Chimcomplex concluded on April 30, 2024 the project of the new green line of polyols “Investing in innovative green technology to produce new environmentally friendly polyols at Chimcomplex” implemented on the platform at Râmnicu Vâlcea.
The project was co-financed by the “Business Development, Innovation and SMEs” program, according to contract no. 2021/331014 concluded with Innovation Norway as program operator.
The total eligible value of the project is 2,431,000 Euros, of which the non-refundable financial assistance is about 1.2 million Euros, the company reports.
The general objective of the project is the greening of the Chimcomplex production processes and the transformation of the activity in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.
The investment in an innovative technology for the production of environmentally friendly polyols was the next necessary step after the inauguration in 2022 of one of the most modern polyol plants in Europe, following an investment of 40 million euros, which increased the production capacity of company to over 187,000 tons per year.
These innovative “green polyols”, which will be produced with the new technology, replace the petrochemical components of polyols with less polluting components or with natural oils such as castor, soybean and palm oil. Further down the production chain, green polyols become soft foams for cushions and mattresses or other automotive components.
The new production line will allow Chimcomplex to increase existing capacity by an additional 17,000 tons of specialty polyols annually. After customer testing, the new polyols enter series production and will significantly reduce the impact on the environment through the nature of the technologies and raw materials used in manufacturing.
Replacing conventional polyols with the new special types will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 3,400 tons annually.
“This new investment completed on the platform in Rm. Vâlcea is part of the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and development. We thank Innovation Norway for supporting the project. Over the past 5 years, Chimcomplex specialists from the Center for Advanced Research and Development of Polyols have created new types of experimental polyols, which will now be able to be rapidly tested and used on a large scale by our customers. Fine chemicals bring added value to Romania at a general level but also to consumers at a particular level, we all want safer and healthier products for use in everyday life. You can rely on the chemists’ skill to find solutions for environmental problems and in the development of technologies to reduce the negative impact on our planet,” said Amalia Ionescu, project manager.
The project was carried out in partnership with International Development Norway – a Norwegian organization with over 20 years of experience in international projects for the development of best practices in the field of eco-business.