Albemarle plans bromine modernisation
Albemarle has announced planned investments of up to $540 million to expand and modernise two bromine facilities in Magnolia, Arkansas, where it currently has more than 400 employees and 200 contractors. These investments have already begun and will continue through 2027.
The two sites make brominated products for use in flame retardants and speciality products for other industries, including chemical synthesis, oil and gas well drilling and completion fluids, mercury control, paper and water purification, beef and poultry processing, and green energy. The projects are expected to add about 15% to the total employment levels, as well as supporting 250 jobs during construction.
RELATED ARTICLES
UK-based speciality chemicals company Elementis has announced that, by mutual agreement, CEO Paul Waterman will step down no later than the AGM in April 2025, remaining available as required for any transition or other support until the end of July. A successor is now being sought.
Swiss CDMO Siegfried has inaugurated its new global R&D centre for drug substances at its site in Evionnaz.
International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), the owner of WeylChem and many other European chemical assets, has acquired the European Advanced Organics business of Valtris Specialty Chemicals.
SOCMA, the trade association of the US speciality chemical manufacturing industry, has published an open letter to the pending Trump administration, urging it to “prioritise policies that encourage advancement, streamline regulatory processes and incentivise domestic manufacturing”.
BASF has formed a partnership with Slovenian white biotech Acies Bio. Under this it will further develop the latter’s OneCarbonBio fermentation platform to derive methanol for the production of fatty alcohols for home and personal care ingredients, notably surfactants.
Peptides CDMO AmbioPharm, has broken ground on a 650 m2, $28 million expansion project at its Shanghai manufacturing site. This is due to be complete in 2H 2025 and will produce over 8 tonnes/year of crude peptide.
