10th China International Metal Working Fluid Technology Seminar and Industry Equipment lubrication conference 2024
Industry News
Introduction
At the 22nd China International Lubricating Oil and Application Technology Exhibition (Inter Lubric China), LUBRICANT GUIDBOOK visited the exhibition site in depth, communicated with companies, and discussed with experts.
This time, LUBRICANT GUIDBOOK reporter Ms. Huang Yingmei came to the Clariant booth and interviewed Mr. Miao Zhigang, Senior Vice President of Clariant's Care Chemicals business and President of Global Industrial Applications, to gain an in-depth understanding of the development and expansion of Clariant, a veteran chemical giant, in the Chinese market based on a new strategic background!
The old and the new are replaced by the new, and the strategy moves forward.
As a global leading specialty chemicals company, Clariant has made several industrial adjustments in the past few years. Continuous updates and iterations are the strategic control of Clariant Group on its future development, which is conducive to better reflecting its value as a fine chemical company.
The reporter learned that Clariant has frequently changed its business in recent years, and has divested its medical packaging, masterbatch, pigment business and quaternary ammonium salt (Quats) business in 2019, 2020 and 2022 respectively. In March this year, Clariant also completed the divestiture of its North American onshore oil business.
Mr. Miao mentioned that Clariant divested some relatively traditional industrial business units, and adjusted the structure and operating model of existing business units. At present, under the guidance of the Clariant Group's purpose-"Innovative Chemistry Achieves Harmony between Heaven and Man", Clariant is more focused on the following four aspects:
① Customer-centric: Clariant looks forward to working with customers to create more meaningful impacts by shaping the future together with customers;
② Innovative chemistry: Accelerate innovation, and chemical innovation provides more possibilities for social development;
③ Leading sustainable development: Clariant is leading the transition to sustainable development and is at the forefront of the sustainable development track with customers;
④ Employee co-construction: Clariant is building a culture of possibility, paying more attention to employees, empowering employees in a more inclusive environment, and developing together.
Investment layout and market operation.
In recent years, Clariant has been actively transforming to a high-growth, high-profit specialty product portfolio, supplemented by complementary acquisitions to achieve profitable growth. As a global chemical company, Clariant is closely following the development of the Chinese market.
"In the past five years, Clariant's investment in China has exceeded US$300 million, mainly in advanced materials such as catalysts, care chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and flame retardants. Among these investments, most projects have been put into production. For example, in April this year, Clariant's catalyst plant in Jiaxing, Zhejiang officially started production, and there will be more new Clariant plant production plans in the future. Clariant is proving its confidence in the Chinese market and its commitment to Chinese customers with practical actions and investments."
Looking at the lubricant market, the current industry market is becoming more and more mature, and the competition is becoming more and more sufficient. Regarding how to view and respond to today's market environment, Mr. Miao believes that China has experienced a very difficult period in the past three years. Due to the impact of the epidemic, market demand and other conditions have fluctuated. But from Clariant's perspective, Mr. Miao believes that the market is still very promising. Mr. Miao also quoted a saying to us: "The market is infinitely large, and it depends on who is more capable; the market is infinitely small, and there is you but not him." The lubricant industry is in the ascendant. New energy vehicles, photovoltaics, semiconductors and other industries are booming. Lubricants, as industrial lubricating media, will still be able to play their due value in the future, making industrial development smoother and faster.
China's economy is huge and is a market that cannot be ignored or replaced in the world. According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce of China a few days ago, from the source, from January to May this year, the actual investment in China by France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan increased by 429.7%, 179.2%, 170.1% and 63.3% year-on-year respectively.
Mr. Miao has positive confidence in the development of the Chinese market and the lubricant industry: "In a nutshell, the Chinese market must be one of the markets with the greatest potential. Whether in terms of market development trends, total market volume or consumer consumption potential, China is still one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The lubricant industry is closely related to the development and expansion of industry. I think after a short period of adjustment after the epidemic, the industry will soon regain confidence. Moreover, the future growth of the lubricant industry tends to focus on the development of innovative products, innovative solutions and green and low-carbon. Clariant's products can well help the lubricant-related industries achieve green, environmental protection, high efficiency and energy saving in terms of high efficiency and low energy consumption.
Innovative development helps low carbon.
Innovation and R&D are the lifeblood of a company's long-term development. Clariant has world-leading production and R&D capabilities. When it comes to R&D and innovation, Mr. Miao revealed to LUBRICANT GUIDBOOK that Clariant has invested heavily in innovation, with annual investment in R&D accounting for 3% of total sales. Last year, its investment in R&D exceeded US$150 million.
Secondly, Clariant has established research and development centers in different regions around the world. Clariant has R&D and operation centers in almost every continent in the world, and the R&D center in China is located in Shanghai. The Shanghai R&D Center covers research, development and application functions. In addition to serving China, it also reserves and develops technology for some special industries in Asia and even the world.
In terms of product lines, Clariant pays great attention to the innovation, efficiency, low carbon and sustainable development of product lines. It is mainly manifested in completely green raw materials, advanced processes and equipment, and simulated customer on-site application scenarios.
In addition, Clariant has many partners around the world, including universities, research institutes and other R&D institutions. A large number of cooperative innovation projects have promoted the development of technology and the updating of formulas.
Sustainable development is a common challenge facing the world, which requires coordinating the relationship between growth, society and the environment. This is an unprecedented proactive change for all mankind. To help reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, Clariant has set a 2030 science-based carbon reduction target: By 2030, Clariant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from scope 1 (direct greenhouse gas emissions generated during the production process, such as by burning fuel) and 2 (indirect greenhouse gas emissions from secondary energy consumption, mainly electricity and steam) by 40% compared to 2019, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from scope 3, that is, purchasing goods and services, by 14% compared to the same period.
Postscript
Clariant has a 28-year history of development since its establishment. It has been moving forward firmly in turbulence and change, and insisting on the output of unique value under the competitive situation of "involution".
When talking about Clariant's future development priorities, Mr. Miao said: "I think Clariant will develop in these three directions in China in the future. First, pay more attention to our customers. Clariant will create more innovative projects with customers to improve their competitiveness and the overall level of the industry. Secondly, pay attention to new industries, such as photovoltaics, new energy, chips and other industries that are developing rapidly and have technical barriers, so as to drive innovation and product development. Finally, it is consistent with our company's strategy, that is, to cultivate a large number of different types of talents, including marketing, technology, sales, product supervision, etc., in order to build a solid foundation to achieve our development goals."
In the future, Clariant will continue to follow the development trend of the market and focus on the topic of sustainable development. Faced with the rise of anti-globalization thoughts, the international community is increasingly aware that the world is still closely connected. In fact, the more interdependent, the stronger the resilience of enterprises. Clariant will also continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese lubricant and peripheral product market. Looking into the future, Clariant hopes to leverage its existing investments, production capacity, technology, and teams in China to work with customers to develop innovative solutions to help industries, customers, and consumers truly achieve a green and low-carbon quality of life!
Mr. Miao Zhigang, Senior Vice President of Clariant Care Chemicals and President of Global Industrial Applications, and Ms. Huang Yingmei, a reporter from LUBRICANT GUIDBOOK
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