M&As: Indorama acquires Cargill’s surfactants brands in energy extraction; Dieffenbacher acquires composites business of Schmidt & Heinzmann

Thailand-based chemical firm Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited has announced that its Indovinya business segment—through its flagship subsidiary Indorama Ventures Oxides LLC—has agreed to acquire two brands in the energy extraction sector, targeting demulsifiers and flow assurance products, from Cargill Bioindustrial UK Limited. This strategic action augments Indovinya’s specialty surfactants offering, it adds. Terms were not disclosed.

The acquisition includes valuable trademarks, customer relationships, 25 patents, tolling rights, and an R&D facility in Houston, Texas. The Kemelix and Flowsolve brands are central additions to Indovinya’s growing portfolio of innovative solutions, which are used in optimising operations in the oil and gas sector. These products are vital for demulsification and flow assurance processes, addressing challenges in energy extraction and enhancing operational efficiencies.

Kemelix includes high-performance demulsifiers that facilitate the economical separation and removal of water from crude oil. Its best-in class product range covers alkoxylates, polyamine derivatives, and modified polyols for demanding field conditions, including heavy oil, low temperature, and low/high water applications.

Flowsolve includes asphaltene and wax inhibitors that improve the end-to-end flow of crude oil from the reservoir to the refinery. The range of additives are designed to suit different crude oil types, such as onshore, offshore, and deepwater.

Alastair Port, Executive President of Indovinya, said, “Integrating these established brands and their strong customer relationships will enhance our presence in the energy extraction market and ensure we continue to meet our customers’ evolving needs through superior service and innovative solutions. The acquisition bolsters Indovinya’s expanding portfolio of innovative High Value Add (HVA) specialty surfactants. It is part of the Indovinya segment’s strategy to develop its leadership in high-growth markets in Home & Personal Care, Crop Solutions, Coatings & Construction, and Energy & Resources through customer-centric innovation, strategic partnerships and targeted acquisitions.”

In other news, German manufacturer of press systems and complete production plants for the wood-based panels, forming and recycling industries Dieffenbacher GmbH has acquired the composites business of the insolvent Schmidt & Heinzmann GmbH & Co. KG based in Bruchsal, Germany. The acquisition includes all intangible assets such as design and project documents and the know-how of the composites business. The employment contracts of the business unit’s 30-plus employees will be transferred to Dieffenbacher. Terms were not disclosed.

Schmidt & Heinzmann filed for insolvency at the beginning of August 2024. Rising raw material costs and the belated introduction of strategic measures led to the company’s economic difficulties. “Despite this, Schmidt & Heinzmann enjoys an excellent reputation in the composites industry as a world leader in SMC manufacturing technologies. The company’s products are internationally recognized for their superior quality and performance,” explains Dieffenbacher CFO Lukas Langer.

“These attributes are a perfect fit. Our forming business unit has accomplished projects in the composites industry for almost 100 years. We also have a long tradition in the SMC sector,” says Georg Obermaier, Head of the Forming Business Unit at Dieffenbacher. ”Schmidt & Heinzmann systems expand our delivery spectrum. We’ll also be able to offer our existing SMC customers an even more comprehensive range of services. No changes to the Schmidt & Heinzmann portfolio are planned. We’ll also maintain their service and spare parts supply,” he adds.

“We’re already having intensive discussions with Schmidt & Heinzmann customers about continuing joint projects,” added Langer.

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