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Albemarle announces preliminary 4Q 2004 unaudited results
FOCUS Fine chemicals: a future in Europe There is a current trend in the EU of producers transferring fine chemicals production to world regions where costs are lower, such as Latin America or Asia. In these regions investment costs in land and infrastructure are less, and more subsidies may be available. The time needed to gain approval or licenses can also be much shorter, and costs associated with safety and environmental protection have also tended to be lower. However, quality levels can still be maintained. It is argued that there should be a future for the fine chemicals sector in Europe, especially for strategic products or products with high added value. There are also opportunities for companies to benefit from Europe’s R&D capability, where the profitability comes from marketing and licensing technology rather than from production itself. Promising areas of research include organic catalysts and biocatalysts, raw materials that are not derived from petroleum, and chemical reactions under extreme conditions. Ingenieria Quimica, Nov 2004, (418), 83-86 (in Spanish)
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C ATA LY S T S
compared to $66.8 M in the year ended Dec 2003. Inclusive of special items, primarily related to the acquisition of Akzo Nobel’s refinery catalysts business, net income for 2004 was $54.8 M ($71.9 M for 2003). Net sales for 4Q 2004 were $451.1 M ($295.1 M in 4Q 2003). Net sales for 2004 were $1.51 bn ($1.11 bn in 2003). Polymer Additives segment net sales, which now excludes the polyolefin catalysts business, were up 24.7% for 4Q 2004. Catalysts segment net sales were $129.6 M, up $109.6 M for 4Q 2004 as compared to 4Q 2003, due primarily to the acquisition of the refinery catalysts business from Akzo Nobel. Fine Chemicals segment net sales were up 7.3% for 4Q 2004 as compared to 4Q 2003, driven by improved product mix in the Fine Chemistry Services and Intermediates product area and improved demand and pricing in bromine and derivatives. R&D expenses were $12.505 M for 4Q 2004 ($4.278 M in 4Q 2003) and $31.273 M for 2004 ($18.411 M in 2003). Albemarle 4Q and 2004 financial results, 3 Feb 2005 (Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com)
More FCC price hikes
Avantium growth
The rising cost of raw materials and energy, together with R&D investment costs have been blamed for the rising cost of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. Engelhard is to increase prices from 1 Mar 2005 by 7-9%. Albermarle increased prices by 9% worldwide on 21 Jan 2005. WR Grace reported an 8% hike on 12 Jan 2005.
Avantium, The Netherlands, has expanded its polymer process development facilities by the installation of new workflow in Delft. This should increase its output for customers tenfold or more and improve the consistency of its data. The specialities are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), styrene (co) polymers, and oligomeric additives
Chemical Week, 9 Feb 2005, 167 (5)
Albemarle announces preliminary 4Q 2004 unaudited results Albemarle Corp reported net income of $19.6 M for 4Q ended Dec 2004 (net income, excluding special items, of $18.4 M in 4Q 2003). Excluding special items, net income for the year ended Dec 2004 was $75.7 M as
APRIL 2005
Codexis is a Californian company which acquired the Molecular Breeding technology of Maxygen in 2002. It uses gene shuffling to produce microorganisms which produce enzymes for catalysing the production of fine chemicals which are difficult to make by conventional chemistry. The company has partnerships with a number of pharmaceutical and chemical companies. European Chemical News, 7 Mar 2005, 82 (2137), 2425
Codexis buys Jülich Fine Chemicals The speciality enzymes business Jülich Fine Chemicals has been acquired by Codexis. This is part of a push by Codexis into international markets, particularly Europe. Jülich supplies to the chiral pharmaceutical intermediates sector in Europe. Codexis expects Jülich to make a positive cash contribution in its first full year of operation. Chemical Market Reporter, 28 Feb 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & European Chemical News, 28 Feb 2005, 82 (2136), 7 & Chemical Week, 23 Feb 2005, 167 (7), 13 & Chemical and Engineering News, 28 Feb 2005, 83 (9), 13 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Press release from: Codexis Inc, 220, Penobscot, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. Tel: +1 650 298 5300. Fax: +1 650 298 5449. Website: http://www.codexis.com (22 Feb 2005)
Degussa’s catalyst centre offers cradle-to-grave manufacturing
Axens North America has made a deal with Degussa Corp for the production of Axens’ hydrotreating catalysts and supports at Degussa’s facility in Calvert City, KY. The facility will manufacture both HR 400 and HR 500 series catalysts using Axens’ Advanced Catalytic Engineering technology and specially developed aluminas.
Degussa AG has inaugurated a new $12.6 M catalyst development facility that accommodates R&D through manufacturing activities for homogeneous, heterogeneous and biological catalysts. The facility, which is situated at Degussa’s HanauWolfgang site near Frankfurt, includes a Biocatalysis Service Centre, the Synthesis and Catalysts business unit, and a new internal start-up company called Degussa Homogeneous Catalysts. Projects that will be handled by the operations range from screening for the best substance to catalyse a certain reaction, to creating the manufacturing process, to providing that catalyst for commercial use.
