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Novozymes ramps up growth
F O C U S winning back lost customers and gaining new ones. The company’s American enzymes producer Genencor is finally winning back customers and territory after several quarters of dwindling custom and single-figure growth rates. Net Posten, 18 Dec 2007 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
Dow Chemical licenses Bayer technology Dow Chemical is licensing Bayer’s Impact technology for making polyether polyols. The polyether polyols are used to produce polyurethanes. Dow is assessing the technology, which uses double metal cyanide catalysts, for use in a new polyols plant due to start operating in 2010. Chemical and Engineering News, 3 Dec 2007, 85 (49), 38 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Rubber and Plastics News, 10 Dec 2007, 37 (10), 4
WR Grace 3Q 2007: core operations: Grace Davison For its 3Q 2007 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Grace Davison division of WR Grace & Co has reported net sales of $403.4 M ($396.5 M) and for the first nine-months of 2007 net sales were $1229.8 M ($1133.2 M for the same period of 2006). Pretax operating income for 3Q was $47.6 M, up 4.4%, and for 1-3Q it was $153.2 M, up 19.8% on 1-3Q 2006. There is discussion of the business segment and of the results. The Grace Davison segment includes products and catalysts based on silica and alumina. Grace reports 3Q 2007 financial results, 24 Oct 2007, 2-3,9 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
JM, 1H 2007: operations: fine chemicals & catalysts division For its 1H 2007 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Fine Chemicals & Catalysts Division of Johnson Matthey plc has reported revenue of £255.6 M (£203.4 M for its 1H 2006) and segment result of £31.0 M (£30.1 M). Sales growth in 1H 2007 was boosted by higher metal prices, particularly nickel, which is used in the manufacture of catalysts for the pharmaceutical, edible oil, and
FEBRUARY 2008
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speciality chemical industries. Demand for both base metal and precious metal products was good. The division is investing in new facilities in China, for manufacturing sponge nickel catalysts for the local market and expanding capacity for platinum salts, and in Germany for both catalyst production and catalogue sales. Johnson Matthey Interim Results for the Six Months ending 30 Sep 2007, 28 Nov 2007, 7-8,16 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
JM, 1H 2007: operations: environmental technologies division For its 1H 2007 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Environmental Technologies Division of Johnson Matthey plc has reported revenue of £1055.3 M (£858.1 M for its 1H 2006) and segment result of £65.2 M (£57.7 M). This new division comprises Emission Control Technologies, Process Technologies, and Fuel Cells. There is discussion of the business and of the results for this division. Johnson Matthey Interim Results for the Six Months ending 30 Sep 2007, 28 Nov 2007, 4-5,16 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
Nippon Shokubai 1H 2008: segment summary: environment & catalysts business For its 1H 2008 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Environment & Catalysts business of Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd has reported net sales of Yen 18.2 bn (Yen 12.8 bn for its 1H 2007) and operating income of Yen 2120 M (Yen 2208 M). Sales of automotive catalysts increased as surging precious metal pricing increased sales prices. Sales of process catalysts increased on firm overseas replacement demand. Sales of DeNOx catalysts, waste gas treatment equipment, and catalysts were roughly flat year-over-year. Sales of waste water treatment plant equipment and catalysts decreased due to the absence of large-scale equipment sales booked in the previous period. Operating income in the environment & catalysts business was roughly flat due to higher raw
materials costs and because of the sales mix. Nippon Shokubai Interim Business Results 1H fiscal 2008 (1 Apr-30 Sep 2007), 6 Nov 2007, 5 (Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd, Kogin Bldg, 4-1-1 Koraibashi, Chuoku, Osaka 541-0043, Japan. Website: http://www.shokubai.co.jp/eng/)
Novozymes ramps up growth Novozymes, an enzymes producer and technology developer, posted a 14% rise in operating profits in the Jan-Sep 2007 period to DKR 1.1 bn ($215 M), on sales 15% higher to DKR 5.6 bn. Operating margins climbed from 20% in Jan-Sep 2006 period to 20.5%. The company’s four major product areas are enzymes, microorganisms, protein expression systems. and biopolymers. Novozymes has around 4500 employees, half of which are in Denmark. A 30% rise in the company’s ethanol output in the USA has allowed its sales of enzymes for converting fuel into ethanol to climb by over 40% in Jan-Sep 2007. The firm accounts for around 60% of the worldwide market share for enzymes utilized in making bioethanol. The enzymes for first-generation biofuels will continue to expand by 20-25%/y through 2011. The company plans to establish and boost capacity in the USA due to the rapid growth in the biofuel-ethanol business in the region. Novozymes aims to make available its enzymes for second-generation biofuels in around 2011. The firm is also collaborating with biofuels producers to assist them in setting up biofuel facilities. It has purchased the enzymes component of biologic drugs firm Biocon at a cost of $115 M in Jul 2007. The acquisition provided Novozymes with a production plant in India and skill in surface culture technology. Chemical Week, 19 Dec 2007,169 (41), 21
