Turning a fascination for vacuum into real applications and products  — the history of industrial vacuum engineering is closely connected to the name Pfeiffer Vacuum. Ever since 1890, everything at Asslar/Germany has revolved around the valuable “nothingness” of vacuum. “The perfect vacuum solution for every challenge” is the bold claim of the company from Hesse in Germany. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eric Taberlet spoke to us about challenges and future developments at the company.

It may just be “nothing,” but this “nothing” really packs a punch! Without vacuum, many everyday things would be impossible — whether spectacles, smartphones, medicines or foodstuffs with a long shelf life. Pfeiffer Vacuum has been synonymous for high-quality vacuum technology for over 125 years. And it is not just the technology itself that makes the company stand out, but above all its feeling for the different challenges faced by particular industries.

Borealis has divested a package of fertilizer process technologies and established a new technology partnership with Casale. The partnership will enable Borealis to focus on its core competencies of the production and distribution of high quality fertilizer products, while Casale will expand their portfolio of technologies for commercialisation.

Badger provides a technology license, process design and start-up services to new BPA plant in China.

Akzo Nobel unveiled a new strategy to accelerate growth and value creation focussing on the company's Paints, Coatings and Specialty Chemicals Business. The next phase is the separation of Speciality Chemicals and the creation of two separate companies within twelve months.

Metsä Fibre announced that preparations for the start-up of their next-generation bioproduct mill are currently under way in Äänekoski, Finland. Start-up is scheduled for late summer 2017. In 2015 Metso was selected as the main supplier of the bioproduct mill's valve solutions.

AkzoNobel has announced its intention to seek agreement from the Board and shareholders of ICI Pakistan Limited ("ICI Pakistan") to separate the organization's paints and chemicals businesses.

The new line aims to produce polyolefin foams that can be used for automotive interiors. The move was undertaken due to the growing demand for high-performance foams in China. Also, the plant which houses the production line is a ‘zero industrial wastewater’ facility.

A new site of the Lebanon based pharmaceutical manufacturer Algorithm will cover the manufacturing and packaging of non-sterile oral and topical dosage forms: liquids, tablets, capsules, suppositories, granules for suspensions, creams and ointments. Find out more about the reasons why the company has chosen Ima.

The world is looking for methods to replace fossil fuels with a carbon-neutral product created from solar energy, carbon dioxide and water. Researchers at Uppsala University have now successfully produced microorganisms that can efficiently produce butanol using carbon dioxide and solar energy, without requiring to use solar cells.