Chemical Management
Infinium | January 25, 2024
Leading eFuels provider Infinium and Amogy Inc. ("Amogy"), a pioneer of carbon-free, energy-dense power solutions, have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to integrate their technologies and develop commercial applications across the eFuels and green ammonia value chain. Infinium and Amogy are also exploring collaborations with both Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group and SK Innovation for deployment of the integrated solution.
To accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industry sectors, the companies will jointly study and identify the most suitable applications to deploy their eFuels and green ammonia solutions. A key focus of this collaboration is the potential integration of Amogy's ammonia-cracking technology to provide low-cost, accessible green hydrogen feedstock as an input to produce Infinium's eFuels.
Infinium eFuels, also known as electrofuels or Power-to-X, are made from green hydrogen and waste carbon dioxide (CO2) in a proprietary process. Amogy's ammonia-cracking technology leverages its state-of-the-art catalyst materials to crack ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen at lower reaction temperatures with high durability, reducing heating and maintenance requirements.
Upon identifying promising applications, Infinium and Amogy will initiate strategic pilot programs, showcasing tangible and scalable implementations of their clean technology solutions. The partnership also entails the evaluation of additional opportunities for collaboration within the eFuels and ammonia spaces, with a focus on the development of commercial use cases.
"Ingenuity and collaboration are critical to creating decarbonization solutions today. Our partnership with Amogy will go a long way toward helping advance our ability to rapidly scale the production of ultra-low carbon Infinium eFuels, including eSAF, eDiesel and eNaphtha," said Robert Schuetzle, CEO at Infinium.
"We are thrilled to forge this alliance with Infinium. By uniting our expertise and resources, we aim to unlock innovative opportunities that will pave the way for sustainable solutions," says Seonghoon Woo, CEO of Amogy. "This partnership reflects a shared commitment to accelerating technologies that can contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in the heavy industry sectors."
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has invested in both Infinium and Amogy and is exploring potential collaboration for new solutions and applications in energy sector project development.
"Decarbonizing heavy industries requires numerous approaches that can concurrently and collaboratively help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions," said Ricky Sakai, Senior Vice President of New Business Development at MHI of America. "We are excited to see how Amogy's emission-free, energy-dense ammonia solution and Infinium's proprietary eFuels production process might be aligned to overcome challenges and accelerate the global availability of commercial decarbonization solutions."
SK Trading International (SKTI) invests in solutions that contribute to addressing climate change and environmental pollution and is an investor in Infinium while its parent company SK Innovation has invested in Amogy.
"Our global goals to slow the warming of the planet require significant efforts so they can quickly scale, find synergies, and explore new pathways," said Hyunchol Park, Managing Director and Head of Global Trading at SKTI. "Infinium and Amogy are leaders in their progress and proven solutions, and I believe their partnership will result in the identification of breakthrough opportunities to expand and grow access to cleaner fuels."
About Infinium
Infinium is an electrofuels provider on a mission to decarbonize the world. Electrofuels are a new class of synthetic fuels made using renewable power and waste carbon dioxide, not petroleum or resources needed to produce food. Infinium electrofuels can be dropped into existing trucks, planes and ships, significantly reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions compared to fossil-based fuels. In addition to helping the transport industry meet carbon reduction goals, Infinium electrofuels are a lower carbon alternative for chemical processing, including plastics production.
About Amogy
Founded in 2020, Amogy is on a mission to unlock the potential of ammonia as a clean energy source, accelerating the global journey to Net Zero and sustaining future generations. With a presence in Brooklyn, Houston, Norway, and Singapore, Amogy is developing fully integrated ammonia-to-power systems to enable the decarbonization of the hard-to-abate sectors, such as shipping, power generation, and heavy-duty transportation.
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Products and Technologies
Relevant Industrial | January 09, 2024
Relevant Industrial, LLC a leader in value-added distribution and service for instrumentation and automation, rotating equipment, valve, purification, and thermal equipment solutions, announced the acquisition of CHEMFLOW Products and its subsidiaries, CHEMSeal Couplings and ChlorineValves.com (CHEMFLOW).
CHEMFLOW is a leading value-added distributor and manufacturers' representative specializing in precision-engineered Flow Control products for Chemical services. With over 75 years of combined expertise, CHEMFLOW has brought together the highest quality manufacturers of valves, automation, breakaway couplings, safety shutdown systems, and hoses, affording customers specially designed solutions meeting stringent industry standards for hazardous chemical bulk transfer in the safest possible way. CHEMFLOW brings an unmatched expertise in packaging a full range of products and services designed to improve reliability, enhance safety and environmental impact, and minimize downtime.
