AVALON Industries AG, the new entity of Swiss-based company AVA-CO2 Schweiz AG, is taking over all bio-based chemistry activities from AVA-CO2 with immediate effect. In order to fully focus on biochemistry, AVA-CO2 has also decided to sell its Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) technology to the globally active International Power Invest AG, a holding company investing in renewable energy projects. From now on, AVA-CO2 will act as a holding company.
In response to rapid application developments relating to bio-based chemical
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and following increased 5-HMF demand from value chain partners, AVALON Industries was created to take advantage of new market opportunities and to prepare for future large-scale production. A subsidiary of AVA-CO2, AVALON Industries is taking over all operational activities from AVA-CO2 and will focus on the global implementation of the Hydrothermal Processing (HTP) technology for the industrial-scale production of 5-HMF. This technology was successfully developed and patented by AVA-CO2 over the last seven years.
All technical, operational and commercial activities as well as the associated rights and obligations currently held by AVA-CO2 are being transferred to AVALON Industries. AVALON Industries will roll-out the HTP technology globally to be used in future, large-scale 5-HMF production plants in order to meet the huge demand of the rapidly growing market for bio-based chemicals – specifically in the areas of bioplastics as well as bio-based resins and adhesives.
AVA Biochem BSL AG, the operator of the ‘Biochem-1’ production plant in Muttenz, Switzerland, becomes an AVALON Industries subsidiary and will continue to focus on 5-HMF production for the fine chemicals market. With this, AVALON Industries is now taking control of the existing 5-HMF production capacity, as well as the expertise and know-how related to the proprietary HTP technology. In this constellation, AVALON Industries is fully equipped for the future successful, commercial, industrial-scale implementation of 5-HMF production.
International Power Invest AG, a holding company active in renewable energy projects, has acquired AVA-CO2’s HTC-0 industrial scale demonstration plant and all relevant HTC Intellectual Property rights. Among other renewable energy projects, IPI has also invested in the “Innovationspark Vorpommern” located in Relzow, Germany and plans to continue the development and international roll-out of the HTC technology.
We are excited about this new development, which brings us closer towards the large-scale commercialisation of 5-HMF and its downstream applications such as 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) as well as non-toxic, bio-based resins and adhesives.
About AVALON Industries
Swiss-based AVALON Industries is a trailblazer in sustainable, bio-based chemistry. Our game-changing Hydrothermal Processing (HTP) technology makes us the global leader in the industrial production of bio-based platform chemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). A renewable alternative to petroleum-based materials, 5-HMF is used in a broad range of applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. Once large-scale production is achieved, 5-HMF will become a crucial building block for novel packaging materials such as Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) as well as bio-based resins and adhesives. Since 2014, AVALON Industries subsidiary AVA Biochem has been producing high-purity 5-HMF for the research and speciality chemicals markets. By collaborating with partners, AVALON Industries will make cost-effective, large-scale production of 5-HMF a reality.
About AVA Biochem
AVA Biochem is a specialty chemicals company and produces the premium platform chemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from renewable biomass. The company delivers to the pharmaceutical, food and fine chemical industry as well as to research customers around the globe to support the development of novel, bio-based products and solutions in a wide range of applications. Recently, AVA Biochem added 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and food grade 5-HMF to its product portfolio. AVA Biochem is a subsidiary of AVALON Industries AG and is located in Muttenz, Switzerland, where the world’s first dedicated 5-HMF production plant is operated.
About International Power Invest
The Swiss company International Power Invest AG is active in the field of energy-generating, but also energy-storing plants and technologies. The focus is not only on management and operational aspects, but also on research, and especially on the development and construction of new technologies. For this reason, International Power Invest AG bundles the existing know-how related to the hydrothermal carbonisation technology at the “Innovationspark Vorpommern”. At the new site, there are excellent synergies with other industrial partners, which can be used to industrialise the hydrothermal carbonisation technology.
