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SOLVAY
From ammonia-soda process
to… «Solar Impulse»
The «Solar Impulse» project was a surprise for many
people: as first «Main Partner», Solvay is supporting
the project financially and also playing a very
active role by offering innovative and technological
solutions and know how, making available its skills,
forecasting and simulating their behavior in extreme
environments. Over 6 000 parts in the Solar Impulse
contain Solvay materials from Solvay Advanced
Polymers, Solvay Solexis and Solvay Fluor, especially
Ultra high performance polymers. Solar Impulse is
above all a symbol for Solvay, generating maximum
support for technologies and positive attitude
towards renewable energies in order to ensure the
energy and ecological future of the planet.
The story of the Solvay group began on 15 April
1861, when Ernest Solvay patented a revolutionary ammonia-soda
process for producing sodium carbonate – also known as soda
ash – using common salt, ammonia, carbon dioxide (CO2) and
lime. 150 years later, Solvay has grown to become a global
chemical and pharmaceutical group active in three sectors:
pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics.
The company has now a worldwide presence in 50 countries,
over the 5 continents, with an expanded presence in Asia, the
Americas and Eastern Europe. Christian Jourquin, Chairman of
the Executive Committee talked very recently about the strategic
initiatives for geographic expansion. "In Thailand, Vinythai is
reaping the rewards of the capacity
expansion completed in 2008. In Brazil,
modernization of the Solvay Indupa site
at Santo Andre was completed this year.
In Argentina the new gas combined cycle
started operating in July and will secure
the electricity supply of our Bahia Blanca
site. In Russia, we have concluded an
agreement to acquire the Berezniki
soda works, while the Rusvinyl project
is following its course, with startup
now postponed to 2013, in time for the
expected economic recovery. Last on this
list is China, and our agreement with the
Huatai group for the joint construction of
a hydrogen peroxide plant".
The recent announcement of the sale
of the pharmaceuticals sector (on
September 28, the Board of Directors
decided to sell the Pharmaceuticals
Sector to Abbott) turned a new page in the history of Solvay. It
also opened new opportunities for the Group’s other businesses.
"Here too, the paradigm has changed. We are facing major
changes in the regulatory and societal context in which we
operate. Again, Solvay has looked ahead and has aligned itself
with the direction of history. «The sale of our Pharmaceuticals
Sector gives us the means to achieve our long term vision. We
want to create a new Solvay, a Solvay that is more multicultural,
more responsive, more open to growth markets - and we want
to broaden our product portfolio to better meet the challenges of
tomorrow". 2010 will be a year of transition to this new Group.
EUROPE-NORTH AMERICA-ASIA
UCB
From chemical company
into biopharma leader
In just three years, UCB realised two major acquisitions – Celltech
and Schwarz Pharma – which propelled UCB to become a global
biopharmaceutical company with one of the richest late stage
pipelines. The company was already leader in allergy and epilepsy,
with eleven new large and small molecules in the pipeline,
spanning thirteen diseases, from Crohn’s and Parkinson’s disease
to multiple sclerosis.
UCB is now a global biopharma focused on severe diseases in two therapeutic areas: central nervous
system and immunology. UCB
also has a selective presence in primary care. Established in 1928, successful transformation from a
hybrid specialty chemical company into a next generation biopharma leader, with operations in over 40
countries, supported by approximately 10 000 people. The concept of «the next generation biopharma
leader» means
more than expertise across small, chemically-derived molecules and large, antibody-based molecules:
"It is about connecting people, science and therapies in new ways so that we gain fresh insights into the
complex interconnections involved in severe diseases".
UCB has Research and Development Centres of Excellence in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. This also
includes an established presence in the world’s major pharmaceutical markets: Germany, Italy, Japan,
Spain, the U.K. and the U.S., as well as other significant international markets.
UCB achieved revenue of € 1.6 billion in the first half of 2009.
28. Dynamisme Special Issue