GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – To drive the global chemical industry on a path to net-zero emissions by 2050, the Low-Carbon Emitting Technologies (LCET) initiative, incubated and hosted by the World Economic Forum for more than three years, has now officially launched as the independent Global Impact Coalition.
With a suite of leading-edge projects, the CEO-led coalition, founded by BASF, SABIC, Covestro, Clariant, LyondellBasell, the Mitsubishi Chemical Group, and Solvay will focus on accelerating the development and upscaling of low-carbon emitting technologies for chemical production and related value chains. With a focus on innovation, partnerships, and the development of net-zero production methods, the new Coalition can make an important contribution to carbon neutrality and sustainable growth.
“After over three years of incubation within the World Economic Forum and led by tangible results in the decarbonization space, we are delighted to witness the Global Impact Coalition emerge as an independent legal entity,” said Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum. “We are dedicated to nurturing our strong relationship, bolstering sustainability and innovation within the chemicals sector.”
Leading Demonstration Projects
The Coalition will incubate projects with a proven approach pioneered by the LCET. Example projects coming from Coalition member companies:
The R&D Hub for Plastic Waste Processing - which will focus on developing new technologies for waste processing with a lower CO2 footprint and greater levels of plastic waste recycling.
Electrically Heated Steam Cracker Furnace - collaboration to construct the world’s first demonstration plant for large-scale electrically heated steam cracker furnaces.
Marking a milestone
The Coalition is a collaboration of incubation of low carbon emittance technologies in the chemical industry, supported by an expert community of more than seventy senior chemical industry executives. Its transition from a World Economic Forum initiative into the new, independent Coalition marks an important milestone and has been made possible by its founders.
“I see immense potential in reshaping the chemical industry's impact on our planet. One of our goals is in forging new pathways to achieve this, through collaboration, business model transformation, and solid partnerships that create true value in our drive to a net zero future. I am extremely excited to lead the charge, focused on less talk, more results”, said Charlie Tan, Global Impact Coalition’s Chief Executive Officer.
At the cornerstone of the global economy, the chemical industry provides essential materials, technologies and building blocks for 95% of all manufactured goods. As a crucial part of almost all sectors, sourcing and using alternative and sustainable sources of carbon will have an important impact in the fight against climate change.
WATERBURY, CT – MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions announced the company is actively supporting its customers in complying with the upcoming restrictions on chromium (VI) substances for use in decorative plating applications set by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
The European Union Commission has been mandated to develop an Annex XV dossier to fully ban chromium (VI) substances under REACH. It is recommended that companies begin their preparations now, ahead of the 2026 deadline. In response to the mandate, MacDermid Enthone issued a communication to customers and partners outlining the proposed timeline to assist applicators in planning for their transition from hexavalent chromium processes to chromium (VI) free technologies.
"The transition to REACH compliance will pose opportunities and challenges for the industry," says Bob Geissler, Vice President, Europe at MacDermid Enthone. "As a leader in sustainable solutions for surface finishing, MacDermid Enthone stands ready to partner with customers, delivering production-proven technological solutions to support applicators across Europe, and around the world, in a successful transition."
MacDermid Enthone communicated the following timeline to customers:
October 2023: Mandate to ECHA, requesting the development of Annex XV dossier with a view to restrict Cr(VI) substances under REACH
October 2024: ECHA to finalize Annex XV dossier, RAC and SEAC do the conformity check and develop their opinion
October 2025: RAC and SEAC finalize and adopt final opinions about dossier, restriction scope and derogations Then, three-month scrutiny period for EU Commission starts
February 2026: Scrutiny period is over for EU Commission to decide if the restriction proposal can be adopted by the Commission and Member States
End of 2026: Adoption of hexavalent chrome restriction by EU Commission - Restriction with temporary derogations will become effective (estimated, not confirmed), Hex-Chrome will no longer be authorized, with no individual exceptions
MacDermid Enthone offers a complete solution for REACH-compliant chromium electroplating of plastics. To learn more, visit industrial.macdermidenthone.com
CALUMET, MI – Calumet Electronics is proud to announce the appointment of Trey Adams to their team as Vice President, General Manager. Adams, a veteran professional, brings a wealth of experience in PCB manufacturing to Calumet Electronics during a transitional period of growth and advancements.
Adams is no stranger to Calumet Electronics. Prior to accepting an offer from the company, Trey served as VP of Operations at Price Circuits LLC in Chicagoland, where he led a group that produces high-density interconnect (HDI), flex, rigid-flex, and RF products. The facility at which Trey worked is known for its advanced capabilities, distinguishing it from other domestic PCB manufacturing operations.
Before Price Circuits, Adams had a career with top-tier suppliers in the PCB industry, including Insulectro, Rohm Haas/Morton International, and GE Electro-materials. From sales and technical support in laminates to chemistry and film applications, Trey will play a pivotal role in leading all aspects of PCB production at Calumet Electronics.
With a diverse and extensive background in the PCB manufacturing industry, Adams is well-equipped to find and lead opportunities that lie ahead at Calumet Electronics. He is known for his hands-on approach, stemming from his early experience as an operator on the work floor and his small-town upbringing in Southern Illinois. Adams values teamwork and believes in leading by example, ensuring that every decision considers the needs of the entire team.
Adams is excited to start his new chapter in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where he and his wife look forward to exploring the beautiful surroundings and establishing a new life in the Houghton area.
