JAN / FEB 2024
IN BRIEF
LG Chem breaks ground in Tennessee
Korea ’ s LG Chem has broken ground on a nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminium cathode materials facility on a 170-hectare site in Clarksville , Tennessee . Starting in 2026 , this will supply 60,000 tonnes / year of battery materials , enough for about 600,000 electric vehicles , and will be the largest of its type in the US . The initial investment is about $ 1.6 billion .
The company said that it plans to diversify the site ’ s product portfolio through future-generation products and to expand capacity as demand grows . In 2022 , it signed a comprehensive agreement with General Motors for the long-term supply of 950,000 tonnes of materials . A $ 2.5 billion North American contract with Toyota followed in October 2023 .
LG Chem plans to improve the calcination process to give each line 10,000 tonnes / year of capacity . It will also automate the entire production process and establish a quality analysis and control system . The plant will run entirely on renewable energy , including solar and hydro power , from local companies .
Kao implements new production system
Japan ’ s Kao Corporation has introduced a new ‘ dynamic cell production system ’ for high-mix , low-volume manufacturing at its global cosmetics facility in Odawara . Test operations finished at the end of 2023 , and operations will begin shortly in stages .
Kao developed the system in collaboration with B & R and Kyoto Seisakusho . It combines floating linear transport technology and robot technology “ to freely transport and process each product individually , allowing products with different processes and processing times to be put and produced on the same production line at the same time ”.
The system also features advanced automation technology , enabling it to make two products at the same time . It can be operated by one person , while 24-hour shift operation will make capacity nine times higher than with the current eight-hour shift . The time needed to switch types of products is predicted to be reduced by around 60 %, Kao said .
Samyang buys Verdant Korea ’ s Samyang Holdings has acquired Verdant Specialty Solutions from private equity firm OpenGate Capital for about $ 250 million . Texas-based Verdant mainly makes amphoteric surfactants for personal care products , plus non-ionic surfactants for industrial applications . It has revenues of about $ 210 million / year , and employs some 300 in the US , the UK and Germany .
Colonial opens up Colonial Chemical has formally opened its new facility in Dammam , Saudi Arabia . Colonial Chemical Middle East Arabia is a joint venture with Sadeem Investments and Earth Reservoir for Oil & Gas , which will manufacture speciality chemicals and surfactants mainly for the oil and gas , consumer and personal care , mining and lubricants sectors , based on locally sourced feedstocks .
Heraeus hydrogen line Heraeus Precious Metals has established a dedicated Hydrogen Systems business line , headed by Dr Philipp Walter . This provides precious metal-based products for electrolysers and fuel cells , notably electrocatalysts for nextgeneration applications , plus technologies for precious metal recovery from production scrap and end-of-life materials , such as catalyst-coated membranes .
JAN / FEB 2024 SPECCHEMONLINE . COM
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