Sulphur, Jan/Feb 2005, (296), 8
Chemical Engineering Progress, Feb 2005, 101 (2), 13
European Chemical News, 28 Feb 2005, 82 (2136), 28
COMPANY NEWS
Codexis makes novel enzymes by Molecular Breeding
Axens forms agreement with Degussa
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ON
C ATA LY S T S
compared to $66.8 M in the year ended Dec 2003. Inclusive of special items, primarily related to the acquisition of Akzo Nobel’s refinery catalysts business, net income for 2004 was $54.8 M ($71.9 M for 2003). Net sales for 4Q 2004 were $451.1 M ($295.1 M in 4Q 2003). Net sales for 2004 were $1.51 bn ($1.11 bn in 2003). Polymer Additives segment net sales, which now excludes the polyolefin catalysts business, were up 24.7% for 4Q 2004. Catalysts segment net sales were $129.6 M, up $109.6 M for 4Q 2004 as compared to 4Q 2003, due primarily to the acquisition of the refinery catalysts business from Akzo Nobel. Fine Chemicals segment net sales were up 7.3% for 4Q 2004 as compared to 4Q 2003, driven by improved product mix in the Fine Chemistry Services and Intermediates product area and improved demand and pricing in bromine and derivatives. R&D expenses were $12.505 M for 4Q 2004 ($4.278 M in 4Q 2003) and $31.273 M for 2004 ($18.411 M in 2003). Albemarle 4Q and 2004 financial results, 3 Feb 2005 (Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com)
More FCC price hikes
Avantium growth
The rising cost of raw materials and energy, together with R&D investment costs have been blamed for the rising cost of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. Engelhard is to increase prices from 1 Mar 2005 by 7-9%. Albermarle increased prices by 9% worldwide on 21 Jan 2005. WR Grace reported an 8% hike on 12 Jan 2005.
Avantium, The Netherlands, has expanded its polymer process development facilities by the installation of new workflow in Delft. This should increase its output for customers tenfold or more and improve the consistency of its data. The specialities are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), styrene (co) polymers, and oligomeric additives
Chemical Week, 9 Feb 2005, 167 (5)
Albemarle announces preliminary 4Q 2004 unaudited results Albemarle Corp reported net income of $19.6 M for 4Q ended Dec 2004 (net income, excluding special items, of $18.4 M in 4Q 2003). Excluding special items, net income for the year ended Dec 2004 was $75.7 M as
APRIL 2005
Codexis is a Californian company which acquired the Molecular Breeding technology of Maxygen in 2002. It uses gene shuffling to produce microorganisms which produce enzymes for catalysing the production of fine chemicals which are difficult to make by conventional chemistry. The company has partnerships with a number of pharmaceutical and chemical companies. European Chemical News, 7 Mar 2005, 82 (2137), 2425
Codexis buys Jülich Fine Chemicals The speciality enzymes business Jülich Fine Chemicals has been acquired by Codexis. This is part of a push by Codexis into international markets, particularly Europe. Jülich supplies to the chiral pharmaceutical intermediates sector in Europe. Codexis expects Jülich to make a positive cash contribution in its first full year of operation. Chemical Market Reporter, 28 Feb 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & European Chemical News, 28 Feb 2005, 82 (2136), 7 & Chemical Week, 23 Feb 2005, 167 (7), 13 & Chemical and Engineering News, 28 Feb 2005, 83 (9), 13 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Press release from: Codexis Inc, 220, Penobscot, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. Tel: +1 650 298 5300. Fax: +1 650 298 5449. Website: http://www.codexis.com (22 Feb 2005)
Degussa’s catalyst centre offers cradle-to-grave manufacturing
Axens North America has made a deal with Degussa Corp for the production of Axens’ hydrotreating catalysts and supports at Degussa’s facility in Calvert City, KY. The facility will manufacture both HR 400 and HR 500 series catalysts using Axens’ Advanced Catalytic Engineering technology and specially developed aluminas.
Degussa AG has inaugurated a new $12.6 M catalyst development facility that accommodates R&D through manufacturing activities for homogeneous, heterogeneous and biological catalysts. The facility, which is situated at Degussa’s HanauWolfgang site near Frankfurt, includes a Biocatalysis Service Centre, the Synthesis and Catalysts business unit, and a new internal start-up company called Degussa Homogeneous Catalysts. Projects that will be handled by the operations range from screening for the best substance to catalyse a certain reaction, to creating the manufacturing process, to providing that catalyst for commercial use.
Sulphur, Jan/Feb 2005, (296), 8
Chemical Engineering Progress, Feb 2005, 101 (2), 13
European Chemical News, 28 Feb 2005, 82 (2136), 28
COMPANY NEWS
Codexis makes novel enzymes by Molecular Breeding
Axens forms agreement with Degussa
3