Univar acquires Canadian chemicals distributor FloChem

Univar Solutions Inc., a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, today announces the acquisition of FloChem Ltd. and certain of its affiliates, an industry leader in the distribution of chemicals and related dispensing systems in Eastern Canada, said the company.

The acquisition gives the Company access to new market segments, increased market position on key in-demand products, and new service capabilities.

Univar Solutions Increases Footprint, Product Portfolio and Services in Eastern Canada with Acquisition of FloChem Ltd.

FloChem is a distributor of commodity and specialty chemical solutions from North American manufacturers, including caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, bleach and sulfuric acid. Other offerings include products serving a variety of disinfectant and cleaning formulations in wastewater and water treatment; pool and spa; mini-bulk offerings; and food and beverage, to name a few.

"As an industry leader in chemical distribution and dispensing systems, FloChem is uniquely positioned within our Canadian market to expand our bulk chemical distribution (BCD) network while expanding our access to some of the most widely used industrial chemicals and services," said David Jukes, president and CEO of Univar Solutions. "This acquisition demonstrates our continued focus on our growth strategy and strategic imperatives to drive success now and into the future."

FloChem also offers a variety of value-added services, including specialty formulas/blends, custom packaging, and bulk freight service through a dedicated private fleet of trucks and tanker trailers.

"Responsiveness, reliability and safety are all hallmarks of our commitment to customers and shared values between our two companies," said Jim Holcomb, president of North America and chemicals and services for Univar Solutions. "The addition of FloChem's value-added services helps us continue our focus on service excellence while also opening the doors to several new markets, increased local capabilities with the addition of MiniBulk, and greater flexibility to manage logistics in Eastern Canada."

"We couldn't be more pleased to join a leading global solutions provider that aligns so well with our company, our values, and our culture," said Terry Tucker, CEO and president for FloChem. "This agreement represents a great step toward increased collaboration with our customers and supply chain partners to offer value-added products, solution-driven initiatives, and innovative new processes."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

We remind, Univar Solutions Mexico, a global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, announced an exclusive distribution agreement with dsm-firmenich, global innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, that create solutions which positively contribute to the daily care routine and health of people's face, skin, and hair worldwide.

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In response to growing market preferences for environmentally friendly alternatives, the global chemical company OQ Chemicals is ready to supply ISCC PLUS certified Oxbalance TCD Alcohol DM (tricyclodecane dimethanol), said Business-Wire.

This product is manufactured using the bio-circular precursor DCPD (dicyclopentadiene) from Shell Chemicals Europe, which is also ISCC Plus certified. The strategic collaboration between the two companies will ensure a reliable supply of bio-circular DCPD to support OQ Chemicals’ production.

“It’s also an example of how Shell is committed to delivering premium quality sustainable solutions to support a circular economy.”

TCD Alcohol DM serves as a versatile component in the production of high-performance technical polymers, paints and coatings, and adhesives used across sectors such as food packaging, electronics, and automotive. It is valued for its exceptional ability to enhance the properties of the final product, including improved durability, chemical resistance, and thermal stability. The bio-based Oxbalance TCD Alcohol DM serves as a sustainable and environmentally conscious alternative to its fully synthetic counterpart.

“OQ Chemicals’ new Oxbalance offering aligns with changing market preferences as customers increasingly seek out more sustainable alternatives without compromising quality or performance. Our partnership with Shell Chemicals Europe ensures a consistent supply of high-quality bio-circular DCPD for our production. With Oxbalance TCD Alcohol DM, we’ve added another product to our portfolio that supports our customers on their path towards more sustainability,” said Kyle Hendrix, Executive Vice President Marketing at OQ Chemicals.

“Our collaboration with OQ Chemicals to deliver ISCC PLUS-certified bio-circular DCPD that is based on a mass balance approach is another example of how Shell Chemicals works with customers to develop solutions to meet their objectives,” said Liz Allen, Director, Shell Chemicals Europe. “It’s also an example of how Shell is committed to delivering premium quality sustainable solutions to support a circular economy.”

OxBalance is a registered trademark of OQ Chemicals. The mass balance method allocates renewable feedstock in manufacturing. ISCC PLUS certification by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification organization confirms environmentally responsible sourcing and strict sustainability compliance.

We remind, OQ Chemicals launches Oxbalance TCD Alcohol DM, a sustainable alternative to conventional TCD Alcohol DM (Tricyclodecane Dimethanol). The ISCC PLUS-certified product is made from more than 70% biobased and biocircular feedstocks.

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Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty materials, has announced that it will participate in Semicon Taiwan 2023 to present its comprehensive materials portfolio for the global and local semiconductors manufacturing industry, said the company.

In addition, the company will highlight the upcoming start of operations at its Taiwan-based Shinsol Advanced Chemicals joint venture plant for the production of electronic-grade hydrogen peroxide.

At the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from September 6 to 8, Solvay’s exhibit at Booth Q5848 will focus on cost-efficient and sustainable material solutions from advanced polymers to slurry abrasives, gases and wet chemicals – all engineered to meet the unique and complex needs of manufacturers in this dynamic market and push the limits of chip performance with outstanding purity, long-lasting chemical stability and optimized resistance to high temperatures and plasma.

“We have made significant investments to demonstrate our firm commitment to Taiwan’s market players which serve the local and global semiconductors industry and are proud to share the latest material innovations for more profitable and sustainable processes covering all semiconductors manufacturing stages”, says Andrew Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Solvay’s Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit. “Our R&D, production and support capacities are all targeted at delivering the high-performance solutions needed for next-generation processes in line with the semiconductors manufacturing roadmap.”

