The company ALS Customs Services has automated the processes for customs clearance between the United Kingdom and France. Once the data required for exports and imports has been entered, the Customs Control Tower (CCT) automatically generates the necessary customs declarations on both sides in advance of transport. This enables clients to benefit from crossing the border point as smoothly as possible across the English Channel.

Ever since the United Kingdom left the EU customs union, the customs formalities set by EU and UK laws apply to all goods that are imported from the United Kingdom into the customs territory of the Union or vice versa. It is therefore necessary to obtain preliminary customs clearance for imports at the ports prior to departure for France or the United Kingdom: this is because of the short crossings between Calais and Dover and the infrastructure restrictions at these border crossing points. During the border crossing, the status of pre-declared imports is automatically processed through the French SI Brexit or the British GVMS systems. Based on the regulatory risk assessments, trucks are selected for an inspection at the port or at an inland border facility or for clearance without any further stops. The challenge here is that if the necessary data is not available until late in the supply chain, transit times increase.

In order to guarantee the shortest transit times, ALS Customs Services has now developed its automated Customs Control Tower. This innovative tool, which has been created by the in-house customs technology team, obtains the required customs data via EDI and connects customers to any of ALS’ local customs systems. “Our vision at ALS is to ensure compliance while offering the smoothest border crossing experience to our customers,” says Richard Revyn, Managing Director ALS Europe. “The automated process guarantees that the data is transferred to our UK and French customs systems and simultaneously generates the appropriate customs entries on both sides – a genuine “Brexit Green Channel”.

As soon as exporters and importers are fully onboarded, transactional customs and shipment data can be processed in each connected country in line with the requirements. Fabrice Raimond, the Managing Director of ALS Douane France, adds, “In order to offer our clients a 24/7 service, we’ve developed an additional function at ALS Douane France so that the French pre-lodged import entry is automatically forwarded to the customer or their haulier. Our focus is increasingly shifting from the transaction work to customer onboarding and compliance checks.”

About ALS Customs Services

Founded in 1989, ALS Customs Services is an AEO and ISO 9001 certified customs expertise company. With a pan-European network present in 20 countries, it offers consulting services and customs formalities for importers and exporters. Its head office is located in Weil am Rhein, Germany, in the border region with France and Switzerland. For more information: https://www.als-cs.com/

Valmet will deliver an automation system to a new waste-to-energy plant in Warsaw, Poland. The order was placed by POSCO Engineering & Construction (POSCO E&C), a Korea-based engineering, procurement and construction contractor. The plant is owned and operated by the waste management company Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Oczyszczania in the city of Warsaw (MPO Warszawa).

The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2022. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The delivery of the hardware will take place in the first quarter 2023.

“It’s crucial to have the right and reliable partner to secure a successful project delivery. We have been satisfied with our previous collaboration with Valmet in another waste-to-energy project in Krakow, Poland, and hence we are glad to work with Valmet again,” says Junho Moon, General Manager, POSCO E&C.

“We are delighted to be selected as automation supplier by POSCO E&C for the second time, thanks to our proven technology and strong references globally and locally. With Valmet’s advanced automation system, the plant will be able to process efficiently and eco-friendly,” says Wanmo Yoon, Sales Manager, Korea, Energy & Process Systems, Automation Systems business line, Valmet.

Valmet will supply automation system to a new waste-to-energy plant in Warsaw, Poland.

Towards sustainable energy production

Valmet’s delivery consists of a Valmet DNA Automation System and an information management system to control the boiler of the new plant. It helps to ensure efficient and environmentally sound energy production from waste-derived fuels.

The new waste-to-energy plant will be started up for commercial operation in 2024. It will process 305,000 tons of municipal solid waste from Warsaw per year to produce electricity and district heating. The new plant will make substantial contribution to sustainable waste management.

About the customer POSCO Engineering & Construction

POSCO E&C is a Korea-based engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries.  

We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers. Our 17,000 professionals work close to our customers and are committed to improving our customers’ performance – every day. 

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved, when flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. The combined company net sales in 2021 was approximately EUR 4.5 billion based on the respective company figures.  

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.     

Follow us on valmet.com

TotalEnergies and ENEOS Corporation announced a collaboration to jointly conduct a feasibility study to assess the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in ENEOS Negishi Refinery in Yokohama city, Japan.

The companies have already started to conduct the study for feedstock procurement and production of SAF related to this project. The proposed unit, which capacity would be 300,000 tons per year of SAF, would process waste or residue sourced notably from the circular economy, mainly used cooking oil and animal fat. The two companies are considering establishing a new joint venture to produce SAF.

