Emily Newton, editor of Revolutionized Magazine, looks at how chemical processing plants can improve their performance by anticipating rather than reacting to maintenance issues

An ongoing trend in the chemicals industry is decision-makers at processing plant transitioning to preventive maintenance rather than reacting once problems with company equipment become apparent. This article highlights six specific reasons why this is a reliable way to optimise chemical manufacturing.

Consistently high quality levels

Two pharmaceutical CDMOs, AMRI in the US and UK-based Arcinova, have almost simultaneously announced full corporate rebranding exercises. The former has become Curia, which is derived from a Latin word for ‘purposeful assembly’, as of 12 July, while the latter is taking the name Quotient Sciences – Alnwick.

New York-based private investment New Mountain Capital has acquired Ascensus Specialties from its previous majority owner, Wind Point Partners. Terms were not disclosed. Wind Point will continue to invest in the company through a special purpose vehicle raised in association with the transaction.

Dow has announced what it described as “a series of incremental, high-return capacity expansions to support growing demand across key end-markets, all of which value sustainable solutions and continue to grow faster than GDP”. Most relate in full or in part to specialities.

Pharmaceutical CDMO Evotec has acquired GlaxoSmithKline’s site at Verona, Italy, where its Aptuit subsidiary is already active, employing 750. Terms were not disclosed. Following a meeting with site workers, the company has also agreed to rename the site Campus Levi-Montalcini, in honour of the Italian Nobel laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini.

During its 2020 results presentation, Italian API producer Olon announced the completion of a large-scale, multi-purpose, high-containment HPAPI production line at its Rodano site near Milan. This is already available to customers, the firm added.

As rumoured last month, BASF and private equity investor Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) have exited their joint ownership of paper and water treatment chemicals company Solenis, by selling it to Platinum Equity. Solenis will be merged with Platinum’s existing subsidiary Sigura, creating a player in water treatment with $3.5 billion/year in sales.