Page 172 - CW E-Magazine (14-11-2023)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

BUSINESS STRATEGY SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION
Sanofi plans to split consumer health unit to narrow Asahi Kasei to boost coating capacity for lithium-ion

focus battery separators

French pharmaceutical and health- said the core innovative drugs Japanese chemicals firm, Asahi Commenting on the investment,
care company, Sanofi , said it plans to business had improved enough to Kasei, will invest around Yen 40-bn Mr. Hiroyoshi Matsuyama, Senior Execu-
separate its consumer health division, soon do without the more predictable ($266-mn) in additional equipment tive Offi cer and President of the Envi-
probably through a spinoff, as the drug- cash fl ows from consumer products. for coating Hipore lithium-ion bat- ronmental Solutions Strategic Business
maker deepens its focus on cutting-edge He had put the consumer business tery (LIB) separators. New coating Unit at Asahi Kasei, said, “Expanding
medicines and vaccines. on course to become a stand-alone lines will be installed at existing Hipore operations globally to keep pace
division within months of taking the Asahi Kasei LIB separator facilities with the electric vehicle market is an im-
Sanofi is reviewing options for the helm about four years ago. in the US, Japan, and South Korea, portant milestone for our separator busi-
potential split, but said the most likely Pfi zer in 2022. Bayer, led by a new with start-up scheduled in succes- ness. We are happy to support the growth
course would be a “capital markets CEO since June, has faced calls by “Our recent pipeline news fl ow, sion from the first half of fiscal year types of Hipore branded wet-process of our customers abroad, and with the
transaction” to form a separately listed several investors to split off its consumer added to our strong progress that we 2026. LIB separators: a polyolefin micro- help of our established global locations,
company based in France. The move business. Speaking in a media call, have made in advancing our strategy, porous base fi lm membrane; and a coated we can do that quickly by investing in
could occur as soon as the fourth quarter Sanofi fi nance chief, Mr. Jean-Bap- gives us a unique opportunity to further The expansion will raise Asahi membrane separator produced by existing infrastructure and then expand-
of 2024, it said in a statement. The tiste de Chatillon, said the increase in invest in our long-term growth,” said Kasei’s coating capacity for LIB separa- applying ceramic and other coatings to ing further with new greenfi eld sites as
2
announcement comes after larger con- research and development would be Mr. Hudson. The company did not tors to approximately 1.2 billion m / the base fi lm. As one of Asahi Kasei’s needed to meet regional demand.”
sumer rival Kenvue was spun off from signifi cant, weighing on next year’s provide further details of the planned year, enabling the supply of coated sepa- ‘10 Growth Gears’ (GG10) businesses
Johnson & Johnson this year, and after profi t, but declined to provide fi gures. listing and declined to comment on rators for batteries for 1.7 million elec- identifi ed to lead the next phase of Asahi Kasei said it will continue
the creation of Haleon by GSK and Sanofi ’s CEO, Mr. Paul Hudson, whether it might sell the business. tric vehicles (EVs). This will contribute growth in the company’s medium-term investing to build its LIB separator
to building robust LIB supply chains in management plan for fi scal year 2024, supply infrastructure for automotive
ENSURING CIRCULARITY North America, Japan, and South Korea, the separator business is a focus of applications to meet growing demand,
with highly functional and durable proactive investment for capacity especially in North America where
SK Geo Centric, Plastic Energy plan pyrolysis plant wet-process separators for automotive expansion to meet the signifi cant increase signifi cant expansion of electric vehicle
applications. Asahi Kasei supplies two in demand for EVs. production is forecasted.
in South Korea
EXPANDING PORTFOLIO
SK Geo Centric, a chemical subsi- for construction and plant operation element in the circular economy for waste
diary of South Korea’s SK Innovation, will be determined through future dis- plastics, as it can be used in petrochemi- Lummus acquires acrylic acid and acrylates
has joined forces with Plastic Energy, cussions between the two companies. cal processes to produce new petro-
the UK-based plastic pyrolysis specia- The waste plastic processing capacity chemicals. Last year, SK Geo Centric technology
list, to build a waste plastic pyrolysis of ‘Pyrolysis Plant 2’ is planned to be continued its collaborative relationship
plant in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do 66-ktpa. As the second plant will be with Plastic Energy by signing a Heads Lummus Technology, a global Acrylic acid serves as a building
province in South Korea. The plant is located near the Seoul metropolitan area of Agreement (HOA) for the construc- provider of process technologies, has block for producing superabsorbent
the second domestic pyrolysis plant and Chungcheong regions, not only will tion of a waste plastic pyrolysis plant reached an agreement with Air Liquide polymers, adhesives and numerous
after the Ulsan ARC (Advanced Recyc- its locational feature facilitate effi cient in the Ulsan ARC. Building on Plastic Engineering & Construction to acquire coatings. Ester grade acrylic acid
ling Cluster), which is under construc- waste collection from these areas, there Energy’s experience in operating sta- rights to license and market ester grade is vital for the synthesis of various
tion in the southern district of Ulsan is also the potential connection with the ble pyrolysis plants in places including acrylic acid technology, and light and polymers and chemicals for consumer acrylate esters, which are crucial
with the goal of operations in 2025. Ulsan ARC. The pyrolysis oil produced Seville, Spain, and its accumulated heavy acrylates process technology. The and industrial products,” said Mr. Leon components in resins, plastics, rub-
at ‘Pyrolysis Plant 2’ is expected to be technology patents, the partnership aims addition expands Lummus’ portfolio de Bruyn, President and Chief Exe- ber and many other everyday goods.
The two companies recently signed further refi ned at the Ulsan ARC’s pyro- to open up an era of a circular economy for propylene production and derivative cutive Offi cer of Lummus Technology. The acquired technology converts
a Memorandum of Understanding lysis oil post-treatment facility for use for waste plastics in South Korea. products. “Moreover, we can now integrate these propylene into ester grade acrylic
(MoU) for the construction of the ‘Pyro- in petrochemical processes. “Following Ulsan, operating a waste technologies into the full chemical acid, while reducing capital require-
lysis Plant 2’. According to the MoU, plastic pyrolysis plant in Dangjin will “Combining the acrylic acid and value chain, and drive better capex and ments and delivering lower carbon
the companies will establish a joint ven- Pyrolysis oil is created by heating signifi cantly contribute to establishing acrylates technologies into our port- opex solutions, as well as pivot toward footprint. It has been commercially
ture and construct a pyrolysis facility waste plastics at high temperatures, a circular economy system in folio positions Lummus to offer our circular polymer products to help our demonstrated for large-scale acrylic
in the Songsan-2 Foreign Investment and is considered a crude oil substitute. Korea,” SK Geo Centric’s CEO, Mr. customers end-to-end solutions, from customers achieve their investment and acid production around the world
Zone in Dangjin. The specifi c timeline Therefore, it is regarded as a crucial Na Kyung-soo said. propane, gas or biomass to high-value sustainability goals.” for more than 50 years.

172 Chemical Weekly November 14, 2023 Chemical Weekly November 14, 2023 173

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