Page 172 - CW E-Magazine (21-11-2023)

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QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

Persistently weak demand impacts third quarter University of Birmingham Enterprise launches

results at LANXESS AI-powered design
University of Birmingham Enter-
LANXESS’ fi gures in Q3 were compared with €80-mn in the prior- fi ts in with the strategic orientation of prise has announced the launch of
again infl uenced by the persistently year quarter. the Group, which has systematically EvoPhase, which delivers services
weak economy. Sales amounted to realigned its portfolio in recent years,” to optimise existing and new process
€1.601-bn, down 26.7% on the previ- ‘No sign of recovery’ it said. The BU has six production sites equipment that mixes, blends, stores, or
ous year’s fi gure of €2.185-bn. EBITDA “The weak demand in the global and employs around 400. stirs granular materials.
pre-exceptionals fell by 50.4% from chemicals industry persists, and we see
€240-mn to €119-mn. no signs of recovery for the rest of the LANXESS will realize one-time EvoPhase will use evolutionary
year. On the contrary, demand in the savings of around €100-mn in 2023 artifi cial intelligence (AI) algorithms,
The main reasons were low de- fourth quarter to date seems to be even through cost reductions and lower in- coupled with simulations of particu-
mand from nearly all industries and weaker than expected,” said Mr. Mat- vestments. In addition, the Group is lates in systems such as industrial
customers’ ongoing albeit diminishing thias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of increasing its effi ciency and will make mixers, to evolve an optimised design (HARPPP), which works like natu- tained, like a liquid-like when poured
inventory reduction. “The associated Management at LANXESS AG. structural changes to permanently for the mixing blade, and the shape or ral selection, testing out designs it has out of the container, and become gas-
reduction in sales volumes and high reduce annual costs by around €150-mn size of the blending vessel. This ap- evolved to fi nd the best one. It allows like and dispersed if you blow on them.
idle costs led to declining earnings, Given the weak business deve- from 2025 onwards. The changes in- proach is applicable to a diverse range the user to set multiple parameters for This type of variability means granules
especially in the Specialty Additives lopment, the Board of Management clude the cut of 870 jobs, 460 of which of process equipment, including mills, optimisation, allowing evolution of a are the most complex form of matter to
and Advanced Intermediates segments. intends to propose a reduction of the in Germany. The job cuts in Germany dryers, roasters, coaters, fl uidised design that will meet, for instance, tar- process.”
The Consumer Protection segment saw full year 2023 dividend to €0.10. The will be made primarily in administra- beds, stirred tanks and is expected to gets on power draw, throughput and
only a comparatively moderate earnings avoided cash outfl ow would result in a tive functions to streamline. The down- produce huge cost and energy savings mixing rate, rather than trading these EvoPhase will also use a numerical
decline,” the company said. further reduction of net fi nancial debt. sizing will particularly affect sites in for industry. parameters off against each other. method called DEM (Discrete Element
Expected proceeds from the now initi- Cologne, Leverkusen, Uerdingen and Method), which predicts the behaviours
EBITDA margin pre-exceptionals ated sale of the Business Unit Urethane Mannheim, and will be achieved by Founded by four faculty from Granular materials – diffi cult to of granular materials by computing
was 7.4%, against 11.0% in the prior- Systems would contribute as well. “As not re-fi lling vacancies, through natural Birmingham’s School of Chemical characterise the movement of all particles. These
year quarter. Net income declined to the last remaining polymer business at turnover, and by offering termination Engineering – CEO Dominik Werner, According to Dr. Werner up to 50% computations can be validated using
minus €131-mn in the third quarter LANXESS, the business unit no longer agreements. CTO Leonard Nicusan, COO Jack of the world’s products are created by Positron Emission Particle Tracking
Sykes, and CSO Dr. Kit Windows-Yule – processes that use granular materials, (PEPT), another technique invented at
RAISING CAPACITY the solution uses a novel AI techno- but granules are diffi cult to characterise Birmingham, which is a variant of the

DuPont opens new perfl uoroelastomer production logy called Highly-Autonomous Rapid or understand. “If you consider coffee, medical imaging technique positron
emission tomography (PET).
Prototyping for Particulate Processes its granules are solid when they are con-
site in Delaware STRATEGIC MOVE

DuPont has announced the offi cial growth. From chemical processing to In addition to more capacity, the ADNOC makes new bid for stake in Braskem
opening of its new DuPont Kalrez semiconductor chip manufacturing, Tralee Park Annex enables faster cycle
manufacturing site in Newark, Dela- these elastomers are engineered to times, and offers expanded areas for Brazilian petrochemical producer ing of the deal; and the other half via
ware to meet growing global customer provide more stability, resistance, and fi nishing, inspection, packaging and Braskem has said that Abu Dhabi oil an ADNOC senior equity instrument
demand from the semiconductor and effective sealing. shipping that will support higher capa- company ADNOC has presented a new maturing in seven years with annual
industrials sectors. city for customers globally. non-binding offer to buy conglomerate interest of 7.25%.
“This facility also advances our Novonor’s stake in the fi rm. Novonor,
The new facility, the Tralee Park sustainability agenda as it integrates a The site will create approximately formerly known as Odebrecht, is Bras- Petrobras said it would analyse
Annex, will signifi cantly expand per- state-of-the-art energy, IT infrastruc- 50 new positions, including ope- kem’s main shareholder alongside oil ADNOC’s bid, as any potential deal
fl uoroelastomer parts capacity. The site ture and building layout that minimizes rations, maintenance, engineering fi rm Petrobras, but has been looking requires a new shareholder agreement.
also features a high-end ISO Class 6 energy consumption and maximizes and continuous improvement roles – to sell its stake as part of a broader share, represents an equity value of Petrobras also holds contractual rights
Cleanroom, upgraded manufacturing efficiency and productivity,” said many of which are STEM-related and restructuring. 10.5-bn reais for Novonor’s 38.3% to buy out Novonor in Braskem or
equipment, optimized facility layout Mr. Brian Ammons, Global Business critical to safe manufacturing opera- stake. Braskem said ADNOC offered to exercise tag-along rights in case of
and space to support future business Director for Kalrez. tions. ADNOC’s bid of 37.29 reais per pay in two parts: half in cash upon clos- a potential sale.

172 Chemical Weekly November 21, 2023 Chemical Weekly November 21, 2023 173

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