NEWS
MOVINGON
Relocations and expansions across Europe
AXSON opens new technical centre Boliden Kokkola inaugurates for innovative PUR formulations new silver recovery plant
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XSON, a world leader in highperformance polymer formulation, is to open an AXSON MERYLITHE Technical Centre for developing innovative PUR formulations. This centre in Méry (Savoie, France) will enable AXSON customers to carry out tests and trials from early 2015. The new, state-of-the-art technical centre will focus its renowned expertise on both isocyanate formulation and systems. The announcement follows AXSON’s acquisition of Merylithe, a move that has strengthened the company’s expertise in polyurethane elastomer formulations. By taking over Merylithe, a move in line with the group’s acquisition policy, AXSON is building on its position as a leader in formulations: “By working to expand AXSON MERYLITHE we are complying with the group’s objective to offer our customers every type of formulation solution, whether complex or functional,” said Patrick Blosse, vice-president of Sales & Marketing at AXSON TECHNOLOGIES. “AXSON MERYLITHE is also working on more environmentally-friendly PUR ranges and is currently researching alternatives to petrol and carbon products. Developing bio-sourced systems is a real challenge for the industry of tomorrow,” said Jérôme Duclos, director of AXSON MERYLITHE. Visit: www.axson-group.com
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oliden has officially inaugurated its new silver recovery plant at its Kokkola zinc smelter in Finland. The SEK 250 million investment will result in the production of 25 tonnes of silver annually. “This new process is of great importance for Boliden Kokkola since it will improve both profitability and raw material efficiency. Silver concentrate will now be one of Boliden Kokkola’s most valuable by-products,” says Jarmo Herronen, general manager at Boliden Kokkola. The inauguration at Kokkola takes place at the same day as Boliden’s 90 years celebration, which focuses on knowledge and experience. “The Kokkola silver recovery process, and the recently inaugurated Garpenberg zinc- silver mine expansion, are both in line with our strategy to maximise the metal and by-product production from incoming raw materials,” says Lennart Evrell, Boliden’s CEO. Visit: www.boliden.com
Holmen invests in increased paperboard and pulp production
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olmen has decided to invest a total of SEK 530 million in increasing paperboard and pulp production at Iggesund Paperboard. The production capacity for paperboard at the UK mill in Workington will rise by 10% or 20,000 tonnes through a rebuild of the paperboard machine’s press section. The rebuild, which is expected to be completed during the first half of 2016, will also bring improved product quality. At Iggesund Mill, pulp capacity will rise by 15% or 50,000 tonnes. The investment will be
Multi-million pound site expansion for Bentley
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entley has announced the latest phase in the biggest site development in the company’s history. A further £40 million investment will expand its headquarters in Crewe, with a new research and development centre, creating over 300 jobs in the process. The new centre, measuring over 45,000m2, will
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implemented in stages from 2015–2016. The measures will also improve production stability and cut variable costs. “Recent years have seen us invest strongly in reducing our energy costs and our dependence on fossil fuels. Now we’re investing in increased production, while also cutting our variable costs, and thus strengthening our competitiveness,” explains Annica Bresky, CEO of Iggesund Paperboard. “For the mill in Workington, this investment marks a first step in that direction. At the Igge-
sund Mill, our ambition is to increase production by 10 per cent in coming years without any major investment.” Visit: www.holmen.com
include a dedicated styling studio, research and development offices and a technical workshop. The facilities will house 1300 Bentley engineers and is the latest step in preparing Bentley’s infrastructure to bring the world’s first ultra-luxury SUV to roads in 2016. Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, commented: “With Bentley’s new research and development
centre, we will develop a new generation of Bentleys, which will continue our commitment of luxury, performance, quality and engineering excellence. Bentley is the number one luxury car manufacturer in the world and driving more investment into our headquarters and attracting talent is key to continuing our success.” Visit: www.bentleymedia.com
