Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (7-11-2023)

News from Abroad

AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS
Asahi Kasei invests in US start-up for circular leather

alternatives

Asahi Kasei has decided to invest in the car seat fabric market, Sage has a
in US-based start-up NFW, a producer strong presence among automakers and
of non-petroleum-based leather alter- suppliers. “The cooperation with NFW
native for car interiors. In cooperation will enable Asahi Kasei and Sage to
with Sage Automotive Interiors, Inc. assist global automakers in reducing the
(Sage), an Asahi Kasei company and a environmental burden of their cars. By
leading global provider of innovative jointly developing and manufacturing a
and functional materials for the auto- natural pigments, and minerals. The non-petroleum-based and fully circu-
motive interior, this strategic partner- material offers superior durability and lar leather alternative, the Asahi Kasei
ship aims to support global automotive quality that can replace traditional Group takes a leading position in revo-
OEMs in reducing the environmental animal-based or synthetic leather prod- lutionizing the market for car interior
burden of automobiles. ucts without the use of any polyure- materials,” Mr. Dirk Pieper, Chairman,
thane or other coatings. Sage, stated,
Based in Peoria, Illinois, NFW
was founded in 2015 and has deve- Sage is engaged in developing, The cooperation with NFW is the
loped the only platform capable of pro- manufacturing, and selling innovative first project within Asahi Kasei’s “Care
ducing precision-engineered, natural functional materials used in auto- for Earth” investment framework,
(non-petroleum-based) leather, foam, mobile interiors globally. Since its acqui- announced in April 2023. Asahi Kasei
and textiles to replace animal and pet- sition by Asahi Kasei in 2018, Sage has allocated up to $100-mn for investments
rochemical-based materials. Certified strengthened its business activities in worldwide in early-stage start-ups that
by the United States Department of Europe and China through mergers and aim to solve issues in environmental
Agriculture as having 100% bio-based acquisitions in parallel to expanding its fields such as hydrogen, energy storage,
content, Mirum, the company’s line-up of growth-potential materials carbon management, and bio-based
patented leather alternative, is made from such as suede and synthetic leather. chemicals over the five-year period up
natural rubber, natural fibres, plant oils, As one of the leading global suppliers to fiscal 2027.

ExxonMobil licenses fluid bed MTG technology
to Aramco

ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licens- area,” said Tricia DeLaney, President, terms of capital expenditures, operation
ing LLC (EMCL) has licensed its EMCL. Commissioning of the licensed cost, operational reliability, and con-
advanced fluid bed Methanol-to-Gaso- MTG units is expected in 2025. The sistent product quality, when compared
line (MTG) technology to Aramco for a unit is planned to utilise methanol feed- to a fixed bed process.
demonstration scale unit to be located stock derived from green hydrogen and
in NEOM’s Hydrogen Innovation and carbon dioxide (CO ) to produce a syn- “Aramco is exploring the produc-
2
Development Center (HIDC). thetic, high-octane, drop-in blend stock tion of low-carbon synthetic fuels that
for potential use on/off road and racing have CO reduction potential,” said Ali A.
2
“Reducing greenhouse gas emis- applications. Al-Meshari, Aramco’s Senior Vice
sion across the transportation sector is President of Technology Oversight &
an essential component of the global ExxonMobil scientists developed Coordination. “By leveraging innova-
energy transition and requires a port- the MTG chemistry in the 1970s. tive technologies, like the fluidized-bed
folio of solutions. ExxonMobil’s fluid After years of studies and advancements, MTG, we aspire to develop drop-in syn-
bed MTG technology can play an im- ExxonMobil analysis suggest that the thetic fuels that can potentially rolled-
portant role in helping deliver in this fluid bed MTG process is advantaged in out seamlessly into existing vehicles.”

168 Chemical Weekly November 7, 2023

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