News BIOTEC with new
News BIOTEC with new sole shareholder The Biopolymer Network On Monday, October 1 st , 2012 the SPHERE group purchased all shares in the BIOTEC Holding GmbH (Emmerich am Rhein, Germany), that were previously owned by Biome Technologies plc. BIOTEC, specialized in the research, development and production of materials derived from renewable, recyclable and fully biodegradable materials, holds more than 200 patents worldwide a in the sector of bioplastics. BIOTEC will supply its products and services directly its customers. Therefore changes in the management team, research functions and commercialization network will be implemented in view to underline its total independence from the Sphere Group. lt is planned that new technological breakthroughs will be patented shortly, completed by new investments in the technical lab. With an annual capacity of more than 20.000 tons BIOTEC has achieved in 2011 a turnover of 30.1 million EURO (+ 40.6 % compared to previous year) only in Europe. The bioplastic market worldwide shows high growth. As a consequence it is planned that BIOTEC will review its bioplastic market opportunities worldwide. MT www.biotec.de 6th 6 Int. Conference 2013 6on Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-based Plastics & Composites April 10 – 12 2013, Maternushaus, Cologne, Germany 6. Biowerkstoff-Kongress www.bio-based.eu/conference Highlights from the world wide leading countries in bio-based economy: USA & Germany Early bird subscription: 15% discount until 15 December 2012 The Biopolymer Network at the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR), an emerging initiative set up in Germany by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), just recently launched its German language website. Focusing on current topics and issues of using bio-based materials and their products the network addresses a broad array of stakeholders, initiates discussions and develops important background information. The Biopolymer Network is an information and communication platform in the field of bio-based materials and their applications, open to industry, research, academia, politics and the civil society. It is a forum for a critical and positive debate about all parts of the life cycle process as well as about economical, ecological and social questions. Renewable resources can contribute to the substitution/ replacement of fossil resources and to the security of supply. Regarding this, the BMELV has funded about 300 projects in the fields of manufacturing, processing, and application of bio-based materials in Germany in the recent years. However, those innovative products meet a market with established value chains and fixed basic conditions where they have to fit in. This is where the Biopolymer Network starts working by supporting the application of bio-based materials in a reasonable and sustainable way. Current key aspects are ‘Processing of bio-based materials’, ‘Recycling & Disposal’, ‘Life cycle assessment of bio-based materials and products’ as well as ‘Application of bio-based materials in the automotive industry’. The network gets support by an advisory board made up of representatives from the industry, research and politics. Several national expert meetings have already been taken place, and on-going funded projects have been embedded in the Biopolymer Network’s activities. Results and activities are published e.g. via the website, newsletters, prints and other means. Furthermore, the Network invites stakeholders along the value chains of biobased materials to participate in the discussion and share common information. www.biopolymernetzwerk.de Organiser Sponsor of the Conference Pictures: Ashland, BioAmber, Evonik, FKUR, Hiendl, Polyone Sponsor Innovation Award www.nova-institute.eu www.biotec.de 6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/12] Vol. 7 www.coperion.com
News World’s largest PHA production facility JV for biobased succinic acid Meredian, Inc., a privately held biopolymer manufacturer from Bainbridge, Georgia, USA, officially opened its polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) biopolymers plant end of October. During a Grand Opening Meredian’s guests got the chance to view the largest PHA production facility in the world. Following the successful startup of this initial production facility with current production rate of 15,000 tonnes per year, Meredian plans to continue to grow its output in an effort to maintain pace with global customer demand. The manufacturing facility will be producing over 300,000 tonnes of PHA per year when at full capacity, as was mentioned during the Grand opening. “Meredian PHA provides value to our customers by way of its many attributes and performance capabilities. Additionally, we can compete with traditional petro-based plastics on price, based upon our cost effective production systems,” says Blake Lindsey, President and Co-founder of Meredian. “Our PHA resins will be made using a technology Meredian acquired from P&G in 2007. We have spent the last three years confirming production systems and efficiencies while jointly developing specific end-use applications with our strategic customer partners.” Meredian PHA expects food contact OK status for its PHA products and is fully certified by leading third party firms for meeting strict ASTM biodegradation requirements including marine water conditions. Meredian supports its technology with a global patent portfolio of over 150 patents for this innovative, highly functional biopolymer plastic material. “The Meredian fermentation process utilizes sustainably produced renewable plant derived feedstocks to create PHA,” added Lindsey. “The production of PHA is not only safe for the environment, but we are producing a product that will address many of the health and human safety concerns found in certain packaging materials today.” MT www.meredianpha.com BASF and Purac, a subsidiary of CSM, are establishing a joint venture for the production and sale of biobased succinic acid. The company will be named Succinity GmbH and will be operational in 2013. The establishment of Succinity GmbH is subject to filing with the relevant competition authorities. The company headquarters will be in Düsseldorf, Germany. BASF and CSM have been conducting research on succinic acid under a joint development agreement since 2009. The complementary strengths in fermentation and downstream processing led to the development of a sustainable and highly efficient manufacturing process based on a proprietary microorganism. The bacterium used is Basfia succiniciproducens, which produces succinic acid through natural processes. It is capable of metabolizing a variety of renewable feedstocks into succinic acid. The new process combines high efficiency with the use of renewable raw materials and the fixation of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the production of succinic acid. This makes biobased succinic acid an economically and ecologically attractive alternative to petrochemical raw materials. The demand for succinic acid is anticipated to grow strongly in the years ahead, driven mainly by bioplastics, chemical intermediates, solvents, polyurethanes and plasticizers. BASF and CSM are currently modifying an existing fermentation facility at Purac’s Montmélo site near Barcelona, Spain, for the production of succinic acid. This plant, which will commence operations in late 2013 with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes of succinic acid, will put the new joint venture company in a leading position in the global marketplace. This is complemented by plans for a second large-scale facility with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of succinic acid to enable the company to respond to the expected increase in demand. The final investment decision for this facility will be made following a successful market introduction. MT www.basf.com www.csmglobal.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/12] Vol. 7 7
