JUL / AUG 2026
CordenPharma buys AmbioPharm IN BRIEF
CordenPharma, has entered into an agreement to acquire AmbioPharm, a peptide API CDMO with sites in North Augusta, South Carolina, and Shanghai that employ about 400( pictured). Terms were not disclosed but it is known that AmbioPharm’ s shareholders will reinvest into the combined business.
The company said that AmbioPharm will add differentiated peptide manufacturing capabilities to its existing platform of 11 sites in Europe and North America. This has already grown considerably since Astorg acquired CordenPharma in 2022.
“ AmbioPharm’ s capabilities perfectly complement our existing peptide expertise, helping us to broaden the ways we support customers from development to commercialisation,” claimed Dr Michael Quirmbach, president and CEO of CordenPharma.
The combined platform will include advanced linear and fragment-based peptide approaches supported by flexible solid- and liquid-phase peptide synthesis, hybrid synthesis and CordenPharma’ s tag-assisted peptide synthesis. The North Augusta plant will also add“ significant” purification and lyophilisation capacity.
Dow goes big on speciality silicones
Dow will spend about $ 100 million by the end of 2027 to expand its global speciality silicones capabilities in response to growing demand, particularly in mobility, electronic and medical applications. This will be done via a series of targeted projects at sites in the US, China and Japan.
The investments will include: expansions in liquid silicone rubber at Carrollton, Kentucky, and Zhangjiagang, China, which are expected online in 2027 and will go into applications across mobility, electronics and health care; and in engineered silicone materials at
Songjiang, China, and Fukui, Japan, this year, and at Auburn, Michigan, and Zhangjiagang in 2027, for advanced electronics.
This follows on the expansion of Dow’ s cooling science labs at Shanghai and in Midland, Michigan, this year to support faster innovation in the development and scaleup of next-generation thermal management materials. It will all complete the investments announced at Dow’ s Investor Day in 2024 and subsequent updates. Dow is the world’ s largest and most integrated silicones producer.
Siegfried opens at Minden
Siegfried has officially opened its large-scale small molecule API facility at the former BASF site in Minden, Germany. This adds 100 m 3 of reactor capacity and enhances its position in complex APIs, combining advanced process technology, automation and highcontainment capabilities, the firm said. Key features include gravityflow processing, RFID-enabled recipe management and optimised solvent handling.
Chemours settles PFAS claim
Under a new settlement, Chemours will pay the US EPA and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection $ 22.5 in three instalments in 2026, 2027 and 2028. This relates to PFAS discharges and other alleged noncompliance actions, primarily at its Washington Works, Fayetteville Works and Chambers Works facilities. Chemours will also supply $ 90 million for mitigation projects to further reduce PFAS emissions from the operating sites or drinking water projects over the next 15 years.
Circular in China
Orion is producing three grades of its Ecorax Circular circular carbon black at its plant in Qingdao, China. All of them made from tyre pyrolysis oil( TPO): 200, a hard black suitable for tyres, and 210 and 215, which can be used for both tyres and mechanical rubber goods Orion was the first carbon black producer to make carbon black with 100 % TPO and to commercialise multiple ISCC +-certified grades from various feedstocks at plants across the world.
MAY / JUN 2026 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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