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ExxonMobil Chemical grants metallocene licence to Sumitomo
F O C U S production of single enantiomer aryl and allyl alcohols. It will be used at DowPharma’s plant in Midland, MI. PharmaChem, Apr 2003, 2 (4), 107 (B5 srl. Via Cesare da Sesto, 10-20123 Milan, Italy. Tel: +39 02 83241119. Fax. + 39 02 8376457. Website: www.b5srl.com)
ExxonMobil Chemical grants metallocene licence to Sumitomo ExxonMobil Chemical Co has granted Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd a licence under its metallocene technology patent estate covering a metallocene catalyst system. Sumitomo developed the catalyst and will use it in Chiba, Japan, to produce a new olefin copolymer of propylene and other co-monomers. Chemical and Engineering News, 19 May 2003, 81 (20), 18 & European Chemical News, 19 May 2003, 78 (2053), 36 & Chemical Market Reporter, 19 May 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Press release from: ExxonMobil Chemical Co, Houston, TX, USA. Tel: +1 281 870 6607. Website: http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com (14 May 2003)
IdaTech develops prototype liquid hydrocarbon fuel cell system IdaTech has developed a prototype fuel cell system capable of operating on liquid hydrocarbon fuels, an accomplishment the company believes is unmatched within the industry. The system, which will be available to select development partners, is capable of operating on such low-sulfur fuels as diesel, kerosene, bio-diesel, GTLs, and Fischer-Tropsch. These fuels are significant in a variety of military and automotive markets and applications and the capability to convert them makes fuel cell technology a greater reality for the company. Press release from: IdaTech, 63160, Britta Street, Bend, OR 97701, USA. Tel: +1 541 383 3390. Fax: +1 541 383 3439. Website: http://www.idatech.com (15 May 2003)
Iogen demonstrates EcoEthanol process Iogen Corp of Ottawa, Canada, has demonstrated its flagship EcoEthanol process in converting 25 tonne/day of wheat into fermentable sugar with a production rate of 320,000 litres of ethanol. The demonstration was conducted at the firm’s Ottawa-based facilities. The technology reduces
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greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90% compared with gasoline.
Nuvera unveils state-of-the-art automotive fuel cell products
Chemical Engineering Progress, Apr 2003, 99 (4), 11
Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc has dramatically improved the performance of its gasoline fuel processors and PEM fuel cell stacks for automotive applications. Nuvera, in conjunction with the US Department of Energy and a leading European automaker, has demonstrated a 75 KW/lt gasoline fuel processor that exceeds all of the US FreedomCAR goals set for 2004, with the exception of the 30-second starting requirement. The revolutionary new fuel processor, named Star, is capable of processing up to 200 kWth of California grade gasoline at greater than 80% efficiency and is designed for manufacturing.
JM completes merger with Synetix Johnson Matthey has merged its catalysts business with Synetix, which it acquired from ICI in Nov 2002, by creating a new division – Johnson Matthey Catalysts. Profits from JM’s catalyst operations (excluding Synetix) last year rose by 10% on sales which fell by 17%. Chemical Week, 11 Jun 2003, 165 (21), 7
Mercian Corp: opening up new era with bioconversion technology Enzymes from Actinomyces and other fungi are used in bioconversion technology developed by Mercian Corp for the production of antibiotics and pharmaceutical intermediates. In Mar 2003, a new research building was completed in Iwata, Shizuoka. The technology is particularly suitable for production of chiral compounds. Japan Chemical Week, 15 May 2003, 44 (2220), 6
Novozymes A/S Group financial statement for 1Q 2003 Novozymes A/S Group reported that sales rose by 10% to DKR 1444 M for 1Q 2003 (DKR 1308 M in 1Q 2002). Net profit rose by 42% from DKR 129 M to DKR 183 M for 1Q 2003. Net profit is expected to increase by 10% (compared to the previous outlook of 7-8%) due to favourable developments in net financials for 2003. During 1Q 2003, sales of technical enzymes increased by 5%; sales of detergent enzymes decreased by 1%; sales of other technical enzymes rose by 16%; sales of enzymes for the production of fuel ethanol and for the textile industry continued to show high growth rates, while sales were lower for the traditional starch industry; sales of enzymes for smaller industries, eg the pharmaceutical, leather and forest product industries, also showed good growth rates; sales of food enzymes rose by 9% and sales of feed enzymes grew by 33%. Novozymes 1Q 2003 financials, 7 May 2003 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com)
Press release from: Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc, 35, Acorn Park, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA. Tel: +1 617 498 6732. Website: http://www.nuvera.com (20 May 2003)
OM Group to sell precious metals business to Umicore OM Group Inc has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Precious Metals business to Umicore for €643 M in cash. The transaction is expected to result in net proceeds of around $700 M. Plans call for OMG to use the net proceeds to reduce debt. The sale includes OM Group’s automotive catalysts, fuel cells, precious metals chemistry, technical materials, jewellery, and electroplating businesses, as well as its metals management business. For the year ended 31 Dec 2002, the combined sales of these businesses totalled $4.4 bn, with operating profit of $78 M. The company currently expects that the proposed sale, which is subject to customary US and European regulatory approvals, will close sometime in 3Q 2003 Press release from: OM Group Inc, 50 Public Square, Suite 3500, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA. Tel: +1 216 781 0083. Fax: +1 216 781 1502. Website: http://www.omgi.com (3 Jun 2003) & Chemical Week, 11 Jun 2003, 165 (21), 8
