Kemira Chimica S.p.A. in Italy has signed an agreement with Ageco in Lucca, Italy, to utilize Ageco's plant for ferric chloride production and take over Ageco's water treatment business.
A new process will be introduced to remove zinc from pickling acid and utilize this as a raw material for ferric chloride production. The recovered zinc will be recycled back to the galvanizing industry. There will be an extension to plant capacity also in order to be able to take in additional purified pickling acid coming from the steelworks I.S.P. in Cremona who will be extending their plant capacity as well.
By this Kemira Chimica S.p.A. will be one of the leading companies within ferric coagulants in Italy, with production facilities in both Cremona and Lucca. Kemira Chimica S.p.A. produces ferric chloride and is also marketing aluminium coagulants, activated carbon and polymers to the water treatment market and specialty chemicals to the Italian pulp and paper industry. Kemira Chimica S.p.A. has net sales of about EUR 10 million.
The agreement is also in line with the Kemira Kemwater's business strategy of expanding its activities in Continental Europe where Kemwater is today one of the major suppliers of coagulants to the water sector and operates18 plants for the production of coagulants.
The water treatment chemical business is among Kemira's strategic areas of focus. In coagulants Kemira now ranks as the biggest supplier globally. Further growth is expected in the areas of chemical-biological solutions.
In 2002, Kemira's water treatment chemical business had net sales of about EUR 175 million and production in more than 30 countries.
For further information :
Kemira Kemwater
Stig H. Bache, Vice President
Tel +47 69 358 585
GSM +47 90 05 0620
Continental Europe
Kemira Chimica S.p.A.
Alvise Morin, Managing Director
Tel +39 02 693 3901
GSM +39 33 5130 5765