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Clariant expanding its footprint
FOCUS Clariant combines best of local and global catalyst innovations to support China’s needs Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, is at the forefront in supporting China's industrial producers with its advanced catalyst innovations and expertise. By combining local and global resources, the company cooperates closely with Chinese customers to solve key challenges regarding productivity, feedstock, energy efficiency and environmental protection. Clariant product innovations currently benefitting the Chinese market include Catofin catalysts for highly reliable and efficient propylene production, as well as the StyroMax catalyst series, which can support China in its aim to become more self-sufficient in styrene production. The company is also strengthening its local R&D support to focus on areas specifically required in China, and to complement its global innovation resources. At end-2016 Clariant established a new Catalyst R&D centre in Shanghai. The centre will expand with the planned move to the One Clariant Campus - an integrated facility with Regional Headquarters and a new regional R&D centre - opening in 1Q 2019.
Original Source: Clariant, 29 Mar 2017, (Website: http://www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
DSM opens new biotechnology centre in Delft, the Netherlands Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, on 3 Apr 2017 opened a new state-of-the-art biotechnology facility at its site in Delft, the Netherlands, to accelerate DSM's biotechnology research and development (R&D) capabilities for applications in food and nutrition, feed, fuel, pharma and biobased materials. The completion of this new biotechnology centre is part of a €100 M investment programme by DSM to scale up R&D in the Netherlands since 2013. The centre, which offers the broadest range of biotechnology specializations under one DSM roof, clusters innovation, housing over 400 research and developments experts and builds on a solid history of nearly 150 years of fermentation and biotechnology innovation in Delft, the Netherlands. DSM's Biotechnology Center will be named the Rosalind Franklin Biotechnology Center.
Original Source: DSM, 3 Apr 2017, (Website: http://www.dsm.com/) © Koninklijke DSM NV 2017.
Clariant ReforMax LDP Plus: a new generation of reforming catalysts with ultra-low pressure drop Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announced on 14 Mar 2017 the launch of a new generation of high-performance catalysts for the steam reforming process in the production of hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. The new ReforMax 330 LDP Plus and ReforMax 210 LDP Plus catalysts are designed with a unique and innovative 8-hole flower-like configuration that ensures an extremely low pressure drop in the tubular reforming reactor while offering outstanding catalyst activity and selectivity. The new ReforMax LDP Plus catalysts offer optimized shape parameters. They build on the success of Clariant's previous ReforMax LDP series, which is
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commercially proven to be highly effective for any condition of process feed and design. However, compared to its 10-hole predecessor, the new 8hole "floral'' design of ReforMax LDP Plus allows an outstanding pressure drop decrease of up to 20%. This allows plant operators to significantly reduce energy costs and/or increase the reformer gas throughput in existing plants. Moreover, the new catalysts retain the very high geometric surface area of the ReforMax LDP 10-hole shape, thus maintaining high activity for the steam reforming reaction. Heat transfer is improved thanks to increased hole diameters. Particularly when used together, ReforMax 330 LDP Plus and ReforMax 210 LDP Plus effectively suppress carbon formation in the process.
BASF to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals.
Original Source: Clariant, 14 Mar 2017, (Website: http://www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
BASF announced on 6 Apr 2017 that it has signed an agreement to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals, a worldwide leader in industrial minerals. Financial details of the divestiture are not being disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in 3Q 2017, subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. The Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses are currently part of the Process Catalysts business unit of BASF's global Catalysts division. The divestiture includes a production site and a clay mine in Mississippi, and the mineral rights sublease associated with a mine in Arizona. The transaction will affect approximately 70 employees.
Clariant expanding its footprint
Original Source: BASF, 7 Apr 2017, (Website: http://www.basf.com/) © BASF 2017.
