SEAMLESS COLLABORATION IN THE ÄÄNEKOSKI ECOSYSTEM
Nouryon and Metsä Fibre join forces to make CMC at Äänekoski. Both companies share the same commitment to sustainability and growth.
SAMI ANTEROINEN, photo NOURYON
“Previously, we had CMC expertise related to the pharma and medical industries, for instance. With the acquisi- tion of CP Kelco, a former competitor, we are now adding strong paper and mining end applications,” he says. Becoming the leader in CMC, an attractive market with solid growth prospects, is a really exciting prospect for the company. “CMC is a very good business, with an excellent future,” Hofman believes. He reveals that Nouryon had been interested in the world’s biggest manufacturer of CMC, CP Kelco, for quite some time. When the company’s CMS business became available, Nouryon wasted no time in sealing the deal. “It also turned out that we were the preferred buyer from the perspective of CP Kelco.” ECOSYSTEM EDGE Hofman visited Äänekoski in March 2020, and was im- pressed with the CMC operations – as well as the entire local ecosystem. “Having the Metsä Fibre mill next door creates a spe- cial kind of atmosphere which makes collaboration very natural,” he says. Nouryon in Äänekoski receives key raw materials direct- ly from the Metsä Fibre mill and manufactures up to 70,000 tonnes of CMC annually. This type of sidestream utilisation is a great example of a circular economy, giving birth to new types of business models and entire ecosystems.
There is a new name in the Äänekoski ecosystem. Nouryon acquired CP Kelco Oy’s CMC-business from J.M. Huber Corporation in the summer of 2020. Nouryon is owned by Corporate Private Equity, a business segment in the US-based Carlyle Group. The transaction will significantly broaden Nouryon’s portfolio of products in carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC, which is a sustainable, bio-based water-soluble polymer made out of pulp. Geert Hofman , Vice President, Construction Spe- cialties, Nouryon, says that the acquisition includes prod- ucts, technology, customer lists and the manufacturing site in Äänekoski, Finland – as well as access to a worldwide warehousing and distribution network. “The company’s existing 248 employees will also transfer to Nouryon.” The acquisition underlines Nouryon’s strategy of invest- ing in order to develop a leading position in attractive growth markets. CMC fits the bill well, since it is used in a variety of end markets, including home and personal care, buildings and infrastructure, food, pharmaceuticals and packaging. A PERFECT MARRIAGE According to Hofman, the acquired extensive range of CMC products complements Nouryon’s existing portfolio, allow- ing the company to offer its current and future customers a significantly diverse set of sustainable solutions.
47
Powered by FlippingBook