CHEManager International

#ISC3 Start-up of the Month in February 2025 Mavisol – Innovative AI and Machine Vision Solutions for rPET Industry Dutch start-up Mavisol has developed an innovative machine vision and #AI solution designed specifically for plastic converters, with the aim of promoting environmental sustainability and improving material reuse efficiency. Their cutting-edge technology provides on-line inspection equipment tailored for #PET preform and PET rigid flat film producers. By leveraging Mavisol's solution, manufacturers can ensure superior product quality, enabling higher utilization of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) materials. This not only minimizes plastic waste due to quality issues but also supports the broader goal of a circular economy. For these reasons, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) presented Mavisol as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for February 2025. PET preform producers supply their product to large bottling companies like Coca-Cola, which want them cheap and of excellent quality. As these large bottling companies do not perform any quality assurance on the supplied PET preforms themselves, they will return PET preforms to the plastic converter in case of quality issues. The typical batch consists of one truckload of preform packages (50,000 pieces). If even a single preform has a defect, the whole batch will be returned with fines to the supplier. This can result in several thousand euros in additional costs per batch return (logistics and fines), not to mention the impact on the manufacturer’s reputation. Implementing Mavisol´s preform inspection to prevent returned batches could save the factory a load of money, with an ROI of 6-12 months. Mavisol inspection system facilitates wider usage of rPET than existing solutions on the market without quality compromises in transition to the circular economy and data-driven decision making in line with Industry 4.0. It allows PET preform producers to use a significant amount of rPET for the new PET bottles without quality compromises. Nikolai Bredelev Find out the whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in February 2025 on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/esQMvpqY

Lilly to Expand US Drug Manufacturing with $27 Billion Investment Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest $27 billion to bolster its domestic medicine production across several #therapeutic areas by building four new manufacturing sites in the US. According to Lilly, three of the future US sites will focus on manufacturing active #pharmaceutical ingredients (API), reshoring critical capabilities of small molecule chemical synthesis and further strengthening its supply chain. The fourth location will extend the company's global parenteral manufacturing network for future injectable therapies. "Lilly's optimism about the potential of our pipeline across therapeutic areas – #cardiometabolic health, #oncology, #immunology and #neuroscience – drives our unprecedented commitment to our domestic manufacturing build-out. Our confidence positions us to help reinvigorate domestic manufacturing, which will benefit hard-working American families and increase exports of medicines made in the USA," said Dave Ricks, Lilly’s CEO. At the four new sites, Lilly expects to create more than 3,000 jobs. Get more information on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/esGBMhRC

Arkema to Increase its PVDF Capacity in North America The 15% capacity expansion of Arkema’s PVDF production site in Calvert City, Kentucky, represents an investment of approximately $20 million (€19 million). This expansion will focus on innovative PVDF grades to support the manufacture of electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems, and growth in local manufacturing for other strategic markets. The #startup is planned for mid-2026, aligning with the production ramp-up at North American gigafactories and the expansion of local #semiconductor capabilities. "We are proud to take this step forward hand-in-hand with our customers," commented Laurent Tellier, Senior Vice-President of Arkema’s High Performance Polymers and Fluorogases. Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eqB6QXXs

Clean Industrial Deal Plastics Europe Calls for an Action Plan: Clean Industrial Deal Risks Ignoring Plastics Manufacturing's Role in Europe's Industry Plastics Europe has expressed strong support for the EU's competitiveness and #decarbonization agenda, welcoming the #CleanIndustrialDeal. The organization highlights the importance of measures such as lowering energy costs, reducing red tape, and creating market demand to incentivize circularity investments. However, there are ongoing concerns within the European #plastics sector about the continued oversight of its essential contribution to Europe's industrial base. Additionally, the Clean Industrial Deal is perceived as lacking the necessary urgency to restore the competitiveness of EU plastics manufacturing and to advance its transition toward net zero and circularity.   Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, commented, “The #EU is demonstrating the ambitious political leadership necessary to restore its competitiveness, but policymakers cannot afford to continually overlook the essential contribution plastics make to the EU economy, providing essential inputs to strategic EU sectors like automotive, net-zero technologies, healthcare, construction, and defense, or the role they are playing in the transition of these industries.” “European plastics manufacturing is vital to the future of the EU’s industrial base and broader strategic autonomy. Without urgent action, Europe will become increasingly dependent on imports of #plastic resins and finished goods from regions with often less stringent environmental standards.” (...) Get more information on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eAdnuq4J