This collaboration would leverage the companies’ respective areas of excellence and expertise for the development of the sustainable supply chain of SAF in Japan around 2025:

• TotalEnergies’ experience in feedstock procurement and SAF production technology.
• ENEOS’s available production and loading/unloading facilities of the Negishi Refinery^[1], which is located in the largest aviation fuel demand area in Japan (Narita and Haneda airports) and marketing network of aviation fuel in Japan

Responding to the significant challenge of global climate change, the two energy companies have been working to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions on a global scale together with their customers, paving the way for a decarbonized, recycling-oriented society. In the airline industry, dealing with global decarbonization has become an urgent issue and SAF is expected to be an effective way to reduce CO2 emission. In Japan, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (“MLIT”) has set a target of 10% SAF use to be achieved by 2030.

By developing and supporting the emergence of a sustainable aviation fuel value chain, TotalEnergies confirms its leadership role played in driving innovation in the energy and environmental transition. By acting directly on the carbon intensity of the energy products used by its customers, TotalEnergies is pursuing its strategy of building a multi-energy company with the ambition to get to net zero by 2050 together with society.

One of the ENEOS Group’s goals in their Long-Term Vision to 2040 is contributing to the development of a decarbonized, recycling-oriented society. As part of these initiatives, ENEOS aims to provide a stable supply of the various forms of energy required to the needs of the times. By developing the supply chain of SAF, ENEOS will contribute to the decarbonization of the airline industry.

^[1] ENEOS Negishi Refinery No. 1 topper and its affiliated secondary units are scheduled to be decommissioned by October 2022.

About ENEOS Corporation

ENEOS Group has developed businesses in the energy and nonferrous metals segments, from upstream to downstream. The Group’s envisioned goals for 2040 are: becoming one of the most prominent and internationally-competitive energy and materials company groups in Asia, creating value by transforming our current business structure, and contributing to the development of a low-carbon, recycling-oriented society with the pursuit of carbon-neutral status in its own CO2 emissions. ENEOS Corporation, one of the principal operating companies in the Group, is contributing to achievement of the Group’s envisioned goals through a broad range of energy businesses.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

Increasing production capacity at Nagoya Works

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced on March 28, 2022 that it has acquired 42,000 square meters of land in Owariasahi City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan to establish a new production site for the manufacture of factory automation (FA) control system products from April 2025.

Demand from the manufacturing industry for FA products is expected to show a medium- to long-term growth, particularly in digital sectors, such as semiconductors, electronic components and data centres, as well as for decarbonisation-related areas such as lithium-ion batteries. To meet this increasing demand, Mitsubishi Electric will invest approximately 13 billion yen (approx. 110 million USD) to establish a new production site in Owariashi City, which neighbors Nagoya, where the company’s main FA production site, Nagoya Works, is located.

The new factory will utilise several advanced technologies, such as 5G communication, allowing simultaneous connection of various machines, human workers and automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) as they perform their manufacturing tasks. In parallel, high-speed, real-time data acquisition throughout the factory will provide data sets on all aspects of the production cycle for AI-based analysis to realise a safe and flexible production environment.

Representation of Mitsubishi Electric Nagoya Work’s new factory in Owariasahi City (CG illustration). [Source: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan]

Additionally, the factory, which will be a three-floor, earthquake-resistant building with a total floor area of 33,600 square metres, will incorporate Mitsubishi Electric’s digital manufacturing solution “e-F@ctory”. This advanced digital approach strongly impacts both the supply chain management (SCM) and engineering chain management (ECM) systems. For example, it combines information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) with acquired know-how to achieve an integrated FA environment that reduces the total cost throughout the production process from design, manufacturing and maintenance. It also helps accelerate the improvement cycle for productivity and quality, bringing benefits which many manufacturers strive for, like shorter delivery times and higher production quality and efficiency, as well as being able to react flexibly to fluctuations in demand. Furthermore, the new factory will expand the use of automated production processes, including fully utilising AGVs for increased efficiency in logistics, and digital twin technologies for synchronised digital and real-world production.

The factory is expected to achieve carbon neutrality by implementing a range of CO₂ reduction activities that include an “e-F@ctory” based energy monitoring system, and the use of LED lighting, photovoltaic systems and biotopes.

