F O C U S positive contribution to sales growth from its five sales areas. Of the five, Household Care and Agriculture & Feed are expected to be the most significant growth contributors. The full-year sales outlook continues to be based on the expectation that US bioethanol production in 2013 will be roughly at the level of 2012 and that penetration of the recently launched enzyme solution Avantec will allow Novozymes to grow sales to the Bioenergy industry. EBIT growth in DKR is now expected at 4-6%, down from 4-7% at previous guidance due to a negative development in a number of exchange rates, including the US dollar, combined with a slightly negative impact from the acquisition of TJ Technologies and Iogen BioProducts as expected. Net profit growth expectations are adjusted upward to 7-9% from 6-9% at previous guidance due to the enactment of new lower corporate tax rates in Denmark. For 2013, Novozymes now expects around DKR 900-1000 M in net investments, down from around DKR 1100 M at previous guidance, due to revised timing of investment projects. Free cash flow before acquisitions is now expected at around DKR 1700 M, up from DKR 1650 at previous guidance as a result of revised expectations of lower net investments, which are partly offset by a negative impact from lower currency exchange rates and expectations of slightly higher net working capital in 2013. Original Source: Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark, tel: +45 4446 0000, fax: +45 4446 9999, e-mail:
[email protected], website: http://www.novozymes.com (9 Aug 2013) © Novozymes 2013
Process development of Renmatix and UPM for making sugar from woody biomass Cellulosic sugar producer Renmatix has signed an agreement with the Finnish forest products company UPM to develop the production of sugar from woody biomass using Renmatix’ process, in which high-temperature and pressurized water break down biomass through supercritical hydrolysis. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Jun 2013, 91 (24), 21 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2013
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Xylitol Canada provides update on commercialization Xylitol Canada Inc provided an update concerning its xylitol and xylose commercialization efforts. Xylitol Canada is currently working with Mascoma Corp, and these efforts centre on a bio-refinery which Mascoma is seeking to build in Drayton Valley, AB (the Facility). The planned Facility is expected to produce cellulosic ethanol, bioelectricity, and a xylose feedstock for Xylitol Canada to produce a commercial grade xylose for the production of xylitol. The project is currently at the feasibility stage and both Xylitol Canada and Mascoma are working to secure their required project financing. It is intended that the Facility will be located on the Drayton Valley Bio-Mile, a municipally designated industrial area with a mandate to incubate and support emerging bio-based technologies. A successful Facility would reduce the environmental impact of xylose, cellulosic ethanol and other product extractions compared to conventional processes. Xylitol Canada has been developing its xylose production process since 2008 with a focus of producing xylose for the North America xylitol market. Xylitol Canada markets xylitol and xylitol basedproducts and is focused on becoming a major low-cost manufacturer of xylitol and related products, serving the global market from operations in North America. Xylitol is a natural sweetener which is marketed globally including Canada and the US and is accepted by the American Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association. Original Source: Xylitol Canada Inc, 2013. Found on Marketwire, 14 Aug 2013, (Website: http://www.marketwire.com)
NEW PLANTS Albemarle starts-up new single site catalyst commercial plant in South Korea Albemarle Corp announced the successful start-up of a new catalyst manufacturing plant at its facility in Yeosu, South Korea. The plant will
produce commercial quantities of single site metallocene catalysts, including grades enhanced by Albemarle’s proprietary ActivCat activation technology, as well as catalyst components such as methylaluminoxane (MAO). Original Source: Albemarle Corporation, 2013. Found on PR Newswire, 7 Aug 2013, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
Polypropylene catalysts: Clariant forms alliance with Lummus Novolen Clariant has formed an alliance with German company Lummus Novolen Technology in order to expand its polypropylene catalysts business. The partners will combine 2 business units (Clariant’s catalysts and Lummus Novolen Technology’s CB&I). These will combine and develop their research operations in order to improve polypropylene catalysts and associated technologies. The partners are also planning to build a Ziegler Natta catalysts production unit. They will invest SFR 65 M in the project. The unit will be located on Clariant’s catalysts production site in Louisville, KY and should enter service in 2015. Clariant and Lummus Novolen Technology believe that demand for Ziegler-Natta polypropylene catalysts will increase by 5%+/y over the next 5 years. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 2 Sep 2013, (644), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (in French) © ETAI Information 2013. Original Source: European Plastics News, 29 Aug 2013, (Website: http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2013. Original Source: Clariant, 2013. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 26 Aug 2013, (Website: http://www.specialchem4polymers.com)
Ineos starts making cellulosic ethanol Ineos has established a $130 M plant in Vero Beach, FL, which produces ethanol from vegetables and wood waste by gasification into hydrogen and CO and then through fermentation of the gases. The plant can produce 8 M gal of ethanol per year and makes profitable power from excess heat from the gasification process. Furthermore, the plant will be allowed to use municipal solid waste as a raw material in 2014. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 5 Aug 2013, 91 (31), 17 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2013
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