Lanxess has sold its chrome chemical business to China based Brother Enterprises. According to Lanxess, all relevant antitrust authorities have given the necessary approvals for the transaction, which was announced in August 2019. The German chemicals company said it has received cash proceeds of approximately €80 million upon completion of the transaction. Brother Enterprises has also taken over the Newcastle site in South Africa, which employs about 220 people and where sodium dichromate is produced, some of which is processed into chromic acid. Lanxess is to continue to manufacture chrome tanning salts from sodium dichromate in Merebank, South Africa, exclusively for Brother Enterprises on a contract basis, presumably until 2024.
On January 20 – 21, Lanxess will be organising its fifth symposium for the leather and apparel industry at its Cologne headquarters. The manufacturer said it “aims to convey a deeper understanding” of the production of the leather material, especially with regard to the use of chemicals. Aimed at brand manufacturers, representatives from the apparel industry and other industrial sectors, the symposium agenda will include presentations on the latest legal requirements and sustainability in leather production.
