Recognising opportunities in the global polyol industry, speciality chemicals producer Emery Oleochemicals (Shah Alam / Malaysia; www.emeryoleo.com) has created a new business unit, Eco-Friendly Polyols (EP), which further cements the company's position of offering what it describes as a "unique line" of polyols based on both renewable and recycled raw materials.

According to the company, the new business unit offers "innovative, sustainable" polyol solutions for use in the manufacture of flexible and rigid polyurethane foam typically utilised in transportation, construction, packaging, furniture and bedding as well as many C.A.S.E. (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers) applications. Its high-performance solutions include the company's "Emerox" renewable polyols technology as well as "InfiGreen" recycle polyols technology, which the Malaysian company recently acquired with its purchase of the Sterling Heights, Michigan-based InfiChem Polymers.

The addition of the new business unit is in line with the company's USD 50m (EUR 37m) expansion project of its Cincinnati, Ohio site, announced in October 2012. The company said by combining its proprietary ozonolysis technology with the Infigreen polyol glycolysis technology, it will allow for a seamless integration in the manufacture of eco-friendly polyols into the overall business strategy.

The company says its Emerox brand of bio-polyols are made from renewable resources, while its InfiGreen recycled polyols are produced using recycled polyurethane scrap foam and can function as a direct replacement for petroleum-based polyols. The InfiGreen technology also provides improved sustainability through the recycling of scrap foam, the chemicals specialist added.

With a reported global capacity of 1m t/y, the company has two production sites in Europe – at German locations in Loxstedt and Düsseldorf – in addition to its sites in Malaysia and the US.