About Mitsubishi Electric

With 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Embracing the spirit of its corporate statement, Changes for the Better, and its environmental statement, Eco Changes, Mitsubishi Electric endeavors to be a global, leading green company, enriching society with technology. The company recorded consolidated group sales of 37.8 billion dollars* in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2021.

Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Industrial Automation – UK Branch is located in Hatfield, United Kingdom. It is a part of the European Factory Automation Business Group based in Ratingen, Germany which in turn is part of Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan.

The role of Industrial Automation – UK Branch is to manage sales, service and support across its network of local branches and distributors throughout the United Kingdom.

^{*U.S. dollar amounts are translated from yen at the rate of ¥111=U.S.$1, the approximate rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2021.}

ArcelorMittal (‘the Company’) has just announced it has signed an agreement to acquire an 80% shareholding in voestalpine’s world-class Hot Briquetted Iron (‘HBI’) plant located in Corpus Christi, Texas. voestalpine will retain the remaining 20%. The transaction values the Corpus Christi operations at $1 billion and closing is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

The state-of-the-art plant, which was opened in October 2016, is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It has an annual capacity of two million tonnes of HBI, a high-quality feedstock made through the direct reduction of iron ore which is used to produce high-quality steel grades in an electric arc furnace (‘EAF’), but which can also be used in blast furnaces, resulting in lower coke consumption. HBI is a premium, compacted form of Direct Reduced Iron (‘DRI’) developed to overcome issues associated with shipping and handling DRI.

In parallel with the transaction, ArcelorMittal has signed a long-term offtake agreement with voestalpine to supply an annual volume of HBI commensurate to voestalpine’s equity stake to its steel mills in Donawitz and Linz, Austria. The remaining balance of production will be delivered to third parties under existing supply contracts, and to ArcelorMittal facilities, including to AM/NS Calvert in Alabama, upon the commissioning of its 1.5 million tonne EAF, expected in the second half of 2023.

Commenting, ArcelorMittal CEO, Aditya Mittal, said:

“This is a compelling strategic acquisition for our company. It accelerates both our progression into producing high-quality metallic feedstock for EAFs and our global decarbonisation journey. The facility is world-class and is ideally located, with its own deep-water port. There is also unused land on the site which provides interesting options for further development.

“ArcelorMittal is already one of the world’s largest producers of DRI. This acquisition will further strengthen our position and guarantee security of supply to AM/NS Calvert, while our experience will bring significant value to the asset. DRI is a feedstock which has a very important role to play in our decarbonisation ambitions, as we have announced plans to construct DRI facilities at several sites across Europe and in Canada. Today’s transaction therefore represents an important further step in our climate action journey. Finally, I would like to thank the executive management team at voestalpine and look forward to developing a strong partnership with them.”

The Corpus Christi facility, which covers an area of two square kilometers and employs over 270 people, is located in an optimal coastal position with direct access to a broad and deep shipping channel which enables cost effective transportation to the Americas and Europe. It incorporates best-in-class technology and equipment supplied by MIDREX Technologies Inc., a leading supplier of DRI solutions. It currently uses natural gas to directly reduce iron ore pellets into HBI with an Fe content which exceeds 91%. However, the plant does have the potential to transition to 100% hydrogen, with the Texas coast presenting advantageous weather conditions to produce renewable energy powered green hydrogen. The use of natural gas rather than coal as the current energy input and reductant means that DRI-EAF steelmaking carries a significantly lower carbon footprint than blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace steelmaking. DRI/HBI is therefore expected to play a prominent role in the decarbonisation of the steel industry, a process ArcelorMittal intends to lead.

ArcelorMittal is a world leader in DRI production, with c. nine million tonnes of annual production capacity (c. 15 million tonnes including AM/NS India). DRI – ultimately produced using green hydrogen – sits at the heart of the Company’s Innovative-DRI steelmaking pathway, one of two pathways ArcelorMittal has developed which hold the potential to deliver carbon-neutral steelmaking.

Over the past year, the Company has accelerated its Innovative-DRI strategy, announcing projects to construct additional DRI and EAF capacity at its operations in Belgium, Canada, France and Spain. The combined investment for the four projects totals US$5.6 billion, with anticipated carbon emissions reduction totalling 19.5 million tonnes, which is [1]equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 4,240,858 cars being driven for a year. These projects sit at the heart of the company’s target to reduce its CO2e emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 group-wide, and in Europe by 35% by 2030.

More details on ArcelorMittal’s climate action ambitions, strategy, technologies and ongoing decarbonisation projects can be found here.

