Page 171 - CW E-Magazine (19-12-2023)

News from Abroad

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY
AkzoNobel exploring use of electron beams to cure

coatings in China

AkzoNobel’s Coil and Extrusion
Coatings business has signed a strategic
agreement with China’s Wuxi El Pont
Radiation Technology Co., Ltd., a lead-
ing player in the high energy radiation
accelerator market, to develop a process
that uses electron beams to cure coatings
on metal substrates.

E-beam technology could offer signi-
ficant advantages over conventional
thermal curing methods, such as lower
energy consumption, increased pro-
ductivity with higher quality and re-
duced environmental impact. The pro-
cess cures coatings by using a directed Dr. Kaj van Alem, Commercial Director, AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings in Asia, and Dr. Yuwei Zhang,
stream of electrons to deliver the energy General Manager, El Pont, at the official signing of the partnership agreement
required to form the final film.
and innovate sustainable solutions Zhang, Chairman, of Wuxi El Pont
“We’re extremely excited about together.” Radiation.
the possibilities of E-beam technology
and the benefits this partnership could “Our close cooperation will accele- The Chinese company offers advanced
bring,” Mr. Jim Kavanagh, Director of rate the low carbon transformation solutions for radiation sterilisation and
AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings busi- of the paints and coatings industry, material processing applications. The
ness, said. “By working together with improve product quality and safety, and E-beam technology it uses is electrically
Wuxi El Pont, we’ll be able to lever- provide strong support for the industry generated and does not rely on radioiso-
age their expertise and experience of to make strides towards carbon neutra- topes, which means no radioactive waste
electron accelerators and beam devices lity as soon as possible,” said Dr. Yuwei or toxic compounds are involved.

PRECISION FERMENTATION
Vivici selects Ginkgo Bioworks to extend range

of novel dairy proteins

Vivici BV, a start-up using preci- generation of functional alternative expression, superior functionality, and
sion fermentation to make animal-free protein. commercial-level titers. “We believe our
dairy proteins, and Ginkgo Bioworks, speed and experience with dairy pro-
which is building the leading platform Ginkgo intends to design and build tein development, ultra high throughput
for cell programming and biosecurity, an integrated library, screen for strains screening, and fermentation scale-up
have announced a new partnership in with the best protein expression, validate can enable Vivici to successfully expand
which the former will leverage the and grow the most promising hits, and their current protein portfolio and bring
latter’s capabilities in strain engineer- then transfer the top performing strains new solutions to market,” said Mr. Kevin
ing, optimization and performance, to Vivici for evaluation. The aim is for Madden, Senior Vice President of Com-
to develop and commercialise a next these strains to enable optimal protein mercialization at Ginkgo Bioworks.

Chemical Weekly December 19, 2023 171

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