CHEManager International

Green Chemistry Interactive #Pitch Competition Future Prospects in #GreenChemistry: Pitch Competition with greenCHEM The Discourse on Green Chemistry Interactive Pitch Competition, held on November 5, 2024, at Wiley's Berlin office as part of Berlin Science Week, showcased a range of innovative projects aimed at addressing critical environmental challenges. This hybrid event attracted over 70 participants, with audience members joining both in person and via live streaming. It highlighted the importance of sustainable #chemistry in tackling issues such as biodegradable plastics, #antibiotic resistance, and water purification technologies. Five teams participated in the competition, each having attended a pitching workshop organized by GreenChem and CHEManager prior to the event. An expert panel judged the teams’ five-minute pitches, while the public had the opportunity to vote directly for the Public Choice Award. The winners included EcoSurf@D3, which received the Public Choice Award and a €1,000 prize, and @SustainCat, awarded the Jury Prize, along with €1,000 and a feature in CHEManager #InnovationPitch (https://lnkd.in/eu7xMjBp). Christene A. Smith, PhD Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/emgSyrhJ

SABIC Opens Multi-Million-Dollar Resin Manufacturing Facility in #Singapore SABIC recently announced the official launch of its new US$170 (€157.7) million ultem resin manufacturing facility in Singapore, marking the company’s first advanced specialty chemical manufacturing facility in the region producing the high-performance thermoplastic, ultem resin. The new #facility is a strategic move to support SABIC’s goal of increasing global ultem specialty #resin production by more than 50%, responding to the growing demand from high-tech and manufacturing industries in APAC, including #Japan and #China. The facility caters to high-tech end-user industries, such as #Aerospace, #Healthcare, 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Electric Vehicles (EV). Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the new Singapore facility reinforces SABIC’s commitment to localizing a reliable supply of high-performance materials that support complex and demanding supply chain requirements. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/e_4xksh9

BASF and Acies Bio Partner on Production of Fatty Alcohols from #Methanol BASF and Slovenia-based #biotechnology company ACIES BIO Ltd. have entered into a partnership to further develop a platform for #fermentation technology from methanol for the production of fatty alcohols. Fatty alcohols are essential building blocks for several ingredients in the home and personal care markets, in particular surfactants. Acies Bio has developed a synthetic biology platform designed to convert renewable methanol, derived from captured CO2 emissions, into a variety of chemical raw materials. Under the terms of the partnership, BASF’s Care #Chemicals division and Acies Bio will use the specialized #microbes and scale up the fermentation process to produce fatty acids and derivatives used to manufacture various chemical compounds. For BASF, the expected benefits of the project include increased scale and flexibility, leading to a diversification of the renewable feedstock portfolio and contributing to the resilience of Care Chemicals’ global supply chain, the German chemical group said. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eKQe6m5y

Solenis Completes #Acquisition of BASF’s Mining Flocculants Business US specialty #chemicals company Solenis has acquired BASF’s flocculants business for mining applications. With this strategic acquisition, Solenis enhances its portfolio for mining and mineral processing customers. The #transaction, for which financial details were not disclosed, was first announced in July. The new product portfolio includes #flocculants and other products used for solid-liquid separation and material handling in mining applications. This acquisition, Solins commented, underscores the company’s commitment to providing innovative and sustainable solutions that improve operational efficiency and environmental performance. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eEMQtNwF

Ardena Expands European äBioanalytical Capabilities Belgium-headquartered #pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (#CDMO) Ardena announced plans to expand its bioanalytical services in the Netherlands. As part of the investment, the company plans to establish a new bioanalytical laboratory at its Pivot Park facility in Oss, as well as additional capacity and new GLP capabilities at its bioanalytical center of excellence in Assen. The new 3,000-square-foot #laboratory in Oss, expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2025, will provide advanced analytical testing services for both small and large molecules, employing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and fluorometric detection assays, together with the Gyrolab automated technology platform. In Assen, Ardena will expand its capabilities in #immunochemistry, flow cytometry, and qPCR platforms, increasing its LC-MS/MS capacity, and adding new Hamilton automated systems. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/e3G5RqfZ