[1] Calculated using the US EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator - https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 16 countries. In 2021, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $76.6 billion and crude steel production of 69.1 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 50.9 million metric tonnes. Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century. With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future. ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS). For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/

http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/

Sulzer Chemtech will highlight how its range of cutting-edge mass transfer technologies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste accumulation at the 3rd Go Circular conference. During the event and a technical presentation, attendees will be able to learn more about the company’s commitment as well as its innovative methods to enable circularity. These have been developed to help businesses leverage renewable resources in manufacturing, recover polymers, monomers, and other chemicals as well as capture carbon dioxide (CO2).

Go Circular is a business-oriented, hybrid conference, where industry players across the entire manufacturing value chain can discuss how to succeed in the creation of a circular economy. Separation technologies have a key role to play in the transition of the chemical industry towards more sustainable practices, as they can support innovative chemical recycling strategies, the use of sustainable feedstocks as well as emissions reduction systems.

As a leader in separation solutions with a dedicated global application development team for green initiatives aimed at advancing the efficient production of renewable, bio-based and recyclable materials, Sulzer Chemtech will contribute to the discussion. During the event, the company will showcase its proven technologies for bioplastic manufacturing, such as polylactic acid (PLA), on its physical booth (Stand 1). Visitors will also be able to find out more about column packing and internals that have been specifically developed to address the needs of carbon capture applications.

Visitors keen to learn more about chemical recycling for polymer circularity will be invited to join the presentation ‘The challenge of purification in advanced recycling processes’, taking place on April 29 from 8:50 a.m. The speaker, Luis Hoffmann, Technologist for Polymer Recycling at Sulzer Chemtech, will look at how advanced purification solutions are key to setting up successful facilities that can deliver virgin-like, high-quality recycled products. These also include plastics and other polymers that are not currently recycled.

Finally, virtual attendees will be able to look at real-world examples of custom, turnkey solutions and plants for the plastic processing industry in 1:1 scale, via interactive virtual representations.

Join Sulzer Chemtech at the hybrid 3rd Go Circular conference. April 28-29, 2022 – Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, Antwerp, Belgium or online: globuc.com/go-circular

About Sulzer

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class manufacturing facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2021, our 13’800 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.2 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN).

The Chemtech division is the global market leader in innovative mass transfer, static mixing and polymer solutions for chemicals, petrochemicals, refining and LNG. We are steering the way in ecological solutions such as bio-based chemicals, polymers and fuels, recycling technologies for textiles and plastic as well as carbon capture and utilization/storage, contributing to a circular and sustainable economy. Our product offering ranges from process components to complete process plants and technology licensing.

www.sulzer.com

A new joint venture (JV) between EnerMech and Oil & Gas Proserv (OGP), an affiliated company of Nobel Energy Group in Azerbaijan, has secured its first two contracts in the region totalling (USD) $3 million. 

It is also expected to result in a recruitment drive later this year in line with the organisation’s ongoing commitment to local workforce employment and development to help actuate further business growth.

EnerMech is a global integrated mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and integrity services specialist, which also has facilities in the Caspian regions of Georgia and Kazakhstan. It has been operating in Azerbaijan for 12 years, steadily building up its presence and investment in employing and developing Azerbaijani nationals.

EnerMech JV with Oil & Gas Proserv, AzerbaijnThe new EnerMech OGP partnership will leverage EnerMech’s integrated supply, operations, maintenance and engineering solutions and specialisms alongside OGP’s local expertise, technologies and effective management for delivering enhanced oil recovery. 

The first award is a $2 million contract to deliver engineering, lube oil flushing, accumulator charging and N2 He leak testing, to support a significant development which includes a new offshore platform and facilities designed to process up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day when it comes on-stream next year, and 300 million barrels in its lifetime.

The second is a $1 million campaign to support the development of the Absheron gas-condensate field. Located offshore approximately 100km south of Baku, it is estimated to contain 350 billion cubic metres of gas, along with more than 45 million tonnes of condensate. The work scope for the partnership includes engineering, flange management, N2 He leak testing, drying and inerting of all topsides piping and vessels for this project.

OGP general director Eldar Maharramov said: “OGP was set up in Azerbaijan 17 years ago to bring new technologies, effective management and local expertise to the oil and gas industry. We are very pleased to be joining forces with EnerMech as this will effectively double our capacity and competences and increase the quality and efficiency of our services across new strategic campaigns.

