NEWS
Indian enzyme expansion
In response to growing demand, enzymes giant Novonesis has announced plans to invest € 600 million in order to build“ one of the world’ s most advanced enzyme production facilities” at its existing facility in Patalganga, India.
Due to be fully operational in 2030, this will produce enzymes for industries including biofuels, household care, and food and beverages. Its features will include freshwater recycling to reduce water consumption and integrated heat pumps to lower energy usage.
This plant will be integrated into the company’ s global production footprint and will supply the Middle East, India and Africa, markets which are expected to grow faster than developed markets in the coming years. The move follows other expansions at sites in Rayong, Thailand; Franklinton, North Carolina; Taicang, China; Araucaria, Brazil; and West Allis, Wisconsin.
Air Products expands hydrogenation capabilities
IN BRIEF
William Blythe, MAC to merge
UK-based William Blythe has announced a“ combination” with US firm Metals & Additives( MAC). The combined entity will hold strong positions in flame retardants, smoke suppressants, catalysts, absorbents, foam technologies, polymer additives and other high-performance inorganic chemicals. MAC’ s founders, Gregg Bennett and Mark McCaughey, will remain in place.
Brenntag buys in Korea
Brenntag has agreed to acquire Woojin Trading of Anyang, South Korea. The company said that this expands its presence in“ South Korea ' s trend-setting beauty and personal care market. Combined customers will benefit from broader formulation expertise, in-house laboratory capabilities, and an expanded product portfolio”. Terms are not being disclosed. Subject to customary conditions, the deal should close in Q4.
Air Products has expanded the hydrogenation capabilities of its Chemicals & Refinery Process Lab. Located at the firm’ s headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and also known as the Hydrogen Reaction Lab, this offers continuous flow hydrogenation, catalyst evaluation and screening, and process discovery and improvement to the refining, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and flavours and fragrances industries
The lab includes three continuous down flow fixed bed reactors, plus cold- and hotphase high-pressure separators. According to the company, the set-up allows customers to run continuous hydrogenation reactions and evaluate realworld performance, including product, enabling then to better predict yield, purity and scaleup behaviour before commercial deployment. Each reactor can be customised to use a specific catalyst for trials, making it possible to run multiple sequential reaction steps with varied catalysts at high pressure and different temperatures.
Colloidal silica plans
Mitsubishi Chemical is to establish an ultra-high-purity colloidal silica plant at its site in Kitakyushu, Japan, for use as a raw material for polishing agents in semiconductors. The company makes this material through an integrated manufacturing process using ultra-high-tetramethoxysilane. Commercial operations will begin in October 2028.
Valtris’ s new office
Valtris Specialty Chemicals, a maker of speciality additives, has opened a new office in Midland, Michigan, the headquarters of Dow Chemical. CEO Mike McGaugh described Midland as“ a unique microcosm, filled with highly capable, globally trained industrial leaders” it can recruit to“ drive its growth and transformation into a premier speciality materials company”.
18 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981