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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.
The first Solvay soda factory was opened in Couillet, Belgium in 1865. It used salt from rock salt mines; the lime and CO2 were produced by the calcination of limestone in limekilns. The ammonia was recovered from the production process for re-use.
The first Solvay factory at Couillet (Belgium) photographed in 1877.
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
With caustic soda in ever greater demand, in 1898 Solvay started producing it directly by the electrolysis of brine, a process which also yields chlorine and hydrogen. In view of its scope for diversification, electrolysis gradually came to replace the causticization units.
The chlorine was used to produce hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, and later on 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 repertoire.
As sales of these products took off, Solvay began to look at the market for consumer goods
Peroxygens followed ...
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Brine electrolysis also produces hydrogen. Originally used as a fuel, hydrogen later served in the production of hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide was joined by persalts and inorganic peroxides.
Solvay companies are now the world's leading producers 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.
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Tanks of hydrogen peroxyde at Banksmeadow
(Australia) being loaded onto road trains,
which transport them in safety
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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,” combining Girindus, Peptisyntha (peptide synthesis), the fluorides organic chemistry business and Solvay Specialties France’s fine chemicals production units.
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Plastics are a hit in the '50's...
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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.
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Processing is the next step...
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In the 1960s, Solvay continued its move downstream of PVC production with the launch of a Processing activity. The move into plastics processing gave the Group command of every stage of the production process for a range of plastics. It also provided a buffer against the negative effects of cyclical variations in raw materials prices .
The process of integration which began with PVC moved on to take in other products: high-density polyethylene, polypropylene and technical polymers.
The Group began offering its industrial customers and consumers alike a very wide selection of products, including foils, automobile parts and pipes.
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In the automotive field, Solvay
researchers have powerful tools for
parts design and testing
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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.
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and finally, for your good health...
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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 finalised the acquisition of Fournier Pharma. It marked an important step in acceleration of the growth of the pharmaceuticals activities.
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Fluvoxamine, a new type of
antidepressant developed by researchers
at Solvay Pharmaceuticals B.V. Marketing
agreements have been signed with
Pharmacia & Upjohn in the United States
and in Europe and Fujisawa
and Meiji Seika in Japan.
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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.
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Today, Solvay concentrates on core activities with faster growth in pharmaceutical and Specialties and competitive Essentials
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