“We look forward to working together to deliver these first two campaigns secured under the new JV, and the ongoing impact the partnership will have in supporting further employment locally.”  

EnerMech’s regional director for Africa, Middle East & Caspian Paul Cockerill said: “EnerMech has been operating in the region since winning a flagship crane and lifting contract in 2010. Since then, our foothold in the region for delivering our core services has continued to expand as has our commitment to sharing knowledge, best practise, and safety competencies to upskill the local workforce.

“Securing OGP as a JV partner has increased our capabilities with additional talent and technologies which complement our existing teams, services, and products. We will also be looking to recruit more Azerbaijani nationals as these two new projects get underway in the coming months”.

“Both campaigns are significant business wins and support our strategic growth in the region. We have also invested (USD) $1million in new equipment to enhance our fleet. With this robust infrastructure in place, we look forward to building on our existing relationship with customers in the region and forging new bonds.”  

EnerMech:

Formed in April 2008, EnerMech provides specialist integrated mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and integrity services to the international energy and infrastructure sectors, from pre-commissioning through operations and maintenance and late-life support/decommissioning.

The business is focused on offering a safer, more customer-focused, responsive service at lower cost, while delivering a much greater level of engineering and technical support than competitors can offer. In December 2018, EnerMech was acquired by The Carlyle Group, the NASDAQ listed global asset manager.

EnerMech specialises in providing integrated supply, operations, maintenance and engineering solutions in its core services of Cranes and Lifting, Electrical and Instrumentation, Equipment Rental, Hydraulic products and services, Industrial Services, Process, Pipeline and Umbilicals (PPU), Maintenance and Integrity Services, Training and Valve supply and services.

The group is headquartered in Aberdeen with bases in Great Yarmouth, Bristol (UK); Stavanger, Houston, Pasadena, Sulphur, Casper, Williston (USA), Guyana, Trinidad, Mexico, Abu Dhabi, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Singapore; Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Gladstone, Chinchilla (Australia); Malaysia, China, South Korea, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Angola and South Africa. Website: www.enermech.com

OGP:

Established in June 2005, an affiliate company of Nobel Energy Group, Oil & Gas ProServ (OGP) provides new technologies, effective management and local expertise to the oil industry. OGP is concentrated on field development study, assembling, application and maintenance of progressive cavity pumps; anti-corrosion solutions for oilfield equipment; application of integrated plastic perforation technologies in wells, as well as applying new technologies and techniques to enable enhanced oil recovery from mature wells.

For more information about OGP visit www.nobelenergy.com/subsidiaries/oil-gas-proserv

NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (“NGK”) has invested in EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd. (Kyoto, “EneCoat Technologies”), which is involved in development of perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a new type of solar cell that uses a material with a crystal structure called perovskite. PSCs are thinner and more light weight than conventional crystal silicon solar cells and feature flexibility, enabling them to be installed and generate power on curved surfaces and other places impossible for crystal silicon solar cells until now. Furthermore, PSCs can maintain a relatively high-power generation efficiency even in low light illumination such as on cloudy days or with indoor lights and are therefore expected to accelerate carbon neutrality as next-generation solar cells.

EneCoat Technologies, a spin-off company from Kyoto University, is developing PCSs with greater power generation efficiency and durability and is engaged in establishing manufacturing process technologies to realize larger products that can be implemented in society.

NGK is using this investment to work on establishing production technologies that will contribute to improving the quality of PSCs, seeking to discover the possibilities of working with NGK’s various types of storage batteries*, and aiming to be a solution to achieve carbon neutrality.

The NGK Group regards carbon neutrality as a social issue to address under its mid- to long-term vision, NGK Group Vision: Road to 2050. We have also established a goal of “New Value 1000” to achieve net sales of 100 billion yen from new businesses in 2030. To do so, we established Corporate NV (New Value) Creation in April and are proactively advancing the creation of new products and businesses in such ways as collaboration with outside alliances. Going forward, NGK will continue to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by developing and providing various ceramic technologies and products.

* NGK’s various types of storage batteries:

NAS^® batteries for power storage

ZNB^® zinc rechargeable batteries

EnerCera® small, thin lithium-ion batteries

Zume, the sustainability solutions company creating economically viable substitutes for single-use plastics, have just announced it is furthering its partnership with Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals. Together, the companies are launching a comprehensive line of PFAS-free packaging to replace plastic and styrofoam with a sustainable alternative for food service applications.

