Company News
April 8, 2021
Mattress Recycling
Covestro pilots chemicals recycling process to close loop on used mattress foam
Article by Adam Duckett
Around 30m mattresses are discarded in the EU each year
COVESTRO has begun to pilot a chemical process to recycle the foam from used mattresses. If successful, the initiative will recover two key raw materials that will be used to produce fresh foams.
Around 30m mattresses are discarded in the EU each year, and according to data from the trade body EUROPUR around 90% of the mattresses produced in the EU each year contain 2–15 kg of polyurethane foam. A key challenge with recovering polyurethane from used mattresses is that it decomposes at elevated temperatures so cannot be melted to make new products as is common with other recycled plastics.
Covestro is developing a chemical recycling process to recover two raw materials used to produce polyurethane foam: polyol and toluene diamine (TDA), which is the precursor to toluene diisocyanate (TDI). It has begun operating a pilot plant to recover polyols at its site in Leverkusen, Germany. It then plans to pilot a chemical process to recover TDA, from Q3 this year.
A spokesperson for Covestro said: “We need to optimise the process and develop the products in an industrial simulative environment. Nevertheless, if these trials are successful, Covestro intends to build an industrial plant which allows customers to buy materials in significant quantities, within the next couple of years.”
The recycling process starts with the collection of used mattresses, which are dismantled and the foam parts separated out. Some contain additives and fillers that hamper reprocessing. This separation is made more efficient using a sorting technology that relies on algorithms to identify the different types of foam.
Asked for more detail on the process, the spokesperson said: “The key steps for this innovative recycling are the intelligent sorting technology that we have developed together with our partners, Redwave and Recticel. And our own patented recycling technology, starting with a chemolysis step to dissolve the foam flakes, followed by purification steps and the hydrolysis to TDA, that needs to be further converted to the isocyanate.”
Speaking to the media last week, Sucheta Govil, COO at Covestro, said the company is committed to becoming fully circular, though declined to give a target date, saying it would be dependent on changes throughout the supply chain and in consumer behaviour.
“The circular economy is a global guiding principle. There iareno two ways about that…because all these challenges require a fundamental rethink. Production, consumption, and value creation must change significantly. The option to continue to think in a linear fashion does not exist any longer. Linear patters of consumption must be overcome, waste must be avoided wherever possible.”
“The plastics industry and the people who are in this business are equipped with the knowledge of these materials and processes. I would say we have a responsibility – and the ability – with our technologies to significantly support the transition to the much-needed circular economy.”
Separately, chemicals firm Dow is also working to recycle polyurethane from used mattresses but is focussed only on recovering polyols. Working with partners in France it aims to recycle up to 200,000 mattresses a year, producing polyols for reuse in mattress foams. Its chemicals recycling process is expected to produce recycled polyols for commercial re-use in the first half of this year.
April 8, 2021
Q1 Chemical M&A
Chemical Deal Results
Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Amyris | DSM | flavor and fragrance biobased intermediates business-$150v + earnout | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Bison Innovative Products | RPM | raised flooring systems – $26s | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Advent International | DuPont | Laird Performance Materials (chemicals and materials for electronic devices) – $465s/$2,300v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Goldner Hawn | Arsenal Capital | Applied Products – DBA Applied Adhesives (manufacturer and distributor of adhesive and thermal products) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
IMCD | JM Huber | Nutri Granulations manufacturing asset and associated business | 1st Quarter 2021 |
The Cary Company | Maroon Group | raw materials and specialty chemicals distribution | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Copperhead Chemical | PMC Group | pharmaceutical-grade nitroglycerin and related energetic chemicals | 1st Quarter 2021 |
ProChem Energy Services | Tower Arch Capital | production chemicals, midstream chemicals, and other custom solutions for scale and corrosion prevention to leading oil and gas providers | 1st Quarter 2021 |
PQ | Cerberus Capital & Koch Minerals and Trading | sodium silicate and silica derivatives business – $685s/$1,100v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Albemarle | Grace | fine chemistry services (contract manufacturing for the pharmaceutical, agricultural chemical, lubricants, and specialty chemical industries) – $570v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Superior Plus | Birch Hill Equity | ERCO Worldwide (sodium chlorate and chlor-alkali products, and chlorine dioxide generators) – C$844s/C$725v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