Relevant Industrial's strategic acquisition of CHEMFLOW Products aligns seamlessly with its commitment to delivering comprehensive and cutting-edge solutions to clients across various industries. This move enhances Relevant Industrial's portfolio, allowing the company to offer a broader range of services and products to its clientele, as well as offer Relevant's unique set of industrial automation solutions to CHEMFLOW's strong customer base.
John Carte, CEO of Relevant Industrial, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "The addition of CHEMFLOW Products to the Relevant Industrial family is a significant step forward in our mission to provide top-tier solutions to our customers. CHEMFLOW's extensive experience and proficiency in Flow Control products for hazardous chemicals complement our capabilities. We are confident that this acquisition will both benefit our customers and contribute to the continued growth and success of Relevant Industrial."
Mike Johnson, CEO of CHEMFLOW Products, shared his perspective on the collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with Relevant Industrial. This partnership represents a strategic alignment of values, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Together, we look forward to delivering innovative solutions and unparalleled value to our customers." As part of this collaboration, Mike will transition to the role of Vice President of Chlor-alkali Business Development within the dynamic CHEMFLOW/Relevant team. In this capacity, he will leverage his extensive industry knowledge and strong leadership skills to lead initiatives aimed at expanding Relevant Industrial's footprint in the chlor-alkali sector.
CHEMFLOW Products and its subsidiaries will become an integral part of Relevant Industrial, contributing to the company's expanded workforce of over 450 employees. The combined entity will operate from a total of 30 strategic locations, further adding to existing customer service capabilities and extending its reach across the majority of the lower 48 states. With an OEM status that provides a global reach, Relevant Industrial is poised to further strengthen its position as an industry leader.
This strategic acquisition is anticipated to create collaborative dynamics that will not only benefit customers, partners, and employees but also propel Relevant Industrial and CHEMFLOW Products into a new era of mutual growth and innovation. The powerful combination of expertise and resources between Relevant Industrial and CHEMFLOW Products opens new horizons for both companies, fostering accelerated customer service, deeper chemical industry capabilities, and enhanced technical expertise.
About CHEMFLOW
CHEMFLOW Products LLC, celebrated for its unwavering commitment to "SOLUTIONS WITH INTEGRITY," functions as a Manufacturers' Representative Company specializing in Flow Control products designed for applications in Chemical services. With a focal point on Hazardous Chemicals, the company exhibits distinct expertise in various domains, including Chlor-akali, AgChem, Vinyls, Urethanes, Refrigerants, Polysilicon, Pigments, and HF Alkylation. A distinguished leader in Flow Control solutions for hazardous chemicals, CHEMFLOW has been a stalwart in serving industries for over 15 years. Their specialization encompasses applications involving Chlorine, Chlor-akali, AgChem, Vinyls, Urethanes, Refrigerants, Polysilicon, Pigments, and HF Alkylation, showcasing unparalleled proficiency in specialty valve applications, safety shutdown systems, bulk transfer hose & coupling, and sampling valves.
About Relevant Industrial
Relevant Industrial, LLC, is a leading value-added distribution channel serving mission-critical applications across diverse industries. Founded in 1965 as Wilson-Mohr, today Relevant is a dynamic partner providing expert solutions in instrumentation and automation, rotating equipment, valves and valve actuation, purification, and thermal equipment. Relevant Industrial brings together the finest problem-solvers in the world: trained technicians, engineers, designers, and experts in a dozen other crafts focused on finding answers and delivering results. We sell parts and services, but our mission goes beyond that; we help customers realize new and better ways to operate more efficiently. Every solution we deliver is specialized and customized for each demanding situation a client presents to us.
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Chemical Management
Charter Next Generation | January 30, 2024
Charter Next Generation (CNG), a leading provider of sustainable films, announced that it has expanded its GreenArrow portfolio with a new line of cavitated polyethylene (PE) films. Developed in collaboration with VOID Technologies (VOID), the new recycle-ready films meet the rapidly growing demand for flow wrap and confectionery applications. Using VOID's patented VO+™ PE Voiding Agent Masterbatch and Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) film processing, CNG has successfully developed high-performing PE film structures that are opaque yet compatible with existing PE recycling streams making more packaging suitable for recycling.
Adoption of MDO PE film is a rapidly growing industry trend as it enables recyclable, high-performing flexible packaging. By using VO+ Masterbatch, CNG can now produce thin gauge voided MDO PE films that offer a combination of low density and high opacity not achievable with mineral additives such as TiO2 pigments or CaCO3 cavitation agents. This innovation creates a unique PE-based recycle-ready alternative to conventional PP-based substrates that often require biaxial orientation.
