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Process development: F3 factory proves it has the answers
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global and regional customers. The new production facility has high strategic importance for the South American business of Evonik’s Consumer Specialties Business Unit, since about 80% of customers are located in the economically important state of Sao Paulo. Evonik supplies its customers with a broad range of ingredients and raw materials for producing cosmetics and personal care products, especially for hair care and skin care, as well as fabric softeners. In other news, Evonik’s chief shareholder the RAG foundation is to reduce its majority stake in the company. This could take place via a major takeover by Evonik. The stake would fall for example if there were a 50-50 merger. It is known that Evonik is looking around for takeover targets. But RAG will not lower its stake abruptly; this will be done very slowly. RAG has a stake of almost 68% in Evonik.
India at 8 production sites, sales offices and R&D centres. In 2013 it generated sales of €1.02 bn.
Original Source: Evonik Industries, website: http://corporate.evonik.com/en/ (15 Oct 2014) © Evonik Industries AG 2014. Original Source: Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 9 Sep 2014, (Website: http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German) © Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH & Co KG 2014
Process development: F3 factory proves it has the answers
BASF inaugurates chemical complex in Dahej, India BASF India Ltd has inaugurated its large-scale chemical production complex at Dahej in Gujarat, India [see also Focus on Surfactants, Jun & Nov 2012]. With a project cost of Rup 10,000 M (approximately €150 M), the site represents BASF’s single largest investment in India. In addition to an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing and a production facility for polymer dispersions, the Dahej complex houses a factory making surfactants for the household and personal care products markets. The new care chemicals facility hosts BASF’s first sulfation plant in India. The site currently employs 200 people directly and 300 people indirectly. A further 50 jobs will be created in the near future. According to BASF’s Michael Heinz, the group has decided to strengthen its production capacities in India as part of a €10 bn+ investment programme in Asia Pacific between 2013 and 2020. BASF employs 2254 people in 4
Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com/ (7 Oct 2014) © BASF 2014. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Oct 2014, (692), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
Fluorochemicals plant to be built in Leningrad Oblast An agreement has been signed by Avtostankoprom and the Leningrad Oblast government to construct a fluoropolymers and nanoscale fluorosurfactants production plant in the Nanopark Gatchina industrial park in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. Avtostankoprom has become the park’s first resident. The company achieved more than €1.2 M in trade turnover in 2013. Original Source: RCCnews, 16 Oct 2014, (Website: http://www.rccnews.ru/Eng) © RCCnews.ru 2014
The F3 Factory (flexible, fast and future production processes) project has helped companies in developing new ‘plug and produce’ modular production technology needed by the chemical industry. The project was part of the SusChem initiative with an overall funding of €30 M. The project, which is an EU-sponsored publicprivate initiative, started in Jun 2009 [Focus on Surfactants, Aug 2009] and ended in Jul 2013. Evonik, Bayer, BASF, Arkema, Rhodia (now part of Solvay), AstraZeneca and Procter & Gamble participated in the project. The project demonstrated that polymers and surfactants can be produced with 30% less energy, up to a 100% decrease in solvent use, and a 50% decrease in footprint. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 20-26 Oct 2014, 286 (13 - ICIS Innovation Awards Winners 2014), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
Rama Phosphates’ expansion project According to its annual report, Indian company Rama Phosphates Ltd plans to establish a 20,000 tonnes/y unit for the production of linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LABSA) at its Udaipur site as part of a wider expansion project. Formal
environmental clearance was awaited for the project to proceed. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 7 Oct 2014, 156 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS New enzyme solutions help detergent manufacturers tackle regionally relevant stains Novozymes has launched Medley, plug-and-play enzyme solutions for liquid detergents that can help detergent manufacturers to simplify production, improve washing performance and stand out from the competition. The resulting products secure whiter, brighter and longerlasting clothes for discerning detergent consumers. The stains that are most relevant can vary in each region, depending on which stains local consumers find the most difficult to treat, for example, curry stains, grease, baby food or coffee. Novozymes has therefore developed Medley solutions tailored to different regions, such as Europe, Asia, China and Africa. The initial launch is in Europe with regional rollouts to follow. Medley comes in stable solutions optimized for liquid detergents, and has been developed to perform at low temperatures. Based on biodegradable enzymes, the solutions can also replace traditional oil-based ingredients. There are five pre-made Medley solutions targeting European detergent manufacturers – Essential, Pure and Brilliant, with Flex and Glow as supplement solutions. Based on extensive consumer surveys, these cover core cleaning, tough stain removal, increased whiteness, allround cleaning tasks and fabric care. According to Novozymes Household Care launch manager Gøther Lars Birch Mathisen, Medley Essential is the basic solution and removes the most common European stains efficiently, with Medley Pure adding to this by offering ‘superior performance and tackling stains beyond the basic stain spectrum’. Medley Flex focuses solely on extra stain removal power, and can also be used in conjunction DECEMBER 2014
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S U R FA C TA N T S
global and regional customers. The new production facility has high strategic importance for the South American business of Evonik’s Consumer Specialties Business Unit, since about 80% of customers are located in the economically important state of Sao Paulo. Evonik supplies its customers with a broad range of ingredients and raw materials for producing cosmetics and personal care products, especially for hair care and skin care, as well as fabric softeners. In other news, Evonik’s chief shareholder the RAG foundation is to reduce its majority stake in the company. This could take place via a major takeover by Evonik. The stake would fall for example if there were a 50-50 merger. It is known that Evonik is looking around for takeover targets. But RAG will not lower its stake abruptly; this will be done very slowly. RAG has a stake of almost 68% in Evonik.
