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Solvay (company)
Encyclopedia
Solvay S.A. is a Belgian
chemical company with its head office in Ixelles, Brussels
, Belgium
. It was founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay
to produce sodium carbonate
by the solvay process
. Since then the company has diversified to two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. It was formerly also active in pharmaceuticals, but agreed to sell that entire division to Abbott Labs
for €4.5 billion in September 2009, a deal completed in February 2010.
In 2010, the group’s consolidated sales amounted to €7.109 billion generated by its activity sectors. Solvay employs about 16,800 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext in Brussels
.
The firm agreed the €3.4 billion acquisition of French-based chemicals company Rhodia
on 4 April 2011.
worked for Solvay during World War II
to avoid deportation to Germany. Solvay was the main shareholder in Sucreries Raffineries Bulgares
(1897–1916), once the largest industrial enterprise in the Principality of Bulgaria
.
, Belgium
.
Solvay's United States
subsidiary, Solvay America, Inc., is based in Houston, Texas
.
and has contributed to the airplane in particular, with important R&D resources, which is scheduled to make maiden test flights in 2010.
Fuel cell technology:
SolviCore, a joint venture by Umicore and Solvay in the field of fuel cells is already pre-marketing membrane-electrode assemblies for different types of batteries for portable or mobile use.
New generation lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles components make use of Solvay fluorinated polymers. Compared to conventional vehicles the hybrids reduce CO2 emissions by 30%.
Soil remediation
Novosol: sodium bicarbonate-based process for treating and recovering mineral residues contaminated with heavy metals.
Renewable feedstock
Development and industrialization of proprietary Epicerol process for manufacturing epichlorhydrin from natural glycerin.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
chemical company with its head office in Ixelles, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay
Ernest Solvay
Ernest Gaston Joseph Solvay was a Belgian chemist, industrialist and philanthropist.Born at Rebecq, he was prevented by acute pleurisy from going to university...
to produce sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
by the solvay process
Solvay process
The Solvay process, also referred to as the ammonia-soda process, is the major industrial process for the production of soda ash . The ammonia-soda process was developed into its modern form by Ernest Solvay during the 1860s...
. Since then the company has diversified to two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. It was formerly also active in pharmaceuticals, but agreed to sell that entire division to Abbott Labs
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is an American-based global, diversified pharmaceuticals and health care products company. It has 90,000 employees and operates in over 130 countries. The company headquarters are in Abbott Park, North Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded by Chicago physician, Dr....
for €4.5 billion in September 2009, a deal completed in February 2010.
In 2010, the group’s consolidated sales amounted to €7.109 billion generated by its activity sectors. Solvay employs about 16,800 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext in Brussels
Brussels Stock Exchange
The Brussels Stock Exchange was founded in Brussels, Belgium, by Napoleonic decree in 1801. On September 22, 2000, the BSE merged with Paris Bourse, Lisbon Stock Exchange and the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, to form Euronext N.V., the first pan-European exchange for equities and derivatives,...
.
The firm agreed the €3.4 billion acquisition of French-based chemicals company Rhodia
Rhodia (company)
Rhodia is a group specialized in fine chemistry, synthetic fibers and polymers. Rhodia is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange on NYSE Euronext. The company services the consumer goods, automotive, energy, manufacturing and processes and electronics markets...
on 4 April 2011.
History
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
worked for Solvay during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to avoid deportation to Germany. Solvay was the main shareholder in Sucreries Raffineries Bulgares
Sucreries Raffineries Bulgares
Sucreries Raffineries Bulgares was a Belgian company active in Bulgaria from 1897 to 1916....
(1897–1916), once the largest industrial enterprise in the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
.
Corporate affairs
Solvay has its head office in Ixelles, BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Solvay's United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
subsidiary, Solvay America, Inc., is based in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Products
Solvay is main partner of Solar ImpulseSolar Impulse
Solar Impulse is a Swiss long-range solar powered plane project being undertaken at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. The project eventually hopes to succeed in the first circling of the earth with a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar...
and has contributed to the airplane in particular, with important R&D resources, which is scheduled to make maiden test flights in 2010.
Fuel cell technology:
SolviCore, a joint venture by Umicore and Solvay in the field of fuel cells is already pre-marketing membrane-electrode assemblies for different types of batteries for portable or mobile use.
New generation lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles components make use of Solvay fluorinated polymers. Compared to conventional vehicles the hybrids reduce CO2 emissions by 30%.
Soil remediation
Novosol: sodium bicarbonate-based process for treating and recovering mineral residues contaminated with heavy metals.
Renewable feedstock
Development and industrialization of proprietary Epicerol process for manufacturing epichlorhydrin from natural glycerin.