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NE Chemcat boosts gasoline-powered vehicle catalyst production
F O C U S biocatalysts for more than 25 industrial scale processes. PharmaChem, Jan/Feb 2004, 3 (1/2), 63
Fermic provides capacity Fermic has agreed to provide Diversa with exclusive enzyme manufacturing capacity at its FDA- and GMPapproved fermentation and synthesis facility as part of a long-term agreement. As result, Diversa will now have a production capacity worth more than €80 M/y. Fermic is currently manufacturing various commercial enzyme products for Diversa and also co-invests in capital equipment to replace credits for manufacturing services. Speciality Chemicals, Apr 2004, 24 (4), 7
Antimony jv completed
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Indian pharma industry and also plans to use India as a hub for its Asian operations. The company has set up a metal process catalyst plant at Taloja in Maharashtra, investing about Rup 250 M. The plant will be used to manufacture high quality precious metal catalysts mainly for the pharma industry. JM is looking into the chances of supplying process and technological services to the Indian pharma industry. JM also plans to supply catalyst products to manufacturers of petrochemical products. The company is expecting a 10-15%/y growth in the catalyst sector of the pharma industry. The market for catalysts in India is estimated at several million pounds sterling. Worldwide, the precious metal process catalyst market is $10 bn, of which the pharma catalyst market is nearly $2.0-2.5 bn. Business Line, 7 May 2004, 11 (127), 2
Great Lakes Chemical has concluded a deal to set up a 50-50 jv that merges its antimony business with OxyChem’s Laurel Industries unit. The jv, called GLCC Laurel, will produce antimony-based flame retardants, synergists, and catalysts. Chemical Week, 5 May 2004, 166 (15), 28 & Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2004, 39 (3), 28 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 May 2004, (254), 9 (in French) & Press release from Great Lakes Chemical Corp, PO Box 2200, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA. Tel: +1 765 497 6218. Website: http://www.greatlakeschem.com (18, 26 Apr 2004)
Hjemmestyre jv with Bioneer for Greenland’s bugs Hjemmestyre, Greenland, is to form a jv with the Danish biotechnology firm Bioneer A/S which will exploit Greenland’s microorganisms with the aim of developing enzymes for use in food, washing products, and pharmaceuticals. Bioneer is a daughter company of Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) and in recent years has worked intensively with enzymes which are active in cold climates (temperatures of around 0-12 °C). These could ultimately be used in industrial processes. Dagbladet Borsen, 23-25 Apr 2004, 109 (78), 6 (in Danish)
JM buys pharma catalysts firm $43 M has been invested by Johnson Matthey to acquire Activated Metals & Chemicals (AM&C), which manufactures nickel- and other metalbased catalysts for use in the pharmaceutical and speciality chemical sectors. During 2003 AM&C recorded sales of $24 M. It employs 55 people. JM is to merge the company with its process catalysts and technologies business. Chemical Week, 7 Apr 2004, 166 (12)
Kemira sells Ecocat Kemira has sold Ecocat, its automobile catalytic converter business, to Eqvitec, a Finnish private equity company. Ecocat was formerly called Metalkat and had sales of €46.5 in 2003. It has plants in Finland, Italy, and USA, and an R&D laboratory in Oulu, Finland. European Chemical News, 12 Apr 2004, 80 (2095), 6 & Dagens Industri, 8 Apr 2004, 29 (83), 13 (in Swedish) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 May 2004, (255), 9 (in French) & Press release from Kemira Oyj, Porkkalankatu 3, PO Box 330, FIN-00101 Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 (0)10 8611. Fax: +358 (0)10 862 1797. Website: http://www.kemira.com (7 Apr 2004)
JM to supply pharma catalyst products
Kemira to divest fine chemicals business
Johnson Matthey plans to supply catalyst products tailor-made for the
Kemira is looking at divesting its fine chemicals business and has begun
4
efforts to evaluate alternative solutions for ownership of Kemira Fine Chemicals. The aim is to find a solution which enables the business to continue developing and growing. Kemira Fine Chemicals has production at Kokkola, Finland, and has sales of around €50 M/y. Separately, Kemira has sold its Ecocat catalytic converters subsidiary to private equity capital company Eqvitec Partners. Ecocat has sales of €46.5 M/y. Chemical Week, 21 Apr 2004, 166 (13)
NE Chemcat boosts gasoline-powered vehicle catalyst production NE Chemcat is to increase its production of catalysts for gasoline powered vehicles. A new line will be installed at its Tsukuba site, and along with the 7 other lines at its site in Numazu, this represents a 15% increase in capacity. Investments costs will be Yen 900 M and start up is scheduled for spring 2005. Automotive catalysts are a major business for the company and it is targeting a 37% increase in revenue over 2002 to Yen 28.3 bn. Japan Chemical Week, 25 Mar 2004, 45 (2263), 2
Novozymes, NREL extend contract Novozymes and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have extended their contract to cut the cost of enzymes for converting cellulose biomass into sugars for fuel ethanol production. Novozymes will receive $2.3 M. The company has so far reduced the cost of enzymes from over $5/gal ethanol to under 30 cts/gal. The target is a further reduction to 10 cts/gal. Chemical Market Reporter, 3 May 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 3 May 2004, 82 (18), 13 & Net Posten, 26 Apr 2004 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk) (in Danish) & Dagbladet Borsen, 26 Apr 2004 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish) & Press release from: Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com (26 Apr 2004)
Showa Denko eyeing for Yen 1 bn photocatalyst polymer sales Showa Denko forecasts sales of polymers containing titanium dioxide, which exploit the photocatalytic effect, of Yen 1 bn/y for fiscal 2005. There is