“We are thrilled to welcome Trey Adams to the Calumet Electronics team,” said Todd Brassard, Chief Operating Officer at Calumet Electronics. “When we approached him about this position, he already understood the bright future that lies ahead at Calumet Electronics. There was immediate and mutual excitement knowing the opportunities that lie ahead for the company, Trey and the hard-working employees at Calumet. Trey’s expertise will further strengthen our production and position as a leading provider in the industry.”
PETACH TIKVA, ISRAEL – Eltek Ltd. (NASDAQ: ELTK), a global manufacturer and supplier of technologically advanced solutions in the field of printed circuit boards, announced today that it has received five purchase orders in a total amount of $3.8 million. The orders are in connection with two projects for a customer. Most of the orders will be supplied by Eltek during 2024.
"One of the projects is an existing legacy strategic project and the second project is new, with very high-technological specifications. We received this second project's order after providing successful proof of concept. The proof of the concept required us to meet a high level of technological production and the use of exotic materials. I am sure that the development of these capabilities will serve us in the future with additional orders that are at the cutting edge of technology," commented Eli Yaffe, CEO of Eltek.
MUNICH – The decision has been made. The winners of the productronica innovation award 2023 have been chosen just in time for the start of the world’s leading trade fair for electronics development and production. An independent panel has decided on the winners from among 70 submissions in the six categories.
Messe München is already presenting the productronica innovation award for the fifth time since its premiere in 2015. CEO Reinhard Pfeiffer is delighted with the high level of participation: “Almost 70 submissions are a clear sign that both the award and productronica as a trade fair are highly regarded in the industry. Numerous companies specifically adjust the publication of their new products to fit in with the submission period.”
Winner in the “Cables, Coils & Hybrids” Cluster: Frisimos Technologies Tal Pechter, CEO Frisimos: “I feel honored to receive this innovation award for our fully automated cable and connector assembly lines. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and confirmation of our vision for the future of the cable assembly industry.”
Winner in the “Future Markets” Cluster: ASYS Group Drazenko Trkulja, Product Manager: “We are very proud to be launching another solution on the market that helps our customers have a full overview of the performance of the entire store floor at a glance, in a uniquely simple way.”
Winner in the “Inspection & Quality” Cluster: budatec Dirk Buße, Managing Director: “We are delighted to receive this award and see it as confirmation of our work on innovative solutions for the soldering and sintering process. The budatec team, together with the Dresden University of Technology, and Krauss Hardware, developed a completely new test method for quality assurance in production and brought it to process maturity.”
Winner in the “PCB & EMS” Cluster: SUSS MicroTec Solutions Robert Wanninger, Senior Vice President Advanced Backend Solutions: “It is a great honor for us to have won the productronica innovation award 2023 for our SUSS JETxSM 24. We thank the jury wholeheartedly for recognizing our commitment and passion for innovation.”
Winner in the “Semiconductors” Cluster: AP&S International Tobias Bausch, CMO & CTO: “Winning the productronica innovation award for the second time in a row is not only recognition of our hard work, but also a commitment to continue pursuing excellence in all that we do. Moreover, it also acknowledges the outstanding team performance of our employees. With the new NexAStep wet bench, we have once again successfully taken a major step in the right direction, which this award confirms.”
Winner in the “SMT” Cluster: smartTec Uwe Geisler, Managing Director: “This award is both confirmation that we have embarked on the right path, and motivation to continue to pursue it. I would like to thank the entire team for what has been achieved so far, and for the commitment they have shown.”
The individual submissions were assessed by an independent jury comprising the following members:
Dr. Sandra Engle, VDMA
Sebastian Glatz, ZVEI
Dr. Maik Hampicke, Fraunhofer IZM
Dr. Andrej Novikov, Rostock University
Prof. Lothar Pfitzner, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Helge Schimanski, Fraunhofer ISIT
The productronica innovation award is the first independent award in the electronics manufacturing sector and is organized in close cooperation with the trade journal productronic (publisher: Hüthig).
Click here for all the information about the winners and their products.
November 10, 2023 - Ventec Giga Solutions, the equipment division of Ventec International Group announces it has been appointed as sales agent and distributor of specialist PCB lamination materials from Cardel. The agreement covers the EMEA region including the United Kingdom.
With state-of-the-art manufacturing sites in the United Kingdom and Germany, Cardel is a world leader in the manufacture of lamination plates and lamination pads for a wide range of PCB manufacturing applications. The materials are designed to provide consistently high quality, durability and performance in many industrial applications offering customers genuine value in their operations.
Cardel plates are produced with different hardness levels and materials, and the lamination pads are available in a wide range of materials and composite layered formats utilizing aramid, butyl rubber, silicone, brass, and copper.
“Partnering with Cardel is a great opportunity for Ventec Giga Solutions to offer our customers high-quality PCB lamination materials from a global leader,” said Ramesh Dhokia, Business Unit Director, Ventec Giga Solutions. “We are excited to showcase our new relationship with Cardel at Productronica 2023 at booth B3/242 from 14th to 17th November in Munich.”
Mark Goodwin, COO of Ventec International Group added: “The agreement with Cardel further strengthens our one-stop-shop solution of distributed PCB manufacturing equipment, consumables and materials for PCB manufacturing customers, OEMs and EMS in the EMEA, UK and Americas regions.”
Ventec Giga Solutions handles factory design, equipment selection, sales, installation, commissioning, and training on behalf of customers. The division’s competencies and connections with numerous leading equipment suppliers, combined with the Ventec portfolio of high-performance substrate laminates and prepregs, presents a one-stop-shop for PCB manufacturers, OEMs, and manufacturing services companies to quickly establish and rapidly expand their facilities.
Further information about Ventec’s solutions and the company’s wide variety of products is available at www.venteclaminates.com.
