Page 158 - CW E-Magazine (8-10-2024)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

SCALING UP ADVANCED MATERIALS
Kemira and IFF complete building renewable polymer Aramco and China National Building Material Group

plant in Finland announce collaboration

Finland-based speciality chemicals Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s integrated
maker, Kemira, and US-based IFF have energy and chemicals giant, has signed
announced the successful completion of a fi ve-year Cooperation Framework
a renewable polymer plant in Finland. Agreement (CFA) with the China
National Building Material Group
The “market-entry scale” unit is Co., Ltd. (CNBM), one of the largest
capable of producing renewable poly- producers of comprehensive building
mers for Kemira’s customers and is materials in the world, to explore new
based on the patented ‘Designed Enzy- opportunities in advanced materials
matic Biomaterial’ (DEB) platform and industrial development.
technology developed by IFF. The unit the IFF biorefi nery site in Kotka, Finland. “The successful construction and
is operated by Chemigate, a member of “Construction of the market-entry scale ongoing commissioning of this mar- The companies have identifi ed a
the Berner Group, and is located within production unit is a great collaborative ket-entry scale facility allows IFF and number of areas for potential colla-
Chemigate’s Finnamyl biorefi nery in achievement for our team and for our Kemira to support customers across boration, including the possible estab-
Kokemäki, Finland. customers. We continue to receive in- various markets for fi rst adoptions. Our lishment of manufacturing facilities in
creasing positive feedback from the companies are committed to lead in the Saudi Arabia to produce wind turbine
Kemira and IFF are also exploring op- market supporting the need for this new material transformation in Europe by blades, hydrogen storage tanks, lower-
tions to further extend their partnership. technology. We are excited to continue providing new competitive alternatives carbon building materials, and energy
These options include evaluating invest- creating momentum for use in strategic to fossil-based products and by driving storage solutions. Other areas of materials science that have potential to development of manufacturing capabi-
ments for a manufacturing joint venture markets such as paper and board the growth of the bioeconomy through focus include a potential new centre for deliver tangible benefi ts for the building lities within Saudi Arabia.”
focused on commercial scale production packaging, and water treatment,” said breakthrough biotechnology driven training, inspection and accreditation, sector and beyond. From developing
based on the DEB technology platform. Mr. Sampo Lahtinen, SVP Growth innovation,” commented Mr. Christian as well as a proposed joint technology solutions that could reduce construction This CFA builds on Aramco’s exis-
The full-scale unit would be located at Accelerator, Kemira. Lenges, IFF Venture Director. development centre and laboratory to emissions to innovations that enhance ting relationship with CNBM and
promote innovation. product performance, our goal is to help follows the 2021 launch of the Nonme-
INAUGURAL EDITION drive the materials transition. By com- tallic Excellence and Innovation Centre
Commenting on the partnership, bining Aramco’s expertise in nonme-
for Building Materials (NEXCEL),
GPCA organising conference in Saudi Arabia on Mr. Wail Al Jaafari, Aramco’s EVP of tallic materials and CNBM’s industry in Beijing, by Aramco and the China
chemical process safety Technical Services, said, “We look forward know-how, we aim to identify ground- Building Materials Academy (CBMA) –
to expanding our efforts with CNBM breaking advances and new business the science and technology branch of
as we pursue new breakthroughs in opportunities, as well as promote further CNBM.
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemi- Safety, and Security (EHS&S) stan- Engineer, Process Risk Management,
cals Association (GPCA) is organising dards across the Gulf region, GPCA SABIC and Mr. Khaled Al-Salem, President RESTRUCTURING
the inaugural edition of the ‘Process launched the Gulf Process Safety of The Royal Commission for Jubail and
Safety Conference’ from 7-10 October Network (GPSN) in 2021. This year, Yanbu, besides keynote addresses by AkzoNobel to cut 2,000 jobs to drive profi tability
2024 at the King Abdullah Cultural Cen- the GPSN’s efforts will culminate in Mr. Abdulrahman Ahmed Shamsaddin,
tre, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, to promote the GPCA’s inaugural Process Safety EVP, Manufacturing, SABIC; Mr. Brian Dulux paints and coatings major, “Over the last three quarters, we the “structural adjustments” would be
process safety knowledge sharing and Conference, featuring a bespoke pro- Ablett, Asia Pacifi c & Middle East Regional AkzoNobel plans to cut about 2,000 have demonstrated our ability to grow. fi nalised by the end of 2025. The com-
collaboration across the Gulf region. In gramme, including two technical work- Director, ExxonMobil; Mr. Shakeel Kadri, jobs globally, more than 5% of its We aim to accelerate profi table growth pany had late last year announced a cost
line with the heightened focus on process shops led by industry experts from the Executive Director & CEO, Centre for workforce, as part of its efforts to by optimising our functional organisa- saving “industrial transformation” plan,
safety within the chemical and petro- US Chemical Safety and Hazard Inves- Chemical Process Safety; Mr. Stephen J. reduce costs and enhance effi ciencies. tion to become more agile in volatile aiming for a €250-mn benefi t by 2027,
chemical industry, the conference will tigation Board (CSB) and SABIC in Klejst, Executive Director, Investigation & markets and offset headwinds such as following a post-COVID slowdown
be held under the theme “Enabling pro- addition to a “Process Safety by Front- Recommendation, US Chemical Safety “This initiative is designed to rising labour cost,” explained Akzo- marked by rising raw material costs and
cess safety leadership: Enriching know- lines” programme on 7 October. and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB); simplify operations, accelerate deci- Nobel CEO, Mr. Greg Poux-Guillaume. customer destocking in its decorative
ledge and catalysing commitment”. Mr. Khalid Al Alyani, VP, EHSS, SABIC; sion-making, and streamline the com- do-it-yourself segment in Europe. Rela-
The conference will feature speeches and Dr. Faisal Khan, Professor, Texas pany’s management structure,” the Akzo Nobel, which had around ted to this, it announced plant closures
To elevate Environment, Health, by Mr. Abdullah Hassan Al Qahtani, Chief A&M University. company said in a press note. 35,700 employees as of June 30, said in May in Ireland, the Netherlands and

158 Chemical Weekly October 8, 2024 Chemical Weekly October 8, 2024 159

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