Page 166 - CW E-Magazine (8-4-2025)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

BIOPLASTICS PRODUCTION PROJECT PROGRESS
SCGC-Braskem Joint Venture to source ethanol Röhm kicks off methyl methacrylate production

from Mitr Phol Bio Fuel for making bio-ethylene at US facility

Braskem Siam, a joint venture per year. This will be the fi rst bio-ethy- German methacrylate chemistry currently in a supply defi cit,” said
between Thailand’s SCG Chemicals lene production plant in Asia. The plant specialist, Röhm, has announced the Mr. Ron Ayles, Managing Partner
(SCGC), and Brazilian petchem ma- is expected to be completed by 2027. successful start of production at its of Advent International. “We have
jor, Braskem, has signed a Letter of Braskem Siam has an estimated ethanol new Bay City (Texas, USA) plant, im- invested at the right time in the right
Intent with Mitr Phol Bio Fuel, part of feedstock demand of over 450-million plementing its proprietary C2-based place and are now the sole C2-based
Thailand’s sugar and ethanol producer litres per year, and we are sourcing ‘LiMA’ technology on a large industrial producer in the US. We look forward
Mitr Phol Group, for supply of agricul- high-potential ethanol feedstock both scale. to our continued partnership with
ture-based ethanol for the production of domestically and internationally”. Röhm to further grow Röhm as the
bio-ethylene. aging Director of Braskem Siam, pro- According to the company, the inventor and technology leader in
vided an update on the progress of the Mr. Thunyawee Pongwattanasuk, LiMA (Leading in MethAcrylates) “The start of production in Bay methacrylates globally,” he added.
Braskem Siam will produce bio-ethy- bio-ethylene plant, saying, “We are Managing Director – Ethanol Busi- process is a very effi cient methacrylate City marks a milestone in the com-
lene for SCGC, which will use it as currently evaluating the construction of ness of Mitr Phol Bio Fuel, said, “As production technology, enabling high pany’s history and is also the starting “Demand is surpassing our initial
feedstock to produce bio-based poly- the plant at the Map Ta Phut Industrial one of the region’s largest ethanol pro- yields with low energy consumption, point of delivering next-generation expectations. In the coming weeks,
ethylene (bio-PE) that has a negative Estate in Rayong Province. This facility ducers, this Letter of Intent aligns with signifi cantly lower CO emissions MMA based on our proprietary LiMA we will diligently ramp up production
2
carbon footprint and is recyclable, just will integrate Braskem Brazil’s expertise our strategy to expand beyond the fuel and reduced wastewater volumes than technology that not only benefi ts the rates and we are already evaluating fur-
like conventional polyethylene. This in bioplastics technology with SCGC’s sector and increase our contributions to traditional production routes. Once environment but also increases sup- ther growth opportunities for our busi-
collaboration will enhance the deve- green innovation. It will be the fi rst plant the bioplastics industry. Mitr Phol Bio in full production, the Bay City plant ply security in this growing market,” ness,” noted Dr. Bohnen. Röhm serves
lopment of ethanol value chain in of its kind outside of Brazil. The goal is Fuel is ready to support Braskem Siam will produce 250,000 metric tons of said Dr. Hans Bohnen, CEO of Röhm. the global market with its Meracryl
Thailand, as well as concretely promote to produce bio-ethylene from ethanol and all stakeholders in producing and MMA annually. The new technology is “The Bay City plant brings sustain- methacrylates and PMMA (polymethyl
a low-carbon society. derived from agricultural products, re- delivering the quality ethanol needed to based on the raw materials – ethylene, able and high-quality product to the methacrylate) moulding compounds
placing fossil fuel-based ethylene, with drive the establishment of the bioplas- natural gas and methanol. growing US MMA market, which is under the Plexiglas brand.
Mr. Salin Panichsarn, Deputy Man- a production capacity of 200,000 tons tics production plant in Thailand”.
GEARED FOR GROWTH RadiciGroup inaugurates new polymer production
Johnson & Johnson plans $55-bn investment in US site in Brazil

over next four years RadiciGroup, the Italian chemicals
and polymers group, has announced
Healthcare major, Johnson & John- jobs but manufacture cutting edge medi- as oncology, neuroscience, immunology, that its High Performance Polymers
son (J&J), is set to invest more than cines to treat patients in America and cardiovascular disease, and robotic business has inaugurated a new produc-
$55-bn in the Us over the next four around the world,” said Mr. Joaquin surgery. “Increased technology invest- tion site in Brazil.
years, boosting spending on manufac- Duato, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & ments will help make drug discovery
turing, R&D and technology that would Johnson. The biologics manufacturing and development faster, support work- The new plant, located a short dis-
help speed up drug discovery and deve- facility will be spread over 500,000 force training and enhance our business tance away from the company’s exist-
lopment. square feet and focus on medicines for operations,” the drugmaker added. ing site will serve markets such as auto-
people with cancer, immune-mediated motive, electrical and electronics, and
The investment represents a 25% and neurological diseases. It said it will The announcement comes as com- consumer and industrial goods.
increase from the previous four-year share details on the other three manu- panies face uncertainty from US tariffs
period. Part of the investment will go facturing facilities once it becomes and government funding cuts, including “The decision to move to a new site
toward four new manufacturing facilities available. in the pharmaceutical and healthcare was driven by the need for a larger area,
in the US, and the expansion of exist- industry, and volatility in markets. John- suitable for meeting current and future
ing sites, J&J said. “Our increased US Signifi cant investments will also son & Johnson said it has more manu- production demand. The new plant’s land area of greater than 20,000 square uses 100% renewable energy and a
investment begins with the ground-break- be done to boost R&D infrastructure facturing facilities in the US than in any surface area is 17,000 square metres metres. The increase in production capa- state-of-the art system for process
ing of a high-tech facility in North aimed at developing lifesaving and other country and is a leading investor in (compared to the previous one’s area city is about 15%,” the company in- water management, which enables the
Carolina that will not only add US-based life-changing treatments in areas such American innovation and R&D. of less than 8,000 square metres) on formed in a press note. The new plant reuse of more than 95% of the water.

166 Chemical Weekly April 8, 2025 Chemical Weekly April 8, 2025 167

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