American Securities | Lanxess | Emerald Kalama (preservatives for food, household, and cosmetic applications; flavors and fragrances; products for animal nutrition and specialty chemicals for industrial applications) – $425s/$1,080v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Myriant | Stepan | fermentation plant in LA. | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Lonza | Bain Capital and Cinven | Specialty Ingredients (microbial control solutions, industrial chemicals and specialty chemicals, for the electronics, aerospace, food and agrochemical industries) – $5,000s/$4,700v. | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Endurance Technologies | Polytek (Arsenal Capital) | polyurethane and epoxy systems | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Convergent Concrete Technologies | Meridian Adhesives (Arsenal) | concrete treatments and products | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Invista | Stepan | aromatic polyols – $100s | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Cul-Mac Industries | Salt Creek Capital | branded industrial automotive chemicals to private label household cleaners | 1st Quarter 2021 |
The Starco Group | Highline-Warren (Pritzker Capital) | API (premium performance automotive and motorsport chemicals, including stop leak solutions, fluid oil additives, fuel additives and repair and maintenance products) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Able Aerospace Adhesvies | GracoRoberts (CM Equity Partners) | adhesives, surface treatments and sealants distribution | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Dux Paint, Hawthorne Coating and Hood Products | Albi Protective Coatings (StanChem Polymers) | industrial protective coatings | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Custom Chemical Services | LBB Specialties | distribution | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Gardner-Gibson | Innovative Chemical Products (Audax) | liquid-applied roof coatings, roofing products, driveway sealers and specialty paints | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Al Chem Specialties/Cal Chem | USALCO (HIG Capital) | chemicals for municipal water-treatment and industrial applications | 1st Quarter 2021 |
DalFort Capital | PPG | Versaflex (polyurea, epoxy and polyurethane coatings) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Solvay | OpenGate Capital | amphoteric surfactant business in North America and Europe. | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Black Diamond Capital & Black Rock | Pritzker Private Capital | Vertellus (pyridine and picolines; intermediates for crop protection chemicals, biocides and pharmaceuticals; vitamin B3) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
http://www.chemicaldeals.com/Results.aspx?searchtext=&quarter=1st%20Quarter%202021
April 8, 2021
Q1 Chemical M&A
Chemical Deal Results
Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Amyris | DSM | flavor and fragrance biobased intermediates business-$150v + earnout | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Bison Innovative Products | RPM | raised flooring systems – $26s | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Advent International | DuPont | Laird Performance Materials (chemicals and materials for electronic devices) – $465s/$2,300v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Goldner Hawn | Arsenal Capital | Applied Products – DBA Applied Adhesives (manufacturer and distributor of adhesive and thermal products) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
IMCD | JM Huber | Nutri Granulations manufacturing asset and associated business | 1st Quarter 2021 |
The Cary Company | Maroon Group | raw materials and specialty chemicals distribution | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Copperhead Chemical | PMC Group | pharmaceutical-grade nitroglycerin and related energetic chemicals | 1st Quarter 2021 |
ProChem Energy Services | Tower Arch Capital | production chemicals, midstream chemicals, and other custom solutions for scale and corrosion prevention to leading oil and gas providers | 1st Quarter 2021 |
PQ | Cerberus Capital & Koch Minerals and Trading | sodium silicate and silica derivatives business – $685s/$1,100v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Albemarle | Grace | fine chemistry services (contract manufacturing for the pharmaceutical, agricultural chemical, lubricants, and specialty chemical industries) – $570v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Superior Plus | Birch Hill Equity | ERCO Worldwide (sodium chlorate and chlor-alkali products, and chlorine dioxide generators) – C$844s/C$725v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
American Securities | Lanxess | Emerald Kalama (preservatives for food, household, and cosmetic applications; flavors and fragrances; products for animal nutrition and specialty chemicals for industrial applications) – $425s/$1,080v | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Myriant | Stepan | fermentation plant in LA. | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Lonza | Bain Capital and Cinven | Specialty Ingredients (microbial control solutions, industrial chemicals and specialty chemicals, for the electronics, aerospace, food and agrochemical industries) – $5,000s/$4,700v. | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Endurance Technologies | Polytek (Arsenal Capital) | polyurethane and epoxy systems | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Convergent Concrete Technologies | Meridian Adhesives (Arsenal) | concrete treatments and products | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Invista | Stepan | aromatic polyols – $100s | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Cul-Mac Industries | Salt Creek Capital | branded industrial automotive chemicals to private label household cleaners | 1st Quarter 2021 |
