International. AkzoNobel's Specialty Chemicals business is studying plans to expand the production of high-purity vacuum salt at its Delfzijl headquarters in the Netherlands. The project would increase production at the facility by approximately 25%.
The ongoing study is due to be completed in the first half of 2018, with the aim of completing the project within three years. It represents the latest in a series of expansions designed to meet Europe's growing demand for high-purity vacuum salt.
"In addition to the strong demand for pharmaceuticals, companies are moving towards more efficient technologies for the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda, all of which require salt of exceptional purity," explained Knut Schwalenberg, Managing Director of Industrial Chemicals at AkzoNobel. "This project will ensure that we can continue to meet the growing demand from our customers."
The salt is obtained from deposits in Delfzijl that are free of contamination and purified with the use of steam from sustainable sources, making it ideal for industrial applications.
The company's Delfzijl site has become increasingly sustainable in recent years. For example, it uses renewable electricity and steam generated from waste, while green hydrogen is produced for buses operating in the region.
AkzoNobel's plans for the facility follow the recently completed expansion of high-purity salt production for pharmaceutical applications at Mariager in Denmark. The company is also carrying out a number of improvements at its Hengelo plant in the Netherlands. In addition, a high-purity salt joint venture with ICL Iberia was recently started in Suria, Spain, which will open new markets in the Mediterranean region.