Based on extensive technical industry experience, Solvay is an acknowledged leader in specialty polymers and chemicals for the semiconductors industry that have proven their superior resistance to the harsh conditions of cutting-edge semiconductor processes. Designed to meet the most demanding performance requirements, they deliver efficient synergies and help manufacturers reduce their carbon footprint at each process step, including front-end-of-line (FEOL), back-end-of-line (BEOL), testing, and assembly.

On display at Solvay’s booth, selected structural and internal parts molded in KetaSpire® PEEK, Torlon® PAI, Halar® ECTFE, and Solef® PVDF demonstrate the value Solvay’s specialty polymers bring to FEOL processes such as dry and wet etching, cleaning, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) and lithography. Furthermore, Tecnoflon® FFKM, used for O-rings and seals, Fomblin® PFPE which serves as a lubricant in vacuum pumps, and Galden® PFPE which ensures proper heat transfer in chillers will also be highlighted.

Solvay will also present several material solutions with an advanced sustainability profile. New bio-based polymer chemistry addresses ambitious environmental targets. Non-fluorosurfactant (NFS) Tecnoflon® FKM and more sustainably produced Tecnoflon® FFKM elastomers show excellent plasma resistance for dry etch seal fabrication and a wide service temperature range, while exhibiting extremely low particle generation. And Halar® ECTFE grades provide a more sustainable alternative to PFA and PTFE for wet process applications.

Many of Solvay’s specialty polymers also extend into wafer handling, duct coating, filters, piping and tubing as well as BEOL processes from wafer level packaging (WLP) to probing and testing. The portfolio is complemented by dedicated specialty chemicals such as cleaning gas for etching, Interox® hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for optimized wet etching and Cypure® PH3 cylindered phosphine dopant gas. All of these process chemicals, including fluids with very low global warming potential, offer the highest levels of purity, quality and consistency in the market.

In line with the company’s continuing efforts to ensure the long-term supply security of its specialty chemicals, Solvay has invested in a new joint venture plant for the production of electronic-grade H2O2, an indispensable chemical agent in wafer cleaning. Located at Tainan Technology Industry Park, the plant is scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2023 with an initial capacity of 30,000 tons per year. It builds on Solvay’s experience with other H2O2 plants already operating in Asia, Europe and the United States and complies with strict international standards of quality, sustainability and environmental safety.

We remind, Solvay, a leader of high-performance and sustainable polyamide 6.6 polymers, continues to drive innovation in its portfolio with the introduction of a new, specialized grade of Rhodianyl, made of 100% pre-consumer recycled polyamide, which is produced at its Santo Andre plant in Brazil.

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Lummus and biotechnology company RWDC, in which the two companies agreed to cooperate on the development of technology to accelerate PHA production at scale, the partners have now announced a binding Joint Development and Commercial Cooperation Agreement (JDCCA) aimed at rapidly expanding the manufacturing and global licensing of polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, materials, said Sustainableplastics.

Lummus is contributing its experience and expertise in the licensing of process technology to the partnership, complementing RWDC’s expertise in PHA production and application. RWDC offers an attractive package to licensors, with its demonstrable technology innovation and technical capabilities, combined with its commercial value proposition and unit economics. The partnership will broaden the global availability of PHA and promote its further adoption as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics.

"This agreement highlights Lummus and RWDC's strong commitment to addressing plastic waste and the carbon footprint associated with conventional plastics production…reflecting our ongoing dedication to developing technologies that accelerate the use and availability of eco-friendly plastics," said Leon de Bruyn, Lummus Technology's president and CEO.

RWDC, with global headquartersin Singapore and operational headquarters in Athens, Georgia, has developed a proprietary microbial fermentation process that produces its Solon PHA using plant-based oils, including post-consumer or waste cooking oils, as feedstock. The material is both home and industrially compostable, meaning that products or packaging made with PHA that find their way into the environment will fully biodegrade in soil, fresh water, and marine settings, the company claims: and it holds certifications from TUV Austria in six categories to prove it.

"It has always been our goal to develop sustainable materials that benefit every living thing on the planet, and this partnership is a monumental step in that direction,” said Daniel Carraway, CEO of RWDC.

Through this forthcoming partnership RWDC and Lummus are looking forward to fast tracking the scale-up of commercial production PHA capabilities worldwide, thus further enhancing RWDC's position as a market leader, noted Carraway. "We look forward to the value that will be created in combining Lummus’ expertise with ours to improve people’s lives and health by making PHA polymers and resins available at large scale," he said.

We remind, Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, and MOL Group, the leading integrated Central Eastern European oil and gas corporation, have announced their agreement to cooperate in the deployment and integration of chemical recycling of plastics at MOL's assets in Hungary and Slovakia.

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LANXESS has launched a more sustainable solution for its plasticizer Mesamoll, said Specialchem.

The phthalate-free, well-gelling and exceptionally saponification-resistant plasticizer can be applied to a wide range of polymers, such as PVC, PUR and rubber.

In the future, more than 30% of the input materials for Mesamoll will come from fully sustainable sources resulting in a reduction in the product carbon footprint (PCF) of around 20%. As this is calculated via the mass balance approach by the supplier of the respective raw materials, there is no impact on the product quality or performance of Mesamoll.

We remind, LANXESS has doubled its production capacity for benzyl alcohol at its site in Kalama, WA, US, to support the growth of its established customer base in the Americas. The capacity expansion is the result of various technical upgrades. LANXESS also produces benzyl alcohol at its sites in Krefeld-Uerdingen (Germany), Botlek (Netherlands), and Nagda (India).

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