Engineering News | Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Follow @EngNewsZA

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals News

Omnia Holdings to undertake R2bn rights offer

By: Reuters 30th May 2019 Omnia Holdings said on Thursday it would undertake a rights offer of R2-billion in a bid to cut debt. Omnia, which raised funds for two acquisitions and the construction of a new fertiliser plant, said last month it had agreed to restructuring talks with creditors. →

Firm invests heavily in expansion

24th May 2019 In March this year, multinational pharmaceutical, chemical and life sciences company Merck Group announced its plans to invest €150-million over the next four years, at its manufacturing site at Aubonne, in Switzerland, to expand manufacturing capacity for its biotech medicines. The facility... →

PILL PLETHORA Investing heavily in its Swiss manufacturing plant will allow Merck to increase its medicinal output

Partnership introduces digital tracking device

24th May 2019 Pharmaceuticals manufacturer Orion Corporation and digital therapeutics company Propeller Health announced a partnership to connect the Easyhaler line of inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to Propeller Health’s digital medicine platform. The partnership will... →

WAITING TO EXHALE The sensor which will be applied to an inhaler will be app enabled to allow for accurate data collection

New listing approved for pharmaceuticals giant

24th May 2019 Global multinational specialty pharmaceuticals company Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited announced that the company has been approved for a secondary listing on stock exchange facilitator A2X Markets with effect from April 1, 2019. “We continually strive to identify ways to increase value for our... →

GENERIC GENIUS Through Aspen’s research and development, a cheaper more attainable generic anti-retroviral treatment is available globally

Pumps manufacturer plans further growth after acquisition

By: Halima Frost 24th May 2019 Following the acquisition of South Korea-based sanitary pump manufacturer JEC Pumps, pump specialist Verder Pumps intends on proliferating its global reach over the next five years, predominantly in the medical and pharmaceuticals industry. JEC Pumps has a sizeable market share in the European... →

STICKY STUFF The JEC brand of pumps is not only hygienic but also capable of pumping a variety of viscous liquids

Sasol’s Lake Charles project to cost up to $12.9bn

23rd May 2019 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the latest increase in the cost estimate for Sasol’s Lake Charles Chemicals project, in the US, and why the project is important to Sasol. →

Sasol’s Lake Charles project to cost up to $12.9bn

Sasol to accelerate $2bn asset disposal plan as capex on US project leaps by another $1.3bn

By: Terence Creamer 22nd May 2019 Energy and chemicals group Sasol, which announced another large increase in the capital cost of its Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP) being built in the US, will accelerate its $2-billion noncore asset disposal programme and will used the proceeds to deleverage its balance sheet. Joint... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Joint presidents and CEOs Bongani Nqwababa and Stephen Cornell

Aspen sells Australian prescription portfolio to Mylan

By: Reuters 20th May 2019 Aspen Pharmacare said on Monday that Mylan had exercised an option to buy Aspen's portfolio of prescription and over-the-counter products in Australia for A$188-million ($130-million). In December, South Africa-based Aspen said its wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in Mauritius, Aspen Global... →

Inaugural event to highlight local manufacturing capabilities

By: Halima Frost 17th May 2019 The first Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo (LME), which aims to highlight the capabilities of local manufacturers and, subsequently the ability to export, will be held from May 21 to 23, 2019 at the Expo Centre Nasrec, in Johannesburg. The expo will be hosted by the South African Capital... →

CENTRE OF ATTENTION The inaugural Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo is set to feature more than 130 exhibitors

Vivo performs well in Q1 on the back of added Engen business

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th May 2019 African fuel retailer Vivo Energy had a “strong start” to this year, with volumes for the first quarter having increased by 7% year-on-year to 2.4-billion litres. CEO Christian Chammas said in a statement on Tuesday that volume growth had resulted from good underlying growth in Vivo’s existing... →

Ascendis to sell biosciences businesses for R480m

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd May 2019 Ascendis Health has entered into agreements with a consortium comprising RMB Ventures Seven, Nedbank Private Equity and certain members of the management of the Ascendis Biosciences division for the sale of various businesses under its Biosciences division for R480-million. A strategic review of... →

Ascendis to sell biosciences businesses for R480m

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd May 2019 Ascendis Health has entered into agreements with a consortium comprising RMB Ventures Seven, Nedbank Private Equity and certain members of the management of the Ascendis Biosciences division for the sale of various businesses under its Biosciences division for R480-million. A strategic review of... →

