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Azelis buys two more Azelis has signed agreements to buy Localpack , a Colombian speciality chemical distributor active in the life sciences and industrial chemicals segments , and Oktrade , a distributor of speciality personal care ingredients in Turkey . Both come with application laboratories to add to Azelis ’ options for supporting customers in product development .
Biobased 5-HMF advance IFP Energies Nouvelles and ResiCare , a Michelin Group operation , have co-developed a process for producing the platform molecule 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from plant-based fructose using homogeneous catalysis . They have now produced 1.2 tonnes at pilot scale and validated samples for use in adhesive resins .
Agro advance for Aarti …. Aarti Industries has signed a long-term supply contract with an unnamed major agrochemicals supplier that could be worth about € 330,000 over nine years . The deal pertains to a niche intermediate for a herbicide that is used with corn , soybean , cotton , sugarcane , sunflowers and other crops . No capacity expansion is needed as the intermediate is already in the company ’ s portfolio .
… and for Jubilant Fellow Indian speciality chemicals firm Jubilant Ingrevia has opened a new multi-purpose agrochemical intermediates plant in Bharuch , Gujarat . The company said that the facility is “ strategically designed to produce value-added derivatives ” from captive raw materials and “ represents a significant step forward in expanding its footprint ” in agro .
Neste to convert refinery for renewables
Neste has completed a strategic study it launched in September 2022 and is now beginning a gradual transformation of its crude oil refinery in Porvoo ( pictured ), Finland , into a “ renewable and circular solutions refining hub ”. This will take place in phases and is expected to be complete in the mid-2030s at a cost of around € 2.5 billion .
Depending on the exact investment decisions made , the company expects the long-term capacity potential of the hub to be about 3 million tonnes / year of renewable and circular products . These will include renewable diesel , sustainable aviation fuel , and both renewable and circular feedstock for polymers and chemicals .
“ The long-term transformation of the Porvoo refinery is a key element in our renewables growth strategy , completing Neste ’ s journey to a 100 % renewable and circular solutions provider when finalised ,” said Matti Lehmus , president and CEO .
The company aims to make Porvoo the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030 . More generally , it seeks to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035 , and will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50 % by 2040 .
MFG acquires testing firm
US contract and custom manufacturing firm
Scientist in MFG lab MFG Chemical has acquired Masters Company from private ownership . Terms were not disclosed and the deal has already been completed .
Masters is based in Chicago and is active in the water treatment market , mainly in North America , though it has some international customers . It supplies reagents and test kits , carries out custom blending and manufacturing , makes private label products and offers analytical services for industrial water treatment .
“ Most recently ,” said Mike Standish , founder of additives supplier Radical Polymers , which MFG acquired in 2022 , and now VP of water additives at MFG , “ Masters developed a line of super-concentrated liquids that lower the footprint of products used in HVAC-type applications ”.
Buying Masters , Standish added , has enabled MFG to take a step forward in the value chain and offer products beyond additives and ingredients , without competing with its customers .
10 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981