NEWS
Vertellus buys Jarchem
Vertellus has acquired Jarchem Innovative Ingredients . New Jersey-based Jarchem supplies speciality ingredients and naturebased products as alternatives to esters , silicones and other products , with applications in the specialty , personal care home care and healthcare markets . Vertellus said that this expands its offering of environmentally friendly ingredients with cleaner , greener formulations .
Biostorage buy
CDMO Alcami has acquired Masy Systems on undisclosed terms . Masy has three cGMP biostorage facilities in Massachusetts , with a fourth due online in early 2022 . These offer cGMP temperature storage from -196˚C to 70˚C , including all ICH stability conditions , for materials including vaccines and biopharmaceuticals and has other pharmaceutical support service operations on both US coasts .
Boehmite expansion
Nabaltec is to expand a “ mid double-digit million ” euro sum to expand boehmite capacity from 10,000 to 25,000 tonnes / year at its Schwandorf site in Germany . Commissioning is scheduled for 2H 2023 . The product is used in the coating of separator films in the area of lithium-ion batteries and serves , among other things , as a thermal stabiliser .
CEFIC releases CSS impact report
CEFIC has released the first in a series of studies about the likely impact of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability ( CSS ). It subsequently joined other industry leaders in calling on European Commission and EU Member State governments “ to work together to develop an EU Chemical Industry Transition Pathway to sustain the massive investments required to meet the objectives of the EU Green Deal ”. Over 100 European chemical companies submitted data , which will be used as input to the EC ’ s assessments of the CLP and REACH regulations . The report found that up to 12,000 substances , responsible for up to 43 % of the industry ’ s turnover , could potentially be in the scope of the two upcoming legislative proposals : the changes to the CLP Regulation and the use of a Generic Risk Approach ( GRA ). After applying different weighting factors to account for uncertainty about definitions and criteria in the CSS , the consultants concluded that the most likely impacted portfolio would be as much as 28 % of the industry ’ s estimated turnover . Even when derogations are taken into account , this would represent a net market loss of at least 12 % of the industry ’ s portfolio by 2040 .
About one third of this could potentially be substituted or reformulated , CEFIC said , but companies ’ ability to do this “ will largely depend on the details of the upcoming regulations , on what might be technically and economically feasible , and especially on how customers will react to the substitutes or reformulated products ”. Adhesives and sealants , paints , washing and cleaning products will be the most affected products . The proposed Transition Pathway , CEFIC added , should include timelines and measures for the industry to develop substitutes and focus on products where substitutes could be available first . In this , it should build on proven and established approaches , such as risk assessment under REACH . Furthermore , “ incentives will be needed to create markets for these new chemicals , combined with a doubling down on enforcement of REACH and product safety legislation for imports ”. The package should be complemented by a strong innovation agenda , while the Transition Pathway “ should also address the other three transitions that the chemical industry has to undergo – climate neutrality , digitalisation and circularity .”
Peptide boost
Bachem has laid the foundation stone for its largest production building to date at its main site in Bubendorf , Switzerland . This , it claimed , “ will be the world ’ s most modern facility for the production of both peptides and oligonucleotides ” when it opens in 2024 . Up to 150 jobs will be created .
8 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981