Green chemistry requires whole value chain approach

By: Schalk Burger 3rd May 2019 Green chemistry requires that the entire value chain be considered to ensure that the use and reclamation or disposal of chemicals are economically feasible, says multinational specialty chemicals producer Clariant South Africa head Nicol Meyer. Clariant’s local clients are receptive to using... →

NICOL MEYER Companies must engage customers and consumers to ensure that demand and practices are aligned to green chemistry practices

Sasol reaches beneficial operation of new alkoxylation production facility in China

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd April 2019 Dual-listed integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol reached beneficial operation of its new alkoxylation plant in Nanjing, in China’s Jiangsu province, on April 18. “Sasol has successfully built the new facility by implementing state-of-the-art technology for alkoxylation plants,” Sasol... →

Omnia engages with creditors on debt restructuring

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd April 2019 Following an expected decrease in earnings for the financial year ended March 31, JSE-listed Omnia and its principal debt providers have agreed to devise and implement a restructuring of the company’s existing debt to ensure its long-term sustainability. Omnia in March announced that its... →

Sasol reports stabilisation in synfuels output

By: Terence Creamer 18th April 2019 Chemicals and energy group Sasol reports that output at its Secunda Synfuels Operations (SSO) stabilised in the third quarter, following the total shutdown of the West factory during the first half of its 2019 financial year, which had negatively affected production. In a note to shareholders,... →

Malaria vaccine took 30 years and it's still a work in progress

By: Bloomberg 16th April 2019 After more than three decades of work and almost $1-billion of investment, GlaxoSmithKline and its partners are ready to deploy a vaccine for malaria, the mosquito-borne disease that kills almost half a million people each year. The vaccine, developed with the nonprofit organisation PATH, comes... →

Mantashe urges continued investment in clean coal tech

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th April 2019 Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe on Friday commended Sasol for the “good work” it was doing and the opening of its new Impumelelo Colliery. He said it was notable that the opening of the mine came at a time when coal is under siege and that it should counter the narrative that coal is... →

Sasol executive director and joint president and CEO Stephen Cornell provides details of the new Impumelelo colliery. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Company limit switches ideal for various applications

12th April 2019 With process and storage vessels incorporating limit switches to prevent overfilling of a tank or vessel or dry running of a pump, electronics manufacturer Anderson-Negele’s NCS series is ideally suited for the reliable measurement of limits in media with low water content, such as certain... →

NOT FILLING TO THE BRIM Process and storage vessels have limit switches to prevent a tank or vessel from overfilling

Sasol names Sipho Nkosi as next chairperson

By: Bloomberg 11th April 2019 Sasol appointed Sipho Nkosi to its board and said the former coal-industry executive will become chairperson in November when Dr Mandla Gantsho steps down. The change of leadership comes during a vital year for Sasol, as the South African fuel and chemical manufacturer nears completion on its... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sipho Nkosi

Sappi, Borregaard celebrate 20 years of biorefinery investment

By: Simone Liedtke 8th April 2019 LignoTech South Africa – the 50:50 joint venture between South Africa’s Sappi and Norway’s Borregaard – is celebrating 20 years of operations. The KwaZulu-Natal-based lignin extraction plant was first commissioned in December 1998 and officially opened in 1999. →

Call made for fundamental changes to way societies manage chemicals

By: Schalk Burger 5th April 2019 While manufactured chemicals have helped to improve human health, food security, productivity and quality of life worldwide, sound management and innovations in chemistry are essential for sustainable development. This was the central message of UN Environment acting executive director and... →

Rooibos research gets R4.5m injection

By: African News Agency 3rd April 2019 The South African Rooibos Council is ramping up research efforts into how the indigenous tea could help tackle diseases, with R4.5-million to be invested into its potential to reduce allergies, heart disease, diabetes and skin cancer between now and 2022. These diseases combined afflict more than... →

Necsa scientist in spotlight with award successes

By: Rebecca Campbell 2nd April 2019 A scientist from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Dr Jan Rijn Zeevaart, has won two prestigious awards, one local and the other international. These are the Department of Science and Technology’s Top Intellectual Property Creator Award and the European Association of Nuclear... →

Aspen lists on A2X

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st April 2019 Multinational pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare Holdings on Monday completed its secondary listing on A2X Markets. The company retains its primary listing on the JSE. →

