Renmatix of King of Prussia has entered into a partnership with the Helsinki-based pulp and paper multinational UPM. Under the recently announced joint development announcement, both companies will further develop Renmatix’s proprietary, water-based Plantrose process to convert woody biomass into low-cost sugar intermediates for further processing into biochemicals and fuels. The ultimate goal: cost-competitive, bio-alternatives for certain petrochemicals on an industrial scale.
The Plantrose process, says Renmatix, deconstructs cellulosic biomass, from wood waste to agricultural residue, much more quickly and cheaply than existing technologies.
“Consistent with our state’s strong heritage in traditional chemicals, Renmatix is focused on converting a broad range of non-food plant material into cellulosic sugars that will enable the chemical industry’s transition forward to a bio-based future,” says Mark Schweiker, the former Pennsylvania governor and Renmatix senior vice president. “We are leading this transition and building the biochemical cluster in our own backyard. Its rapid development, which is enabled by our sugars, will help to stimulate bio-industrial growth and reinvigoration of rural economies in many regions across the country.”
The new collaboration “combines UPM’s core competencies in sustainable sourcing and efficient industrial processing of wood with Renmatix’s unique conversion technology,” said Michael Duetsch of UPM in a statement.
Renmatix opened its headquarters in King of Prussia in 2011 and currently employs 54 in Pennsylvania. It opened an R&D facility there in 2012, and earlier this year commissioned a new processing facility at the technical center to support commercial development with its key partners. The company also has a facility in Georgia capable of converting three dry tons of cellulosic biomass into sugar per day.
Source: David Okubo, Antenna Group
Writer: Elise Vider
