Page 156 - CW E-Magazine (22-10-2024)

News from Abroad

BUSINESS REALIGNMENT
Evonik to restructure coatings & adhesive resins and

healthcare businesses; non-core activities to be divested

German chemicals firm, Evonik, discontinued at the end packaging industry. The
has said it is reorganising its Coating & of 2025. Around 260 business line’s existing
Adhesive Resins and Health Care busi- employees would be affec- polyolefins business, with
nesses to strengthen their growth pros- ted by the move. For the sales of around €100-mn,
pects. The two businesses will focus on sites in Ham (France) and will be transferred to the
and concentrate future investments in Wuming (China) active C4 chain business at Evo-
their “respective core businesses” while in the same business, several strategic nik. This will make even better use of
non-core businesses are to be sold to options are being evaluated. The entire the advantages of the existing close sup-
new owners or incorporated into part- amino and keto acids business on aver- plier relationships of the two units based
nerships. In total, businesses affected age generated sales of around €100-mn in Marl (Germany). In the future, the
by these changes generate sales of in recent years. business will be sold as part of the C4
€350-mn. chain business. The polyester business
“Our amino and keto acids businesses for coating & adhesive applications is
“We will align all our resources with in Ham and Wuming are strong and to be sold to new owners. It has around
our strongest businesses. Only then offer great potential. We are therefore 330 employees globally, in Germany
can we seize growth opportunities in not considering closing them. With and China. The largest site with around
these markets at the necessary speed. investments in these sites, these businesses 250 employees is in Witten (Germany).
Conversely, this also means that for could reach their full potential and flou- There is also a smaller plant in Shanghai
businesses where we cannot offer ap- rish. We are therefore examining options with some 30 employees. The business
propriate prospects at Evonik, we will such as partnerships or divestments that has annual turnover of around €150-mn.
implement solutions outside Evonik,” would allow the businesses to prosper,”
said Mr. Christian Kullmann, Chairman said Mr. Caspar Gammelin, head of the “The technological expertise of our
of the Executive Board of Evonik. Nutrition & Care division at Evonik. polyester business is extensive. But to be
successfully competing in the long term
Health Care business Coating & Adhesive Resins business globally and to generate the necessary
In the future, the Health Care busi- The Coating & Adhesive Resins margins, investments are needed – and
ness line will focus on growth areas business line is being developed along other companies for which polyester is
identified as lipids for mRNA and gene similar lines. In the future, it will focus a core business can realize these better
therapies, drug delivery systems, and on two core areas for growth: liquid than we can,” said Ms. Lauren Kjeldsen,
cell culture ingredients. The production polybutadienes as additives for adhe- head of the responsible division Smart
of keto acids for pharmaceutical appli- sives & sealants for tyres, and specialty Materials. The company is set to begin
cations in Hanau (Germany) is to be acrylics for medical technology and the the search for buyers this year.
US Chemical Safety Board to investigate hydrogen

sulphide release at Pemex refinery

The US Chemical Safety and and an additional 13 workers repor- of Texas State Highway 225 was closed
Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has tedly were transported to local medical temporarily. The CSB’s board members
announced that it is launching an investi- facilities. are appointed by the President subject
gation into a fatal release of hydrogen to Senate confirmation. The Board does
sulphide at the Pemex petroleum The release at the refinery, ocated not issue citations or fines but makes
refinery in Deer Park, Texas, which about 18 miles east of Houston, also safety recommendations to companies,
occurred on October 10. Two contract prompted a shelter-in-place order for industry organisations, labour groups,
workers died as a result of the release, two neighbouring cities, and a portion and regulatory agencies.

156 Chemical Weekly October 22, 2024

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