Givaudan breaks ground on liquids plant in Ohio

Givaudan International SA has started construction of a liquids production facility at its new site at Reading, Ohio, according to a Givaudan statement Oct. 8, as per Chemweek.

The new site represents an initial investment of CHF187 million, the company said. Construction on the site is underway, with completion expected in 18 months and partial operations scheduled to begin as early as 2027, the company said.

“This new facility represents our largest investment in the US in many years, demonstrating the importance of the market to Givaudan and to the food and beverage industry,” said Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan.

Givaudan’s taste and well-being business currently has 17 locations across the US and Canada.

The site is positioned for substantial growth and expansion over time, as Givaudan continues to invest in technologies and processes designed to maximize production while helping to reduce environmental impact, the company said, adding that the new facility will create over 300 jobs across diverse skill sets.

The company has also announced community and environmental initiatives related to the new facility, it said. Plans include support to community programs, such as educational initiatives alongside local partners, it added.

In addition, the site will be run without the use of natural gas to further reduce Givaudan’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. The project will introduce sustainable technologies, such as carbon bed filtration.

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Contract development and manufacturing organization firms Sai Life Sciences Ltd. (Hyderabad, India), Agility Life Sciences (Stapleford, UK) and Centrix Pharma Solutions (East Sussex, UK) have announced the launch of an integrated chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) partnership, as per Chemweek.

This collaboration aims to provide biopharmaceutical companies with comprehensive end-to-end CMC services, enhancing the drug development process.

Sai Life Science said the partnership leverages the extensive CMC expertise of each organization: Sai Life Sciences specializes in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development, Agility Life Sciences focuses on formulation development, and Centrix Pharma Solutions excels in drug product development and clinical manufacturing.

By combining these strengths, the integrated CMC partnership will facilitate seamless drug substance and drug product development, enabling clients to transition efficiently from preclinical studies to first-in-human clinical trials and beyond.

The collaboration allows for integrated planning across API and drug product development, which significantly reduces duplication, risks, costs and timelines for clients, said Sai Life Science.

The partnership provides end-to-end service coverage, from synthetic route scouting and drug substance manufacturing to preformulation and clinical trial material manufacturing.

By ensuring seamless coordination between technical teams, the partnership promotes proactive sample transfer and early API evaluation within the drug product process, it added.

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Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of polymer stabilizers, has announced a major new investment to establish a state-of-the-art OPS (One Pack Systems) production facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as per Chemweek.

This greenfield investment project underlines SONGWON’s global strategy to strengthen its position in the polyolefin industry and deliver high-quality, locally manufactured OPS products to its KSA customers with shorter lead times.

Due for completion in 2028, the new state-of-the-art facility will be wholly owned by SONGWON and produce a range of SONGNOX® OPS, high?performance additive blends to support efficient polyolefin resin production. By expanding local capacity and improving supply chain flexibility, the plant will position the organization to better serve the fast-growing polyolefin market across the Middle East.

Commenting on the greenfield investment, Jongho Park, Group CEO, said: “Following the success of our facilities in the UAE, Germany and the U.S., this investment represents a significant step forward in expanding SONGWON's global OPS footprint and our dedication to this key polyolefin market and the Saudi Vision 2030. Furthermore, the new KSA plant will unlock new possibilities for growth and future expansion and enable us to provide reliable and responsive service to customers across the Middle East and beyond.”

“The new strategically?located facility will complement our existing production network and enhance our ability to serve KSA customers effectively. It highlights not only our commitment to this important region but also our drive to lead in operational excellence and sustainability,” explains Christian Miglioli, Country Manager UAE & Leader Sales Polymer Stabilizers – Middle East, Africa & India. “By providing greater access to our high?performance SONGNOX OPS range, the KSA plant will open new opportunities for SONGWON to meet evolving market needs and, most importantly, to deliver real value to our customers.”

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Nobian BV (Amersfoort, Netherlands) said in a statement Oct. 8 that the Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth (KGG) has definitively approved the extension of the existing salt extraction from the eight caverns at Zuidwending until Dec. 31, 2035, as per Chemweek.

This means Nobian is given permission to continue salt extraction from the eight caverns until that date, it said.

An extension of the existing salt extraction at Zuidwending contributes to a stable transition to new salt extraction locations that are yet to be developed, the company said, adding that the extension of the current salt production guarantees the supply of salt to the chemical parks at Delfzijl and Rotterdam after 2025.

This salt is important to produce substances such as chlorine and caustic soda, Nobian said. These substances are used in everyday products, including medicines, aluminum, LED lamps, batteries and parts for wind turbines, it said.

Part of the permit conditions is that Nobian will carry out studies into the closure of the caverns after the extraction has ended, the company said.

“Based on international scientific studies by the Cavern Closure Consortium [CCC], it appears that hard closure of large caverns in the province of Groningen is possible, the company noted. In order to be able to test these research results in practice, field tests will be carried out in due course,” Nobian said.

Another condition of the permit is that Nobian conducts additional studies into alternative termination methods, the company added. A plan of action for these studies will be submitted to the ministry within nine months, Nobian said.

“Together with the existing insights and the results of these studies, a plan for the safe and responsible closure of the caverns will be drawn up within five years,” the company said.

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Sozio (Levallois-Perret, France), a provider of fragrance products, has launched Sozio Fragrances India Pvt. Ltd. The new venture includes a research and creation center at Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra State, alongside a production facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, as per Chemweek.

The establishment of these sites aligns with Sozio’s ambition to enhance its proximity to customers in South Asia and cater to the increasing demand for sustainable and locally adapted fragrances in the Indian market.

The company said that the Navi Mumbai center is designed to integrate three essential units: a creation laboratory for perfumers, an application lab for cosmetics and home care, and an analytical lab. This hub is built to Sozio’s international standards, aiming to foster local creativity and collaboration with Indian brands.

It will focus on developing tailor-made olfactory solutions that emphasize natural ingredients, while also serving as a training and collaboration space for local teams and clients. This initiative also supports Sozio’s global talent development program, ensuring a continuous flow of expertise and creativity.

The Ahmedabad production facility spans 1,600 square meters and is equipped with an art blending, weighing and packaging unit, along with an onsite quality control laboratory featuring advanced equipment. This site will play a crucial role in meeting the production needs of the region, the company said.

With these two new locations, Sozio is positioning India as a central hub for fragrance creation and production that will serve not only the Indian market but also the broader regions of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The company delivers tailor-made fragrances for the fine fragrance, personal care, home care and air care markets.

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