JUNE 2004
Fermic provides capacity Fermic has agreed to provide Diversa with exclusive enzyme manufacturing capacity at its FDA- and GMPapproved fermentation and synthesis facility as part of a long-term agreement. As result, Diversa will now have a production capacity worth more than €80 M/y. Fermic is currently manufacturing various commercial enzyme products for Diversa and also co-invests in capital equipment to replace credits for manufacturing services. Speciality Chemicals, Apr 2004, 24 (4), 7
Antimony jv completed
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Indian pharma industry and also plans to use India as a hub for its Asian operations. The company has set up a metal process catalyst plant at Taloja in Maharashtra, investing about Rup 250 M. The plant will be used to manufacture high quality precious metal catalysts mainly for the pharma industry. JM is looking into the chances of supplying process and technological services to the Indian pharma industry. JM also plans to supply catalyst products to manufacturers of petrochemical products. The company is expecting a 10-15%/y growth in the catalyst sector of the pharma industry. The market for catalysts in India is estimated at several million pounds sterling. Worldwide, the precious metal process catalyst market is $10 bn, of which the pharma catalyst market is nearly $2.0-2.5 bn. Business Line, 7 May 2004, 11 (127), 2
Great Lakes Chemical has concluded a deal to set up a 50-50 jv that merges its antimony business with OxyChem’s Laurel Industries unit. The jv, called GLCC Laurel, will produce antimony-based flame retardants, synergists, and catalysts. Chemical Week, 5 May 2004, 166 (15), 28 & Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2004, 39 (3), 28 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 May 2004, (254), 9 (in French) & Press release from Great Lakes Chemical Corp, PO Box 2200, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA. Tel: +1 765 497 6218. Website: http://www.greatlakeschem.com (18, 26 Apr 2004)
Hjemmestyre jv with Bioneer for Greenland’s bugs Hjemmestyre, Greenland, is to form a jv with the Danish biotechnology firm Bioneer A/S which will exploit Greenland’s microorganisms with the aim of developing enzymes for use in food, washing products, and pharmaceuticals. Bioneer is a daughter company of Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) and in recent years has worked intensively with enzymes which are active in cold climates (temperatures of around 0-12 °C). These could ultimately be used in industrial processes. Dagbladet Borsen, 23-25 Apr 2004, 109 (78), 6 (in Danish)
JM buys pharma catalysts firm $43 M has been invested by Johnson Matthey to acquire Activated Metals & Chemicals (AM&C), which manufactures nickel- and other metalbased catalysts for use in the pharmaceutical and speciality chemical sectors. During 2003 AM&C recorded sales of $24 M. It employs 55 people. JM is to merge the company with its process catalysts and technologies business. Chemical Week, 7 Apr 2004, 166 (12)
Kemira sells Ecocat Kemira has sold Ecocat, its automobile catalytic converter business, to Eqvitec, a Finnish private equity company. Ecocat was formerly called Metalkat and had sales of €46.5 in 2003. It has plants in Finland, Italy, and USA, and an R&D laboratory in Oulu, Finland. European Chemical News, 12 Apr 2004, 80 (2095), 6 & Dagens Industri, 8 Apr 2004, 29 (83), 13 (in Swedish) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 May 2004, (255), 9 (in French) & Press release from Kemira Oyj, Porkkalankatu 3, PO Box 330, FIN-00101 Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 (0)10 8611. Fax: +358 (0)10 862 1797. Website: http://www.kemira.com (7 Apr 2004)
JM to supply pharma catalyst products
Kemira to divest fine chemicals business
Johnson Matthey plans to supply catalyst products tailor-made for the
Kemira is looking at divesting its fine chemicals business and has begun
4
efforts to evaluate alternative solutions for ownership of Kemira Fine Chemicals. The aim is to find a solution which enables the business to continue developing and growing. Kemira Fine Chemicals has production at Kokkola, Finland, and has sales of around €50 M/y. Separately, Kemira has sold its Ecocat catalytic converters subsidiary to private equity capital company Eqvitec Partners. Ecocat has sales of €46.5 M/y. Chemical Week, 21 Apr 2004, 166 (13)
NE Chemcat boosts gasoline-powered vehicle catalyst production NE Chemcat is to increase its production of catalysts for gasoline powered vehicles. A new line will be installed at its Tsukuba site, and along with the 7 other lines at its site in Numazu, this represents a 15% increase in capacity. Investments costs will be Yen 900 M and start up is scheduled for spring 2005. Automotive catalysts are a major business for the company and it is targeting a 37% increase in revenue over 2002 to Yen 28.3 bn. Japan Chemical Week, 25 Mar 2004, 45 (2263), 2
Novozymes, NREL extend contract Novozymes and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have extended their contract to cut the cost of enzymes for converting cellulose biomass into sugars for fuel ethanol production. Novozymes will receive $2.3 M. The company has so far reduced the cost of enzymes from over $5/gal ethanol to under 30 cts/gal. The target is a further reduction to 10 cts/gal. Chemical Market Reporter, 3 May 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 3 May 2004, 82 (18), 13 & Net Posten, 26 Apr 2004 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk) (in Danish) & Dagbladet Borsen, 26 Apr 2004 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish) & Press release from: Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com (26 Apr 2004)
Showa Denko eyeing for Yen 1 bn photocatalyst polymer sales Showa Denko forecasts sales of polymers containing titanium dioxide, which exploit the photocatalytic effect, of Yen 1 bn/y for fiscal 2005. There is
JUNE 2004