It started with alkalis...
The story of the Solvay Group began on 15 April 1861, when Ernest Solvay (1838-1922) patented the industrial production of sodium carbonate - also known as soda ash - using common salt, ammonia, carbon dioxide (CO2) and lime.

Within barely 20 years, Solvay had soda ash plants all over Europe, located close to sources of salt and limestone in order to meet the strong demand prompted by rapid industrialization. The company soon became the world's leading producer of sodium carbonate.

Derivatives were quick to follow, in the form of sodium bicarbonate and caustic soda produced by causticizing sodium carbonate.

Solvay expanded rapidly: Syracuse (USA) in 1884

The chlorine was used to produce hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, and later organic derivatives.

The chlorine industry grew steadily after the Second World War. Solvay met demand by downstream integration. Plastics were coming into their own: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and allyl derivatives were added to the Group's product portfolio.

As sales of these products took off, Solvay began to look at the market for consumer goods

Peroxygens followed ...
Brine electrolysis also produces hydrogen. Originally used as a fuel, hydrogen later served in the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

Persalts and inorganic peroxides were added to the Hydrogen Peroxide cluster..

Solvay is now the world's leading producer of peroxygens, and its network of peroxygen production plants spans the globe. Solvay Interox companies and local partners operate close to their industrial markets, to ensure excellent service.

Today, the Alkalis and the Peroxygens activities are merged under the Chemicals Sector.
 
In 2005, the acquisition of a majority (74%) stake in the German company Girindus reinforced the Group’s strengths in the area of organic molecules for leading-edge markets.  Following this acquisition, the chemical sector created a new Strategic Business Unit, “Molecular Solutions”.

Plastics are a hit in the '50's...
Production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) opened up a third sector: Plastics.
PVC is made from chlorine and ethylene, using a process developed in the Group's laboratories. It is one of the key outlets for Solvay's chlorine production.

A policy of product integration and the international spread of production plants soon won Solvay a leading place on world markets for PVC.

Nonetheless, to avoid the vulnerability of depending on a single product, whatever its worth, and to offer its customers a broad selection of resins for specific applications, Solvay moved to diversify its range of plastics. In 1959, the Group started producing and selling various grades of high-density polyethylene, which were complemented in 1976 by a range of polypropylene formulations.

The Group also developed a range of Specialty Polymers, which are high value-added products resulting from intense R&D efforts. Their special properties make them fit for use in cutting-edge technologies and extreme conditions…even on the planet Mars, for some aerospace applications.

In 2001, Solvay initiated a major strategic move which resulted in the sale of its polypropylene and high-density polyethylene activities; and in the acquisition of the Specialty Polymers activities of BP and of Ausimont, a major producer of fluorinated specialties. High value Specialty Polymers are now among the largest contributors to the Group's financial results.

The Panoli R&D centre with
polyethersulfone plant in background

In the automotive field, Solvay researchers have powerful
tools for parts design and testing

The process of integration which began with PVC moved on to take in other products: high-density polyethylene, polypropylene and specially polymers.

The Group began offering a wide selection of products, including automobile parts and pipes.
 

Thus the Group acquired control of the entire production process, from the raw material to the finished product, consolidating know-how at every stage. Nowadays, plastics and processing are managed into the Plastics Sector. 

and finally, for your good health...
Given Solvay's interest and experience in organic chemistry, it was natural that in the 1950s, the Group should take part in the development of life sciences. These activities were placed in a separate Health sector in 1980.

Solvay gained a firm foothold in the new sector by acquiring pharmaceutical companies: first Kali-Chemie (now Solvay Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Germany), followed in turn by Latema and Sarbach (later merged with Solvay Pharma, France) and Duphar (presently Solvay Pharmaceuticals B.V., The Netherlands) and Reid-Rowell (presently Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA). Recent co-operation agreements have opened up worldwide markets for its pharmaceutical activities.

In July 2005, the Group finalized the acquisition of Fournier Pharma. It marked an important step in acceleration of the growth of the Pharmaceuticals Sector.
 
With this acquisition, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has decided to allocate its resources with priority to research and development to a limited number of selected therapeutic areas : cardiometabolic, neuroscience, influenza vaccines and pancreatic enzymes. In gastroenterology and women’s and men’s health, the priority will now focus on the market presence, especially for existing and well-established drugs.