Clean Industrial Deal European Chemical Industry Becoming Extinct: Open Letter from INEOS CEO, Jim Ratcliffe, Ahead of EU’s Clean Industrial Deal Ahead of the unveiling of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, Ineos Chairman and CEO, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, authored an open letter to emphasize the importance of supportive political decisions and measures for the European industry. Releasing the open letter, Ineos stated: “A year on from the signing of ‘The #Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal’ we have not seen the action necessary to stem the decline of European industry. Ineos has continued to invest in Europe; however, it is now an exception in a landscape of deindustrialization and closures.” Please read the complete open letter below: “The chemical industry in Europe has been hugely important to the success of the European economy over the last century. With revenues of around one trillion euros, it is similar in size to the automotive sector. But chemicals in Europe is facing extinction. Government policies have resulted in enormously high energy prices and crippling carbon tax bills. Ineos operates one of the largest and most advanced, integrated petrochemical facilities in Europe in Cologne. It produces many critical raw materials essential for modern living and employs 10,000 people, including the support services. (...) Read the full letter on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/etPMfC2B

Granules India Limited Buys Swiss CDMO Senn Chemicals Indian #pharmaceutical company Granules India has agreed to acquire Senn Chemicals AG, a Swiss-based contract development and manufacturing organization (#CDMO) specializing in #peptides. The closing of the deal, which is subject to certain conditions, is expected to occur in the first half of 2025. Financial details of the #transaction were not disclosed. The #acquisition brings Senn’s expertise in liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS) and solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), along with a strong CDMO business and established customer relationships across pharma, cosmetics, amino acid derivatives (AAD) & theragnostic segments to Granules’ portfolio. According to Granules, the acquisition aligns with its vision to enter the rapidly expanding peptide-based anti-diabetic and anti-obesity market, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and other next-generation therapeutics. Granules and Senn have been developing two GLP-1 based active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and more peptide-based APIs are planned to be added to the portfolio, to be developed using Senn’s R&D capabilities, the companies said. (...) Get more information on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/eRCXN98H

Air Products to Exit Three US-Based Projects As part of a review initiated by Air Products’ newly-elected board of directors and CEO, the company decided to exit three projects in the US. As a result, Air Products expects to record a pre-tax charge not to exceed $3.1 billion in its fiscal 2025 second quarter, primarily to write down assets and terminate contractual commitments. The projects affected by the exit are a sustainable #aviation fuel (SAF) facility with World Energy in Paramount, California, a green liquid #hydrogen facility in Massena, New York, and a carbon monoxide (CO) project in Texas. Air Products cited challenging commercial aspects surrounding the expansion project and current operations, recent regulatory developments unfavorable project economics as reasons for the #cancellation of these projects. (...) Find out more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/dZ499tx9

Symrise AG and Hofseth BioCare Partner on Marine Ingredients German #flavor and fragrance company Symrise has signed a strategic partnership with Hofseth BioCare ASA (HBC), a Norwegian manufacturer of salmon-based ingredients for the human health and pet #nutrition markets. With this #partnership, Symrise wants to expand its presence in the #health sector with clinically proven marine ingredients, the company said. To support its growth plans, HBC intends to convert its facility in Berkak into a state-of-the-art enzymatic hydrolysis plant that will triple the company’s current production. “This partnership with HBC is testament to their unique footprint and differentiated science. Their investments in clinical studies demonstrate proven benefits in key categories of metabolic health, immune health, gut health and mobility, setting them apart. This partnership is well aligned with our willingness to accelerate in health in the context of our “One Care“ journey but also with the recent creation of the Global Marine Platform to explore the vast potential that the oceans could offer us,” said Jean-Yves PARISOT, CEO of Symrise. (...) Get more information on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/dm2UTgpm

BASF Expands Cellasto MCU Production in India BASF India Ltd. has broken ground on a new plant to increase the production capacity of its Cellasto microcellular polyurethane (MCU) in Dahej, #India. Under BASF's new "Winning Ways" strategy, the plant will be constructed with state-of-the-art technologies and automation systems to ensure that BASF’s high standards of safety and quality are upheld. The plant, expected to be operational in the second half of 2026, features a new mold line in its first stage to meet the high demands of the rapidly growing local market. Committed to "Producing in India for India", #Cellasto established its first plant in Dahej in 2014, providing materials that deliver noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) reduction to the automotive industry. The latest investment will support the growth plans of various Original Equipment Manufacturers. "The new facility is part of our efforts to innovate the production process. The plant will flexibly expand production further if demand increases. We emphasize our long-term commitment to better serve our Indian customers. I am confident that this strategic move will position us for sustained success in India," said Björn Kophstahl, Vice President, Global Business Management for Cellasto. (...) Read more on #CMI online: https://lnkd.in/dZS6piFz

March 18, 2025 |14 CET, 8 EDT Join our keynote speakers Christian Kille and Achim Sponheimer for this 90-minute virtual event and learn about global trends and their impact on chemical logistics as well as about challenges for the standardization of logistics in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry. Discuss with our speakers what scenarios are emerging from developments in society, technology, politics, economics, and ecology, and get specific recommendations on how companies can remain successful with digitalization and standardization. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dmyUeV5t #ChemicalLogistics #Logistics #PharmaceuticalIndustry #Pharma #Digitalization #LearnWithWiley Miebach Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS)