Innovative green technology

Chimcomplex SA Borzești, headquartered in Onești, Bacău county, concluded the project on April 30, 2024. The project was implemented at the Rm Vâlcea plant. It was co-financed through the “Business Development, Innovation, and SMEs” program, under contract number 2021/331014, with Innovation Norway serving as the program operator.

The total eligible value of the project is €2,431,000, with non-repayable financial assistance amounting to €1,215,000.

The overall objective of the project is to make the Chimcomplex production processes eco-friendly and align the company’s activities with circular economy principles.

Investing in innovative technology for environmentally friendly polyol production was the next necessary step after the inauguration of one of Europe’s most modern polyol plants in 2022. This €40 million investment increased the company’s production capacity to over 187,000 tons per year.

These innovative “green polyols,” produced using the new technology, replace the petrochemical components of conventional polyols with less polluting alternatives or natural oils such as castor oil, soybean oil, and palm oil. Further down the production chain, these “green polyols” are used to create soft foams for pillows, mattresses, and other automotive components.

The impact of this investment is significant:

• The new production line will allow Chimcomplex to increase its existing capacity by an additional 17,000 tons of special polyols annually. After client testing, these new polyols will enter serial production, significantly reducing their environmental impact due to the nature of the technologies and raw materials used in manufacturing.
• Replacing conventional polyols with the new special types will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 3,400 tons annually.
• The company’s competitiveness will improve through portfolio expansion.
• The new facility enhances the company’s adaptability to customized product needs for individual clients. Product design will be done collaboratively with customers, adapting formulas based on their requirements.
• Current and future clients can purchase the new “Made in Rm. Vâlcea” polyols, reducing the carbon footprint of their final products and labeling them as environmentally friendly.

Amalia Ionescu, project manager, stated, “This new investment completed at the Rm. Vâlcea plant reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and development. We thank Innovation Norway for supporting the project. Over the past 5 years, Chimcomplex specialists from the Advanced Polyol Research and Development Center have created new experimental polyol types, which can now be rapidly tested and widely used by our clients. Fine chemicals add value to Romania overall and to consumers in particular. We all desire safer and healthier products for everyday use. You can rely on the expertise of chemists to find solutions for environmental challenges and develop technologies that reduce our planet’s negative impact.”

The project was carried out in partnership with International Development Norway, a Norwegian organization with over 20 years of experience in international projects focused on eco-business best practices.

Read the Press Release – Project Start

Read the Press Release – Project Completed