Evonik Catalysts has announced its plans to increase production capacities for its activated nickel powder catalysts marketed under the KALCAT and Metalyst brands.
The company is set to expand its production sites in Hanau, Germany, and Dombivli, India in response to the growing demand for precious metal-free powder hydrogenation catalysts in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and sugar substitutes industries.
Debottlenecking Projects Underway
With a total investment of high single-digit million Euros, the debottlenecking projects are designed to increase Evonik’s capacity by 25%. The company’s global network of multi-purpose production plants will be utilized to improve efficiency and infrastructure, and further, strengthen production capabilities. The new capacity is expected to be available to the market in the second half of 2024.
A Commitment to a Customer-Centric Approach
Sanjeev Taneja, Head of Business Line Catalysts at Evonik Catalysts, says, “For decades, Evonik Catalysts has been at the forefront of activated nickel catalysts, making us the global market leader and technology leader in most of these products, ensuring customer proximity and supply reliability.” The investment will benefit both sites in Germany and India and is a clear commitment to Evonik Catalysts’ customer-centric ‘think global – act local’ approach supporting the business line’s growth trajectory.
Enhanced Portfolio of Products
The investment will not only increase capacity but also enable Evonik Catalysts to expand its portfolio to include a wider range of products with superior properties. According to Bettina Munsch, Head of Evonik’s Life Science & Performance Catalysts Product Line, “This will enable our customers to carry out hydrogenation reactions with fewer quantities of catalyst while maintaining activity and even faster cycle times due to reduced settling times, thus significantly improving process efficiency.”
Supporting Circular Economy
Activated nickel catalysts consist solely of metal, mainly nickel, and do not include inert support such as alumina, silica, or carbon. This allows for complete catalyst material reclamation, supporting a circular economy.
Innovation in Activated Nickel Foam Aside from activated nickel catalyst powder, Evonik Catalysts recently launched an innovation-activated nickel foam for sustainable and efficient fixed bed continuous processes. The nickel foams are lightweight with a very large reactive surface. They have an extremely low-pressure drop and less abrasion, as well as longer catalyst life and reduced maintenance costs in downstream equipment.