Strategy & Management Taking #Engineering to a New Level: Zeta's Integrated Approach #Interview with expert Johannes Koch about the most important success factors in engineering and project management. ZETA offers first-class services and tailor-made solutions to its customers' specific problems. Based on efficient concepts and with a strong focus on sustainability, Zeta manages projects of varying size and complexity as a supplier of process technology, engineering or as a general planner. In the following interview, Johannes Koch, Associate Director Business Line Engineering & Services, provides some valuable insights into Zeta's integrated approach. Zeta offers first-class services and tailor-made solutions to its customers' specific problems. Based on efficient concepts and with a strong focus on sustainability, Zeta manages projects of varying size and complexity as a supplier of process technology, #engineering or as a general planner. In the following interview, Johannes Koch, Associate Director Business Line Engineering & Services, provides some valuable insights into Zeta's integrated approach. One of Zeta’s outstanding characteristics is the way the company combines its engineering force with its powers as project delivery partner. What is Zeta’s key to success in providing design & build solutions? Johannes Koch:  The #pharma or #biotech process plant has always been Zeta’s backbone and original focus. When we speak about integrated delivery, we tackle all aspects of such a plant across all project phases. Having vast experience in a variety of delivery models, Zeta consults and supports as early as a CAPEX project may need to be set up, looking at various options with or without a feasibility study followed by the canonical engineering phases. Importantly, Zeta can then also fully deliver the process plant with all procurement activities, manufacturing in our inhouse shopfloors providing outstanding dynamic testing possibilities, transferring the plant to site, performing the installation works followed by SAT or CQV activities. Here, Zeta does not separate between an engineering team and a delivery team but stands for true end-to-end delivery with a one-team approach. Read the full interiew on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/ezUA-P27

Secarna Appoints Konstantin Petropoulos as CEO Germany’s Secarna Pharmaceuticals has appointed Konstantin Petropoulos as CEO. He is stepping up from his previous role as the company’s chief business officer (CBO) and succeeds Alexander Gebauer, who is stepping down with immediate effect to focus his efforts on another company, Galimedix Therapeutics, Inc., that he has co-founded and is leading. Gebauer will support Petropoulos in his new role to ensure a smooth transition. Petropoulos joined Secarna in June 2023 as CBO. Most recently, he was CEO of AMW and, prior to that, held senior management positions at several biotech and pharma companies, including Leukocare, Bayer and MorphoSys. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eEJayzZf

ISC3 Start-up of the Month in October 2024 Renasens - No #Waste, Only Resources: The female-led Swedish start-up Renasens AB has developed a clean, waterless #recycling technology that transforms textile waste into valuable new resources. This innovative technology maintains fibre quality at the macromolecular level without deconstruction or #depolymerization, ensuring high energy efficiency. Additionally, Renasens’ process extracts dyes and additives from textiles prior to recycling, offering a comprehensive solution for the fashion and textile industries to manage end-of-life products and generate circular raw materials. This breakthrough innovation tackles major environmental challenges, including reducing landfill waste, mitigating #microplastic pollution, and preventing water contamination from textile production. For these reasons, Renasens has been chosen as one of the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) Innovation Challenge 2024 finalists and is featured as the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) #Startup of the Month for October 2024. (...) Renasens’ mission is deeply rooted in #sustainability, aligning with several of the #UN's Agenda 2030 goals. By using clean, waterless, and energy-efficient technology to recover fibres and extract dyes, the company promotes the revalorization of resources within planetary boundaries. The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in October 2024 is currently told by the ISC3 and on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/e6uvXNES

Kemira to Close Pulp & Paper Chemicals Site at Vancouver Finnish chemicals company Kemira announced plans to consolidate some of its pulp & paper chemical production in North America, resulting in the closure of a #manufacturing site in Vancouver, Canada. The Vancouver site produces process and functional chemicals for the pulp & paper segment. Kemira expects that production at the site will end during the first half of 2025 and will move to Kemira’s US site in Washougal, Washington, where the company already produces process and functional chemicals. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eii6jvYf

CEPSA Becomes Moeve: Company Unveils a Rebrand to Reflect Sustainable Strategy CEPSA announced its name change to Moeve, marking a historic milestone in the company’s #transformation. This change positions Moeve as a leader in the European energy transition and demonstrates the significant progress achieved under its 2030 Positive Motion strategy, reinforcing its full commitment to sustainable energy and #mobility. The company is accelerating its decarbonization efforts with an €8 billion investment strategy, dedicating over 60% to sustainable businesses like green hydrogen, 2G biofuels, sustainable chemical products, and ultra-fast electric charging. Since launching its Positive Motion strategy in March 2022, it has made significant progress, forming alliances with over 60 companies to drive diverse value chains. Key projects include the Andalusian Green #Hydrogen Valley, the largest in Europe with a 2000 MW capacity by 2030, and the largest 2G #biofuels plant in southern Europe. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eGHsjC-j