Novozymes not expecting major developments for European biofuels market Novozymes, which supplies enzymes for the production of biofuels, says it is watching the European market which currently accounts for only a small percentage of its business in this area, but does not expect the market to develop positively in the
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Dow Chemical licenses Bayer technology Dow Chemical is licensing Bayer’s Impact technology for making polyether polyols. The polyether polyols are used to produce polyurethanes. Dow is assessing the technology, which uses double metal cyanide catalysts, for use in a new polyols plant due to start operating in 2010. Chemical and Engineering News, 3 Dec 2007, 85 (49), 38 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Rubber and Plastics News, 10 Dec 2007, 37 (10), 4
WR Grace 3Q 2007: core operations: Grace Davison For its 3Q 2007 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Grace Davison division of WR Grace & Co has reported net sales of $403.4 M ($396.5 M) and for the first nine-months of 2007 net sales were $1229.8 M ($1133.2 M for the same period of 2006). Pretax operating income for 3Q was $47.6 M, up 4.4%, and for 1-3Q it was $153.2 M, up 19.8% on 1-3Q 2006. There is discussion of the business segment and of the results. The Grace Davison segment includes products and catalysts based on silica and alumina. Grace reports 3Q 2007 financial results, 24 Oct 2007, 2-3,9 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
JM, 1H 2007: operations: fine chemicals & catalysts division For its 1H 2007 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Fine Chemicals & Catalysts Division of Johnson Matthey plc has reported revenue of £255.6 M (£203.4 M for its 1H 2006) and segment result of £31.0 M (£30.1 M). Sales growth in 1H 2007 was boosted by higher metal prices, particularly nickel, which is used in the manufacture of catalysts for the pharmaceutical, edible oil, and
FEBRUARY 2008
O N
C ATA LY S T S
speciality chemical industries. Demand for both base metal and precious metal products was good. The division is investing in new facilities in China, for manufacturing sponge nickel catalysts for the local market and expanding capacity for platinum salts, and in Germany for both catalyst production and catalogue sales. Johnson Matthey Interim Results for the Six Months ending 30 Sep 2007, 28 Nov 2007, 7-8,16 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
JM, 1H 2007: operations: environmental technologies division For its 1H 2007 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Environmental Technologies Division of Johnson Matthey plc has reported revenue of £1055.3 M (£858.1 M for its 1H 2006) and segment result of £65.2 M (£57.7 M). This new division comprises Emission Control Technologies, Process Technologies, and Fuel Cells. There is discussion of the business and of the results for this division. Johnson Matthey Interim Results for the Six Months ending 30 Sep 2007, 28 Nov 2007, 4-5,16 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
Nippon Shokubai 1H 2008: segment summary: environment & catalysts business For its 1H 2008 (period ends 30 Sep 2007), the Environment & Catalysts business of Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd has reported net sales of Yen 18.2 bn (Yen 12.8 bn for its 1H 2007) and operating income of Yen 2120 M (Yen 2208 M). Sales of automotive catalysts increased as surging precious metal pricing increased sales prices. Sales of process catalysts increased on firm overseas replacement demand. Sales of DeNOx catalysts, waste gas treatment equipment, and catalysts were roughly flat year-over-year. Sales of waste water treatment plant equipment and catalysts decreased due to the absence of large-scale equipment sales booked in the previous period. Operating income in the environment & catalysts business was roughly flat due to higher raw
materials costs and because of the sales mix. Nippon Shokubai Interim Business Results 1H fiscal 2008 (1 Apr-30 Sep 2007), 6 Nov 2007, 5 (Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd, Kogin Bldg, 4-1-1 Koraibashi, Chuoku, Osaka 541-0043, Japan. Website: http://www.shokubai.co.jp/eng/)
Novozymes ramps up growth Novozymes, an enzymes producer and technology developer, posted a 14% rise in operating profits in the Jan-Sep 2007 period to DKR 1.1 bn ($215 M), on sales 15% higher to DKR 5.6 bn. Operating margins climbed from 20% in Jan-Sep 2006 period to 20.5%. The company’s four major product areas are enzymes, microorganisms, protein expression systems. and biopolymers. Novozymes has around 4500 employees, half of which are in Denmark. A 30% rise in the company’s ethanol output in the USA has allowed its sales of enzymes for converting fuel into ethanol to climb by over 40% in Jan-Sep 2007. The firm accounts for around 60% of the worldwide market share for enzymes utilized in making bioethanol. The enzymes for first-generation biofuels will continue to expand by 20-25%/y through 2011. The company plans to establish and boost capacity in the USA due to the rapid growth in the biofuel-ethanol business in the region. Novozymes aims to make available its enzymes for second-generation biofuels in around 2011. The firm is also collaborating with biofuels producers to assist them in setting up biofuel facilities. It has purchased the enzymes component of biologic drugs firm Biocon at a cost of $115 M in Jul 2007. The acquisition provided Novozymes with a production plant in India and skill in surface culture technology. Chemical Week, 19 Dec 2007,169 (41), 21
Novozymes not expecting major developments for European biofuels market Novozymes, which supplies enzymes for the production of biofuels, says it is watching the European market which currently accounts for only a small percentage of its business in this area, but does not expect the market to develop positively in the
3