Swiss speciality chemicals firm Clariant sees North America as a main area for growth and investment. At present, the company runs 70 sites in the region and has varied set of businesses covering consumer and industrial specialities, additives, catalysts, functional minerals, masterbatches, medical specialities, and oil and mining services. In 2014, its sales in North America were 16%, compared to 23% for the overall speciality chemicals industry. Sales in the same region in 2016 were $1.1 bn, having a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% since 2011. Capital expenditures (capex) were 11% of sales in North America. Clariant's key acquisitions in North America in 2016 were oil services firm X-Chem and Kel-Tech, and mining services provider Flomin. The new merged oil services group has approximately 17% of US market share and would be the third leading company following Nalco/Champion (an Ecolab company) and Baker Hughes. In 1Q 2016, Clariant commissioned its new ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives expansion in Clear Lake, TX, US. In Oct 2016, the company held the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new polypropylene (PP) catalyst unit in Louisville, KY, US. Meanwhile, Clariant has high expectations for its catalysts business unit, which recorded sales of SFR 673 M in 2016. The said business spends about 7%/y of sales on R&D and has more than 300 of its 1500 R&D workers. Clariant is claiming itself as the global leader in petrochemical catalysts, second leading in syngas and chemicals, and fourth in PP. It expects total catalysts market growth to be nearly 4% through 2020.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 24–30 Mar 2017, 291 (12), 24–25 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017.
Nel acquires Proton OnSite to create global electrolyzer giant Norwegian company Nel ASA has bought USbased hydrogen technology firm Proton Energy Systems (Proton OnSite), thus creating the biggest hydrogen electrolyzer company in the world. The deal, which has an enterprise value of $70 M, is set to complete in 2Q 2017. Nel will pay $20 M in cash for the takeover.
Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Mar 2017, 11 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/ nl/fcb/home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2017.
CB&I to become Jingang’s master licensor for refining, PC complex in Jinzhou City CB&I has signed a strategic alliance with Jinzhou Port Co (Jingang) to become the master licensor for an integrated refining and petrochemicals (PC) project in Jinzhou City, China. The alliance includes the exclusive licence, engineering design, catalyst supply and proprietary equipment for the complex. CB&I will be the primary licensor, providing up to 30 proprietary technologies from gasification to refining and petrochemicals.
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 10 Apr 2017, 55 (15), 1 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
Clariant launches PolyMax 850 catalyst for more profitable and sustainable fuel upgrading Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announced on 21 Mar 2017 the launch of PolyMax 850, a high-performance, sustainable catalyst for petroleum refineries. The new phosphoric acid catalyst increases polygasoline, nonene and tetramer yields at lower operating temperatures, thus reducing costs and boosting productivity. Compared to previous generations of the PolyMax series, the new catalyst offers an even longer service life, helping to minimize waste in the fuel upgrading process. Phosphoric acid catalysts are used to convert olefins - produced during cracking processes in oil refineries - to gasoline, solvents or starting materials for plasticizers.
Original Source: Clariant, 21 Mar 2017, (Website: http://www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Teewinot Life Sciences and Noramco sign letter of intent to produce cannabinoids with CannSynthesis biocatalysis technology Teewinot Life Sciences, the market leader in biocatalytic technologies for the production of
May 2017
Original Source: Clariant, 29 Mar 2017, (Website: http://www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
DSM opens new biotechnology centre in Delft, the Netherlands Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, on 3 Apr 2017 opened a new state-of-the-art biotechnology facility at its site in Delft, the Netherlands, to accelerate DSM's biotechnology research and development (R&D) capabilities for applications in food and nutrition, feed, fuel, pharma and biobased materials. The completion of this new biotechnology centre is part of a €100 M investment programme by DSM to scale up R&D in the Netherlands since 2013. The centre, which offers the broadest range of biotechnology specializations under one DSM roof, clusters innovation, housing over 400 research and developments experts and builds on a solid history of nearly 150 years of fermentation and biotechnology innovation in Delft, the Netherlands. DSM's Biotechnology Center will be named the Rosalind Franklin Biotechnology Center.
Original Source: DSM, 3 Apr 2017, (Website: http://www.dsm.com/) © Koninklijke DSM NV 2017.
Clariant ReforMax LDP Plus: a new generation of reforming catalysts with ultra-low pressure drop Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announced on 14 Mar 2017 the launch of a new generation of high-performance catalysts for the steam reforming process in the production of hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. The new ReforMax 330 LDP Plus and ReforMax 210 LDP Plus catalysts are designed with a unique and innovative 8-hole flower-like configuration that ensures an extremely low pressure drop in the tubular reforming reactor while offering outstanding catalyst activity and selectivity. The new ReforMax LDP Plus catalysts offer optimized shape parameters. They build on the success of Clariant's previous ReforMax LDP series, which is
4
ON
C ATA LY S T S
commercially proven to be highly effective for any condition of process feed and design. However, compared to its 10-hole predecessor, the new 8hole "floral'' design of ReforMax LDP Plus allows an outstanding pressure drop decrease of up to 20%. This allows plant operators to significantly reduce energy costs and/or increase the reformer gas throughput in existing plants. Moreover, the new catalysts retain the very high geometric surface area of the ReforMax LDP 10-hole shape, thus maintaining high activity for the steam reforming reaction. Heat transfer is improved thanks to increased hole diameters. Particularly when used together, ReforMax 330 LDP Plus and ReforMax 210 LDP Plus effectively suppress carbon formation in the process.
BASF to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals.
Original Source: Clariant, 14 Mar 2017, (Website: http://www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
BASF announced on 6 Apr 2017 that it has signed an agreement to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals, a worldwide leader in industrial minerals. Financial details of the divestiture are not being disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in 3Q 2017, subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. The Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses are currently part of the Process Catalysts business unit of BASF's global Catalysts division. The divestiture includes a production site and a clay mine in Mississippi, and the mineral rights sublease associated with a mine in Arizona. The transaction will affect approximately 70 employees.
Clariant expanding its footprint
Original Source: BASF, 7 Apr 2017, (Website: http://www.basf.com/) © BASF 2017.
Swiss speciality chemicals firm Clariant sees North America as a main area for growth and investment. At present, the company runs 70 sites in the region and has varied set of businesses covering consumer and industrial specialities, additives, catalysts, functional minerals, masterbatches, medical specialities, and oil and mining services. In 2014, its sales in North America were 16%, compared to 23% for the overall speciality chemicals industry. Sales in the same region in 2016 were $1.1 bn, having a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% since 2011. Capital expenditures (capex) were 11% of sales in North America. Clariant's key acquisitions in North America in 2016 were oil services firm X-Chem and Kel-Tech, and mining services provider Flomin. The new merged oil services group has approximately 17% of US market share and would be the third leading company following Nalco/Champion (an Ecolab company) and Baker Hughes. In 1Q 2016, Clariant commissioned its new ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives expansion in Clear Lake, TX, US. In Oct 2016, the company held the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new polypropylene (PP) catalyst unit in Louisville, KY, US. Meanwhile, Clariant has high expectations for its catalysts business unit, which recorded sales of SFR 673 M in 2016. The said business spends about 7%/y of sales on R&D and has more than 300 of its 1500 R&D workers. Clariant is claiming itself as the global leader in petrochemical catalysts, second leading in syngas and chemicals, and fourth in PP. It expects total catalysts market growth to be nearly 4% through 2020.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 24–30 Mar 2017, 291 (12), 24–25 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017.
Nel acquires Proton OnSite to create global electrolyzer giant Norwegian company Nel ASA has bought USbased hydrogen technology firm Proton Energy Systems (Proton OnSite), thus creating the biggest hydrogen electrolyzer company in the world. The deal, which has an enterprise value of $70 M, is set to complete in 2Q 2017. Nel will pay $20 M in cash for the takeover.
Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Mar 2017, 11 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/ nl/fcb/home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2017.
CB&I to become Jingang’s master licensor for refining, PC complex in Jinzhou City CB&I has signed a strategic alliance with Jinzhou Port Co (Jingang) to become the master licensor for an integrated refining and petrochemicals (PC) project in Jinzhou City, China. The alliance includes the exclusive licence, engineering design, catalyst supply and proprietary equipment for the complex. CB&I will be the primary licensor, providing up to 30 proprietary technologies from gasification to refining and petrochemicals.
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 10 Apr 2017, 55 (15), 1 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
Clariant launches PolyMax 850 catalyst for more profitable and sustainable fuel upgrading Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announced on 21 Mar 2017 the launch of PolyMax 850, a high-performance, sustainable catalyst for petroleum refineries. The new phosphoric acid catalyst increases polygasoline, nonene and tetramer yields at lower operating temperatures, thus reducing costs and boosting productivity. Compared to previous generations of the PolyMax series, the new catalyst offers an even longer service life, helping to minimize waste in the fuel upgrading process. Phosphoric acid catalysts are used to convert olefins - produced during cracking processes in oil refineries - to gasoline, solvents or starting materials for plasticizers.
Original Source: Clariant, 21 Mar 2017, (Website: http://www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Teewinot Life Sciences and Noramco sign letter of intent to produce cannabinoids with CannSynthesis biocatalysis technology Teewinot Life Sciences, the market leader in biocatalytic technologies for the production of
May 2017