• The companies are introducing a comprehensive line of 100% PFAS-free molded fiber packaging, including hot cup lids, bowls, egg cartons, protein trays and more  
• 40% of manufactured plastics is for packaging; most of it is discarded within minutes of opening and about 8M tons of plastic waste ends up in oceans from coastal nations
• Zume and Solenis aim to help global food brands replace plastic and styrofoam packaging with a sustainable and cost-effective solution

Popular for their grease- and water-resistant properties, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are widely used chemicals commonly found in food packaging. While molded fiber packaging can be composted, PFAS do not degrade naturally and can leach from containers and move through soils, contaminating drinking water sources and significantly damaging the sustainability and circularity profile of molded fibers.

The joint partnership furthers efforts from Zume and Solenis to expand PFAS-free molded fiber solutions to replace entire categories of single-use plastic without harmful chemicals. Zume will provide its advanced molded fiber manufacturing capabilities and professional services, and Solenis will supply its unparalleled expertise in functional additives and surface coatings which increase the strength and functionality of Zume’s fiber recipes. 

“Development of an economically viable solution for brands to transition from plastic and foam packaging is the goal of the collaboration,” said Zume CEO and Chairman Alex Garden. “Our patented molded fiber manufacturing equipment system and technology enable us to offer sustainable packaging at the same price or less than plastic. This partnership with Solenis advances efforts to eliminate single-use plastic and enables brands to keep commitments to stop using PFAS.”

“Our partnership with Zume showcases the deep expertise of both of our companies in packaging production and design,” said Solenis CEO John Panichella. “Bringing together our technical talents, we can create truly sustainable food packaging without sacrificing the quality and performance of packaging containing PFAS.”

The companies have outlined a technology roadmap of solutions they will collaborate on, including hot cup lids, bowls, plates, premium egg cartons, coffee cup lids, protein trays, and yogurt cups. Zume and Solenis aim to help global food brands replace their plastic and foam packaging with a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.

Today’s announcement builds on other breakthrough work from Zume and Solenis, which brought the packaging community together to accelerate the removal of PFAS with the world’s first open-source guide to PFAS-free packaging for global food manufacturers and CPG brands. 

To learn more about how Zume and Solenis are helping brands replace plastic and styrofoam packaging with a sustainable PFAS-free solution, visit: zume.com/zume-x-solenis.   

About Zume
Founded in 2015 and HQ in Camarillo, California, Zume is actively reducing the world’s plastic waste with economically viable substitutes for plastic packaging. As creators of the world’s most advanced molded-fiber manufacturing system, Zume is a global provider of sustainability solutions and offers a growing range of sustainable manufactured solutions and services across the food, beverage, healthcare, and CPG categories. For more information visit www.zume.com.

About Solenis
Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company.

Heavy-Duty Globe Valves Serve a Variety of Applications

Warren Controls, a leading manufacturer of control valves and specialty fluid handling products, highlights its 1800N series heavy-duty globe valves. These valves can be supplied in conformance with a variety of MIL-V-18030 service applications, including high pressure differentials, corrosive materials, liquids, gasses, steam, and seawater.

The 1800N series provides either modulating or on/off control in either 2-way or 3-way mixing. These valves also have diverting designs available in bronze, steel, and iron with a wide selection of trims, both electric and pneumatic actuators, and accessory instrumentation.

The specific styles available for this series include 2-way balanced, 2-way unbalanced, 3-way mixing, and 3-way diverting. Their sizes range from ½ inch to 12 inches, with flanged end connections crafted to MIL-F-20042 or ANSI specifications.

From ship deballast systems to ship propulsion systems and desalination, these heavy-duty globe valves serve a variety of applications. Many of these control valves are made in accordance with MIL-V-18030 standards, and many regulators qualify them as ASTM-F1370 (MIL-V-2042). Most of these valves have also been shock qualified to MIL-S-901 and vibration qualified to MIL-STD-167 standards.

For more information visit Warren Control’s website.

About Warren Controls

Warren Controls is an industry leader in Industrial Control Valves, Building Automation Valves, Deaerator and Boiler Level Controls, and Military/Marine Valves. For more than 70 years, the company has maintained a strong commitment to providing specialty alloys, quick deliveries, and knowledgeable customer service. Warren Controls has earned a sterling reputation as a quality provider of valve specialties to OEM’s and USA military programs. From its state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot industrial complex, the company offers its experience, product design excellence, and superior production capabilities to the open market. At Warren Controls, the most technically qualified representatives in the industry are available to assist customers develop cost-effective, dependable solutions. Learn more at www.WarrenControls.com