The Starco Group | Highline-Warren (Pritzker Capital) | API (premium performance automotive and motorsport chemicals, including stop leak solutions, fluid oil additives, fuel additives and repair and maintenance products) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Able Aerospace Adhesvies | GracoRoberts (CM Equity Partners) | adhesives, surface treatments and sealants distribution | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Dux Paint, Hawthorne Coating and Hood Products | Albi Protective Coatings (StanChem Polymers) | industrial protective coatings | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Custom Chemical Services | LBB Specialties | distribution | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Gardner-Gibson | Innovative Chemical Products (Audax) | liquid-applied roof coatings, roofing products, driveway sealers and specialty paints | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Al Chem Specialties/Cal Chem | USALCO (HIG Capital) | chemicals for municipal water-treatment and industrial applications | 1st Quarter 2021 |
DalFort Capital | PPG | Versaflex (polyurea, epoxy and polyurethane coatings) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Solvay | OpenGate Capital | amphoteric surfactant business in North America and Europe. | 1st Quarter 2021 |
Black Diamond Capital & Black Rock | Pritzker Private Capital | Vertellus (pyridine and picolines; intermediates for crop protection chemicals, biocides and pharmaceuticals; vitamin B3) | 1st Quarter 2021 |
http://www.chemicaldeals.com/Results.aspx?searchtext=&quarter=1st%20Quarter%202021
April 6, 2021
HSM Expands Mattress Production
HSM doubling mattress production capacity
- From staff reports
- Apr 4, 2021
HS Manufacturing has expanded its mattress manufacturing facility in Hickory to double the company’s capacity and streamline the construction process.
The bedding manufacturer, a subsidiary of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co., is combining its bedding operation under one roof — a 160,000-square-foot facility, according to a news release from HSM.
The expansion puts mattress assembly, innerspring coiling production, individually wrapped pocketed coil production and roll-pack operations all in one facility. The expansion also means adding another 50 employees to increase manufacturing capacity.
The expansion will help the company meet a growing demand for bedding products, the release said.
“By combining all of our bedding operations in one location, we dramatically increase our efficiency and improve our ability to better serve our customers,” said Tim Witherell, vice president and general manager of HSM bedding products, in the news release. “This is particularly important now as our customers are experiencing significant growth in demand.”
The expansion and combination of plants, which is expected to be complete in April, will also boost production of other products like fabric-encased mattress coils and micro-coil systems.
Before the expansion and consolidation to one plant, bedding components would travel between multiple facilities during the manufacturing process. Witherell said HSM does not anticipate any service disruptions during the transition.
April 6, 2021
HSM Expands Mattress Production
HSM doubling mattress production capacity
- From staff reports
- Apr 4, 2021
HS Manufacturing has expanded its mattress manufacturing facility in Hickory to double the company’s capacity and streamline the construction process.
The bedding manufacturer, a subsidiary of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co., is combining its bedding operation under one roof — a 160,000-square-foot facility, according to a news release from HSM.
The expansion puts mattress assembly, innerspring coiling production, individually wrapped pocketed coil production and roll-pack operations all in one facility. The expansion also means adding another 50 employees to increase manufacturing capacity.
The expansion will help the company meet a growing demand for bedding products, the release said.
“By combining all of our bedding operations in one location, we dramatically increase our efficiency and improve our ability to better serve our customers,” said Tim Witherell, vice president and general manager of HSM bedding products, in the news release. “This is particularly important now as our customers are experiencing significant growth in demand.”
The expansion and combination of plants, which is expected to be complete in April, will also boost production of other products like fabric-encased mattress coils and micro-coil systems.
Before the expansion and consolidation to one plant, bedding components would travel between multiple facilities during the manufacturing process. Witherell said HSM does not anticipate any service disruptions during the transition.