Evonik Industries, which recently acquired API manufacturing facilities in the US for the first time via the former Eli Lilly facility in Tippecanoe, has made two smaller, technology-based acquistions in Europe. Shortly after buying the catalyst business of H.C. Starck in Germany, it also bought Membrane Extraction Technology (MET) in the UK. Terms were not disclosed in either case.

The former deal brings Evonik the Amperkat range of activated nickel and other metal, or ‘skeletal’, catalysts and customsed supported catalysts, which are widely used in the production of APIs, sweeteners and starting materials for polyurethanes. After a short transition phase, it will relocate production from Starck’s Golsar site to its own at Hanau.

The company commented that its current and newly acquired product groups “are used in similar market segments, but their activity and selectivity differ enormously”, so this expands its capablities. In particular, this enables Evonik to make activated metal catalysts based on spray alloys and in tablet form, giving it additional freedom when designing high-performance catalysts.

With London-based MET, meanwhile, Evonik is adding new capabilities to its P84 fibres and high-performance polymers business and will become a major player in organic solvent nanofiltration. Membrane-based technologies are expected to see strong growth because of their energy-efficiency and low environmental impact; MET’s is said to be used in a wide range of chemical processes, simplifying product purification and saving energy.