Plant Watch
Evonik breaks ground on €80-million biotechnology expansion in Slovakia
September 14, 2026 — Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has broken ground on a new biotechnology expansion project at its Fermas site in Slovakia, part of the €80-million investment to expand Evonik’s biotechnology capabilities and strengthen its contract manufacturing services for the company’s drug substance business. The project is expected to be completed in early 2028. The investment will add downstream fermentation technology to the site, increasing capacity for the development and manufacture of complex pharmaceutical intermediates.
Kemira launches iron phosphate pilot plant to support battery supply chain
September 8, 2026 — Kemira Oyj (Helsinki, Finland; www.kemira.com) started pilot operations for iron phosphate production at its site in Helsingborg, Sweden, marking a milestone in the company’s development of battery materials. Iron phosphate is an essential chemical precursor used in the production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
BASF inaugurates acid chlorides and chloroformates plant at Ludwigshafen
September 3, 2026 — BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) inaugurated its fully modernized plant for the production of acid chlorides and chloroformates (ACCF) at the Ludwigshafen Verbund site. The investment includes a fundamental renewal of the production infrastructure and increases production capacity at the site by approximately 30%.
Solvay to expand electronics-grade hydrogen peroxide capacity in Taiwan
September 3, 2026 — Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) announced an expansion of its electronic-grade hydrogen peroxide production capacity in Taiwan through its joint venture, Shinsol Advanced Chemicals. The expansion will more than double annual production capacity by the end of 2026. The announcement builds on the launch of Shinsol Advanced Chemicals’ electronics-grade hydrogen peroxide production facility in Taiwan in 2023.
Syensqo to invest in new aromatic polymer compounding line in India
September 3, 2026 — Syensqo S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.syensqo.com) is investing in a new compounding line for high-performance aromatic polymers at its Panoli site in India. Planned to be operational by the first quarter of 2028, the new line will double Syensqo’s current compounding capacity at Panoli and will be the first asset in a modular compounding hub designed to provide flexibility across Syensqo’s aromatic polymers portfolio. It will be capable of compounding a broad range of materials, including polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphthalamide (PPA) and polyarylamide (PARA).
Mergers & Acquisitions
TotalEnergies acquires full ownership of Grandpuits plastics recycling plant
September 15, 2026 — TotalEnergies SE (Courbevoie, France; www.totalenergies.com) will acquire Plastic Energy’s 35% interest in the Grandpuits advanced recycling plant, in which TotalEnergies already held a 65% interest. The plant is now wholly owned by TotalEnergies. The Grandpuits advanced plastics recycling plant, located in Seine-et-Marne, France, started production in March 2026 and has an annual capacity to process 15,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of plastic waste.
Sasol enters agreement to sell Nitrates business
September 15, 2026 — Sasol, Ltd. (Sandton, South Africa; www.sasol.com) entered into an agreement with Enaex Africa (Dunkeld, South Africa) for the sale of its Nitrates business, which includes plants in Secunda and Sasolburg, South Africa that convert ammonia into feedstock for the fertilizers and explosives markets.
Trelleborg makes two acquisitions in Germany and in Washington
September 3, 2026 — Trelleborg AB (Trelleborg, Sweden; www.trelleborg.com) has signed agreements to acquire two companies in separate transactions: M+R Dichtungstechnik GmbH (Seligenstadt, Germany), a manufacturer of customized rubber profiles and molded components for the construction and renewable energy industries, through its Trelleborg Industrial Solutions business area; and Cascade Gasket and Manufacturing Company Inc. (Auburn, Wash.), a specialist in aerospace sealing and fastening components, through its Trelleborg Sealing Solutions business area.
Symrise to divest terpene ingredients business to Mutares
September 1, 2026 — Symrise AG (Holzminden, Germany) signed a definitive agreement to sell AmeriTerpenes LLC (Jacksonville, Fla.), its terpene ingredients business, to international private equity investor Mutares SE & Co. KGaA (Munich, Germany). AmeriTerpenes operates manufacturing sites in Florida and Georgia, supplying materials for the fragrance and flavor sectors, as well as other industrial applications. ■
Mary Page Bailey