Peerless Mfg Co reports 3Q 2002-2003 results Peerless Mfg Co announced its operating results for 3Q ended Mar 2003. The company’s revenues decreased 53.3% to $13.6 M for 3Q
JULY 2003
ExxonMobil Chemical grants metallocene licence to Sumitomo ExxonMobil Chemical Co has granted Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd a licence under its metallocene technology patent estate covering a metallocene catalyst system. Sumitomo developed the catalyst and will use it in Chiba, Japan, to produce a new olefin copolymer of propylene and other co-monomers. Chemical and Engineering News, 19 May 2003, 81 (20), 18 & European Chemical News, 19 May 2003, 78 (2053), 36 & Chemical Market Reporter, 19 May 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Press release from: ExxonMobil Chemical Co, Houston, TX, USA. Tel: +1 281 870 6607. Website: http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com (14 May 2003)
IdaTech develops prototype liquid hydrocarbon fuel cell system IdaTech has developed a prototype fuel cell system capable of operating on liquid hydrocarbon fuels, an accomplishment the company believes is unmatched within the industry. The system, which will be available to select development partners, is capable of operating on such low-sulfur fuels as diesel, kerosene, bio-diesel, GTLs, and Fischer-Tropsch. These fuels are significant in a variety of military and automotive markets and applications and the capability to convert them makes fuel cell technology a greater reality for the company. Press release from: IdaTech, 63160, Britta Street, Bend, OR 97701, USA. Tel: +1 541 383 3390. Fax: +1 541 383 3439. Website: http://www.idatech.com (15 May 2003)
Iogen demonstrates EcoEthanol process Iogen Corp of Ottawa, Canada, has demonstrated its flagship EcoEthanol process in converting 25 tonne/day of wheat into fermentable sugar with a production rate of 320,000 litres of ethanol. The demonstration was conducted at the firm’s Ottawa-based facilities. The technology reduces
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C ATA LY S T S
greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90% compared with gasoline.
Nuvera unveils state-of-the-art automotive fuel cell products
Chemical Engineering Progress, Apr 2003, 99 (4), 11
Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc has dramatically improved the performance of its gasoline fuel processors and PEM fuel cell stacks for automotive applications. Nuvera, in conjunction with the US Department of Energy and a leading European automaker, has demonstrated a 75 KW/lt gasoline fuel processor that exceeds all of the US FreedomCAR goals set for 2004, with the exception of the 30-second starting requirement. The revolutionary new fuel processor, named Star, is capable of processing up to 200 kWth of California grade gasoline at greater than 80% efficiency and is designed for manufacturing.
JM completes merger with Synetix Johnson Matthey has merged its catalysts business with Synetix, which it acquired from ICI in Nov 2002, by creating a new division – Johnson Matthey Catalysts. Profits from JM’s catalyst operations (excluding Synetix) last year rose by 10% on sales which fell by 17%. Chemical Week, 11 Jun 2003, 165 (21), 7
Mercian Corp: opening up new era with bioconversion technology Enzymes from Actinomyces and other fungi are used in bioconversion technology developed by Mercian Corp for the production of antibiotics and pharmaceutical intermediates. In Mar 2003, a new research building was completed in Iwata, Shizuoka. The technology is particularly suitable for production of chiral compounds. Japan Chemical Week, 15 May 2003, 44 (2220), 6
Novozymes A/S Group financial statement for 1Q 2003 Novozymes A/S Group reported that sales rose by 10% to DKR 1444 M for 1Q 2003 (DKR 1308 M in 1Q 2002). Net profit rose by 42% from DKR 129 M to DKR 183 M for 1Q 2003. Net profit is expected to increase by 10% (compared to the previous outlook of 7-8%) due to favourable developments in net financials for 2003. During 1Q 2003, sales of technical enzymes increased by 5%; sales of detergent enzymes decreased by 1%; sales of other technical enzymes rose by 16%; sales of enzymes for the production of fuel ethanol and for the textile industry continued to show high growth rates, while sales were lower for the traditional starch industry; sales of enzymes for smaller industries, eg the pharmaceutical, leather and forest product industries, also showed good growth rates; sales of food enzymes rose by 9% and sales of feed enzymes grew by 33%. Novozymes 1Q 2003 financials, 7 May 2003 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com)
Press release from: Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc, 35, Acorn Park, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA. Tel: +1 617 498 6732. Website: http://www.nuvera.com (20 May 2003)
OM Group to sell precious metals business to Umicore OM Group Inc has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Precious Metals business to Umicore for €643 M in cash. The transaction is expected to result in net proceeds of around $700 M. Plans call for OMG to use the net proceeds to reduce debt. The sale includes OM Group’s automotive catalysts, fuel cells, precious metals chemistry, technical materials, jewellery, and electroplating businesses, as well as its metals management business. For the year ended 31 Dec 2002, the combined sales of these businesses totalled $4.4 bn, with operating profit of $78 M. The company currently expects that the proposed sale, which is subject to customary US and European regulatory approvals, will close sometime in 3Q 2003 Press release from: OM Group Inc, 50 Public Square, Suite 3500, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA. Tel: +1 216 781 0083. Fax: +1 216 781 1502. Website: http://www.omgi.com (3 Jun 2003) & Chemical Week, 11 Jun 2003, 165 (21), 8
Peerless Mfg Co reports 3Q 2002-2003 results Peerless Mfg Co announced its operating results for 3Q ended Mar 2003. The company’s revenues decreased 53.3% to $13.6 M for 3Q
JULY 2003