Egypt seeking to increase trade and investment ties with South Africa

By: Rebecca Campbell 29th March 2019 Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa Sherif Eissa has called for more bilateral trade and investment between his country, as well as closer political cooperation. He was addressing the recent South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) and Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) Trade... →

Numsa vows to press on with strike at Foskor

By: African News Agency 28th March 2019 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa KwaZulu-Natal has urged chemical manufacturer Foskor to meets the demands of workers who have been on strike for more than a week. "The management is refusing to engage workers, instead, they keep rushing to court in an attempt to block the... →

Sasol donates $250 000 to those hit by tropical cyclone Idai

By: African News Agency 22nd March 2019 Sasol on Thrsday committed to donate $250 000, or about R3.56-million, for the relief and support of communities that have been severely affected by the tropical cyclone Idai in Beira and Dondo in Sofala province of Mozambique. This will also be provided to other impacted areas in Inhambane... →

Omnia expects positive full-year revenue growth but lower earnings

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th March 2019 In line with its stated strategy to become a more diversified and balanced business with exposure to global markets, Omnia Holdings has realised positive revenue growth in the 2019 financial year, to date. This included revenue growth in new markets owing to a focus on global expansion based on... →

Fluor JV completes EPC work at Sasol’s US petrochem complex

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th March 2019 NYSE-listed engineering construction multinational Fluor Corporation, in a joint venture (JV) with TechnipFMC, has completed its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) management services scope of work at Sasol’s petrochemicals complex, in Westlake, Louisiana, in the US. The JV... →

Ascendis Health records strengthened interim gross margin

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th March 2019 Ascendis Health’s gross margin for the six months ended December 31, 2018, strengthened by 260 basis points to 44.9%, mainly owing to improved raw material pricing through strategic sourcing in Farmalider and Remedica, the discontinuation of low-margin products in the Wellness, Biosciences and... →

Egyptian business giving great importance to South Africa

By: Rebecca Campbell 15th March 2019 The Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) was in full support of the policy of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to strengthen the country’s relations with the rest of Africa. “As a business community, we will endorse our Government’s role in Africa,” affirmed FEI African Cooperation... →

Photo by Egyptian Petrochemical Company
An Egyptian petrochemical plant

Radioisotope maker faces heavy losses this year but should regain market share

By: Rebecca Campbell 15th March 2019 NTP Radioisotopes (NTP), a subsidiary of the State-owned South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), is expected to make a loss this year of R224-million, in comparison to profits of R108-million last year and of R184-million in 2017. This was stated in a written reply to a Parliamentary... →

Africa's biggest drugmaker falls most on record on sale delay

By: Bloomberg 8th March 2019 Aspen Pharmacare Holdings shares plunged the most on record as an already protracted deal to sell its infant-formula business dragged out even further, choking off cash flows and weighing on financing costs. Africa’s biggest drugmaker announced the €740-million deal with French cheese maker... →

Two new liquid analysers added

8th March 2019 South Africa-based company Yokogawa has added two new solutions to the Opre analyser family with the development of the FLXA402 four-wire liquid analyser and the SA11 smart adaptor. These two new liquid analysis products will be offered as part of the Sencom 4.0 series. It is expected that they... →

NEW TECHNOLOGIES This new solution also facilitates connection to the cloud and an industrial Internet of Things environment for improved field maintenance.

Rolfes investigating nanotechnology paints to diversify business

By: Schalk Burger 8th March 2019 Local solvents and chemicals company Rolfes Chemicals is investigating the applications of nanotechnology in coatings to diversify its business in Southern Africa, says Rolfes Chemicals MD Clive Govender. Nanocoatings contain particles in the nanometre scale. These nanoparticles build a... →

Energy outlook sees GDP doubling by 2040

8th March 2019 With the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) likely to double by 2040 driven by increasing prosperity in fast-growing developing economies, multinational oil and gas company BP states that in the evolving energy transition scenario, this improvement in living standards causes energy demand to... →

Topics In These Articles

Aluminium Construction Environment Hydropower Packaging Steel Sustainable transport Africa Business Export Flow Hulamin Manufacturing Energy Ports Stainless Steel Projects BMG Components Design Electric Motors Engineering Gas Industrial Mining Motors Power Service System ... more

RSS Feed

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe