Kemira Oyj (Helsinki, Finland) has completed the divestment of its Oil & Gas related portfolio to Sterling Specialty Chemicals LLC, a US subsidiary of Artek Group, a global industrial chemicals group based in India. The divestment was announced on December 4, 2023. The transaction enables Kemira to focus on its core businesses and accelerate its profitable growth strategy.  MORE

AGC, Inc. (Tokyo) announced that it will construct a new production facility for fluorinated ion-exchange membranes suitable for producing green hydrogen at its Kitakyushu Site (Tobata-ku, Kitakyushu City). AGC will invest approximately 15 billion Japanese yen for the new facility, which is scheduled to start operation in June 2026.  MORE

Arkema S.A. (Colombes, France) has successfully started its new Pebax  elastomer unit at the Serquigny plant in France. This new unit, designed with the latest advancements in industrial processes, can produce both the bio-circular Pebax  Rnew  and classical Pebax  elastomer ranges. These advanced materials are used extensively in sports equipment, such as running shoes, soccer shoes and ski boots. MORE
 

Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France) has completed the acquisition of International Cellulose Corp. (ICC), a leading manufacturer of specialty insulation in the United States, including spray-on thermal, fireproofing and acoustic finish systems for the U.S. non-residential market. ICC employs approximately 50 employees at its manufacturing site in Houston, Texas, and generated revenues of around $30 million in 2023. MORE

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) has completed the acquisition of Arc Metal AB in Hofors, Sweden. The asset purchase adds toll smelting and processing of spent automotive catalyst in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and further complements ECMS’s existing global precious metal recycling operations in Cinderford, UK, Seneca and Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Caldwell, Texas. MORE

Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany) has invested in a plant expansion for precipitated silica at its site in Charleston, South Carolina. The new line is satisfying the high demand in particular from the tire industry in North America and makes the supply chains of Evonik partners in the region resilient by enabling local silica sourcing.  MORE