India at 8 production sites, sales offices and R&D centres. In 2013 it generated sales of €1.02 bn.
Original Source: Evonik Industries, website: http://corporate.evonik.com/en/ (15 Oct 2014) © Evonik Industries AG 2014. Original Source: Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 9 Sep 2014, (Website: http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German) © Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH & Co KG 2014
Process development: F3 factory proves it has the answers
BASF inaugurates chemical complex in Dahej, India BASF India Ltd has inaugurated its large-scale chemical production complex at Dahej in Gujarat, India [see also Focus on Surfactants, Jun & Nov 2012]. With a project cost of Rup 10,000 M (approximately €150 M), the site represents BASF’s single largest investment in India. In addition to an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing and a production facility for polymer dispersions, the Dahej complex houses a factory making surfactants for the household and personal care products markets. The new care chemicals facility hosts BASF’s first sulfation plant in India. The site currently employs 200 people directly and 300 people indirectly. A further 50 jobs will be created in the near future. According to BASF’s Michael Heinz, the group has decided to strengthen its production capacities in India as part of a €10 bn+ investment programme in Asia Pacific between 2013 and 2020. BASF employs 2254 people in 4
Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com/ (7 Oct 2014) © BASF 2014. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Oct 2014, (692), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
Fluorochemicals plant to be built in Leningrad Oblast An agreement has been signed by Avtostankoprom and the Leningrad Oblast government to construct a fluoropolymers and nanoscale fluorosurfactants production plant in the Nanopark Gatchina industrial park in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. Avtostankoprom has become the park’s first resident. The company achieved more than €1.2 M in trade turnover in 2013. Original Source: RCCnews, 16 Oct 2014, (Website: http://www.rccnews.ru/Eng) © RCCnews.ru 2014
The F3 Factory (flexible, fast and future production processes) project has helped companies in developing new ‘plug and produce’ modular production technology needed by the chemical industry. The project was part of the SusChem initiative with an overall funding of €30 M. The project, which is an EU-sponsored publicprivate initiative, started in Jun 2009 [Focus on Surfactants, Aug 2009] and ended in Jul 2013. Evonik, Bayer, BASF, Arkema, Rhodia (now part of Solvay), AstraZeneca and Procter & Gamble participated in the project. The project demonstrated that polymers and surfactants can be produced with 30% less energy, up to a 100% decrease in solvent use, and a 50% decrease in footprint. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 20-26 Oct 2014, 286 (13 - ICIS Innovation Awards Winners 2014), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
Rama Phosphates’ expansion project According to its annual report, Indian company Rama Phosphates Ltd plans to establish a 20,000 tonnes/y unit for the production of linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LABSA) at its Udaipur site as part of a wider expansion project. Formal
environmental clearance was awaited for the project to proceed. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 7 Oct 2014, 156 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS New enzyme solutions help detergent manufacturers tackle regionally relevant stains Novozymes has launched Medley, plug-and-play enzyme solutions for liquid detergents that can help detergent manufacturers to simplify production, improve washing performance and stand out from the competition. The resulting products secure whiter, brighter and longerlasting clothes for discerning detergent consumers. The stains that are most relevant can vary in each region, depending on which stains local consumers find the most difficult to treat, for example, curry stains, grease, baby food or coffee. Novozymes has therefore developed Medley solutions tailored to different regions, such as Europe, Asia, China and Africa. The initial launch is in Europe with regional rollouts to follow. Medley comes in stable solutions optimized for liquid detergents, and has been developed to perform at low temperatures. Based on biodegradable enzymes, the solutions can also replace traditional oil-based ingredients. There are five pre-made Medley solutions targeting European detergent manufacturers – Essential, Pure and Brilliant, with Flex and Glow as supplement solutions. Based on extensive consumer surveys, these cover core cleaning, tough stain removal, increased whiteness, allround cleaning tasks and fabric care. According to Novozymes Household Care launch manager Gøther Lars Birch Mathisen, Medley Essential is the basic solution and removes the most common European stains efficiently, with Medley Pure adding to this by offering ‘superior performance and tackling stains beyond the basic stain spectrum’. Medley Flex focuses solely on extra stain removal power, and can also be used in conjunction DECEMBER 2014