"CNG continues to raise the bar and re-invent packaging with a sustainability-first mindset. Using VOID's patented VO+ technology enables us to achieve the high opacity, ease of processing, and recycle-ready performance we are targeting for these films. This in turn allows our customers to reduce their use of virgin materials and process their packaging in existing polyethylene film recycling streams," said Brent Greiner, Vice-President of Technology at Charter Next Generation.
The VO+ PE Masterbatch is added to PE resin to create nano and micro-scale voids, reducing density and creating high levels of opacity via light scattering through the voided structure. VOID's latest VO+ PE Masterbatch product is compliant with direct food contact standards in North America and Europe and has passed key recycling standards.
James Gibson, CEO of VOID Technologies, commented, "CNG is a highly innovative and forward-thinking company. We are delighted with this collaboration and to be part of launching this new generation of recycle-ready voided PE films. As we look to the future, we are excited to be working with CNG across a range of projects that directly address sustainability and recycling targets."
About Charter Next Generation
Charter Next Generation (CNG) is North America's leading producer of highly engineered solutions used in the food, consumer, healthcare, and industrial markets. Committed to a sustainability-first approach, CNG leverages material science to engineer materials that help companies meet and exceed their sustainability goals. Known for world-class manufacturing capabilities and an innovation-driven approach, CNG operates fifteen facilities and employs over 2,200 employees and is a proud partner of Ownership Works®—a nonprofit partnering with companies to enable shared ownership, granting employees a stake in the value they create.
About VOID Technologies
VOID is a materials science company accelerating the transition to more sustainable plastics and packaging. The company combines its VO+ cavitation technology and R&D labs to help plastic and packaging companies rapidly develop new innovative products with a reduced environmental footprint. VOID's extensively patented VO+ technology was first conceived as part of a research initiative at Kimberly-Clark. Soon after, in 2015, VOID was launched as an independent company. Today, VOID has R&D labs and a compound manufacturing facility based in Neenah, Wisconsin (USA) and has commercial teams in Canada, France, and the UK.
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Market Outlook
Lummus Technology | January 10, 2024
Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced a major investment in Resynergi, a pioneering leader in plastic recycling technology, to scale production of Resynergi's modular Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis (CMAP) technology. CMAP converts plastic waste into reusable materials at a rate 20 times faster than traditional pyrolysis methods. Lummus' President and Chief Executive Officer, Leon de Bruyn, will also join Resynergi's board of directors.
"Lummus' is not only investing in Resynergi, we are partnering with true innovators to develop and scale sustainable solutions that advance the circular economy," said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lummus Technology. "Combining our global licensing expertise with Resynergi's proven CMAP technology will help us accelerate the conversion of plastic waste into high-quality, reusable material. I also look forward to collaborating with Resynergi's team and the board of directors to help reduce the carbon footprint of conventional plastics production and meet the growing demand for recycled plastics."
"The investment from Lummus, along with their global licensing expertise, will allow us to scale our innovative recycling technology and collectively reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by addressing plastic waste and accelerate plastic circularity," said Resynergi Chief Executive Officer Brian Bauer.
With an estimated 70% growth in plastic waste by 2050, Resynergi's modular CMAP technology is positioned to scale waste conversion creating positive social and environmental impact.
Key Resynergi CMAP Technology Highlights
Modular Design – allows for rapid deployment and scalability, making advanced recycling more affordable and versatile.
Compact Footprint – 10X smaller reactor footprint and system-on-a-skid design eliminates local waste management and municipality's typical square footage requirements for a "recycling plant."
Rapid Time to Value – Modules scale horizontally, allowing deployment and start up in weeks, rather than years.
Faster Conversion – Harnessing microwave energy, plastic molecules are broken down 100X faster than traditional pyrolysis reactors.
High Quality Output – Oil products that meet standards set by refinery partners for chemical recycling.
Clean Energy Efficiency and Environmentally Friendly Process – CMAP generates clean products with up to 68% CO2e reduction.
About Lummus Technology
Lummus Technology is the global leader in developing technology solutions that make modern life possible and focus on a more sustainable, low carbon future. We license process technologies in clean fuels, renewables, petrochemicals, polymers, gas processing and supply lifecycle services, catalysts, proprietary equipment and digitalization to customers worldwide.
About Resynergi
Resynergi, headquartered in Rohnert Park, CA, is an advanced recycling technology company accelerating plastic circularity to protect human health and the environment. Its innovative, scalable and environmentally efficient Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis (CMAP) technology reduces fossil-based resource dependency by converting plastic into its molecular building blocks to be used to create new materials. Resynergi works with recycling organizations to secure used and hard-to-recycle plastics, effectively diverting millions of pounds of plastic from landfills and oceans. Its proprietary process creates clean, liquid hydrocarbons serving as feedstock for the synthesis of new plastics.
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