NEWS
Combining strengths
Stora Enso acquires BITZER and Wurm join forces cellulose technology T company Cellutech
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tora Enso has increased its ownership up to 100% in the Swedish company Cellutech AB. The company specialises in the development of new materials and applications based on cellulose, micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) and other woodbased components. The acquisition of Cellutech supports Stora Enso’s vision of replacing fossil-based materials with renewable ones originating from wood. The acquired company works, among others, in the areas of foams for packaging and hydroponics where the markets are continuously growing. Cellulosic foams can, for example, be used in packaging to replace polystyrenes which are the most widely used plastics. “The acquisition of Cellutech will add a new dimension to our fibre and cellulose capabilities particularly in lightweight cellulose foams and spheres. We are investing in technologies and expertise that will further broaden application development competence in Stora Enso’s Biomaterials Division,” says Markus Mannström, EVP, Stora Enso Biomaterials. Cellutech was formed to take world class scientific research developed at SweTree Technologies and Wallenberg Wood Science Center and develop the ideas into commercially successful technologies and products. Visit: www.storaenso.com
LKAB Minerals signs agreement to take over Francis Flower
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KAB Minerals is to acquire full ownership of Francis Flower. “Acquiring Francis Flower accelerates our growth within the Industrial Minerals market. An increase of iron ore production is one building block in LKAB’s growth plan, but growing our other businesses is equally as important
20 Industry Europe
he refrigeration and air conditioning specialist BITZER and the automation expert Wurm have paved the way for a successful future together with a joint venture agreement through which BITZER will be the majority shareholder of the newly established Wurm Holding GmbH from 1 January 2019. As a leading manufacturer of electronic system solutions for refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation applications, all national and international Wurm companies will be integrated into the new holding company. As a managing partner, Dr Horst Peter Wurm will join the management of the new Wurm Holding GmbH and will step down from the operational management of the individual Wurm companies in mid 2019. In the holding company, he will supervise
the long-term development and strategic orientation of the group in coordination with BITZER. No changes will be made to the management of the Wurm Group, which is made up of senior employees, or to any of its operational sites in Germany or abroad. Visit: www.bitzer.de
Neste and Clariant to develop sustainable industrial solutions N este, a provider of sustainable renewable diesel and an expert in delivering drop-in renewable chemical solutions, and Clariant, a leader in specialty chemicals, have signed an agreement for a new partnership to join forces in developing and making new sustainable material solutions accessible to a variety of industries. In the first phase of the partnership, companies will start replacing fossil-based ethylene and propylene used in Clariant’s top-quality hot-melt adhesives, with monomers derived from renewable feedstock. This is enabled by turning Neste’s renewable hydrocarbons – produced 100% from renewable raw materials, such as waste and residue fats and oils as well as vegetable oils – into ethylene and propylene for Clariant’s products. In a later phase, the companies will also develop other sustainable additive solutions derived from
renewable raw materials for plastics and coatings applications. This will enable the two companies to help various sustainability-focused brand owners – such as those producing furniture, sporting goods, hygiene products, electronics, and automotives – to increase their bio-based offering while also reducing crude oil dependency and climate emissions. Visit: www.neste.com
to create a better balance between our divisions, something that makes us less sensitive to the iron ore market volatility, which strengthens LKAB,” says LKAB CEO Jan Moström. Besides that, there are other strategic components to the acquisition, explains Jan Moström. “Bringing in Francis Flower’s business into ours creates a form of circular
economy, as there is a strong link to LKAB’s iron ore business. The largest product area for Francis Flower is recycling blast furnace slag from the steel industry for production of Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBS), a sustainable product that can replace 70% of Portland Cement in a concrete mix delivering decreased CO2 emissions.” Visit: www.lkab.com
