment, navigating both challenges and new opportunities. As distributors grapple with a landscape shaped by shifting global trade routes, demand constraints, and digital disruption, their roles are evolving far beyond traditional bulk breaking.

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“Quo vadis, Europe?”

Today, economic success is defined by a different perception and practice of supply capability and supply security. This applies not only to the European trade with chemicals but to the entire chemical value chain.

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Pharma’s Digital Transformation

Industry experts Michelangelo Canzoneri, Josef Trapl, Wolfgang Winter, Christian Woelbeling, and Thomas Zimmer – all members of ISPE’s Pharma 4.0 guide core team – explain the transformational challenges and critical success factors of the digital Pharma 4.0 journey.

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Chemical Labor Productivity Challenge

The chemical industry faces acute labor shortages because the talent pool is shrinking, but the industry remains heavily reliant on manual work. Therefore, realizing labor productivity potential will be decisive for business continuity and future growth.

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Navigating the Logistics Impact

Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) present a revolutionary approach to the pharmaceutical industry. However, several complexities do arise on a logistical spectrum that diverge from those of traditional pharmaceuticals.

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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.

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Accelerating Chemicals Innovation

The Spanish computational chemistry start-up Nextmol (Bytelab Solutions), a spin-off from the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that accelerates research and innovation in sustainable specialty chemicals through “in silico” experiments using molecular modeling and artificial intelligence (AI).

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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.

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OQ Chemicals to Cut 10% of the Workforce

Toward achieving cost savings in the double-digit million euro range, Germany’s OQ Chemicals, part of the Oman-based OQ energy group, has announced a cost-cutting scheme that will see it cut 10% of the workforce.

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Planning for the Unexpected

Dorothee Arns, Director General of FECC, discusses current challenges, market trends and her vision for the chemical distribution industry in Europe. The interview was conducted by Michael Reubold and Ralf Kempf.

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The Upswing of the Superstars

For its annual report "Value Creation in Chemicals 2021 – Ten Years of Steady Growth – and a Few Superstars," the strategy consultancy Boston Consulting Group examined the performance of leading international chemical companies from 2011 to 2020. The long-term perspective shows that the industry has mastered serious market downturns with astonishing confidence.

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The Transition to Digitalization in the Pharmaceutical Industry

ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.

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Special Issue

Circular Plastics Economy
Explore the Future of Plastics

Circular Plastics Economy

This special CHEManager issue explores the industry’s pivotal shift towards a more sustainable, circular plastics value chain. Readers will find expert analysis and real-world solutions for today’s most pressing recycling and regulatory challenges.