A cost-effective, cleaner route to potassium sulphate
Ballestra’s Stefano Vignando provides an overview of an innovative, room-temperature, water-based route for potassium sulphate (SOP) production.
Ballestra’s Stefano Vignando provides an overview of an innovative, room-temperature, water-based route for potassium sulphate (SOP) production.
MaireGroup says that its NextChem subsidiary has completed the acquisition of the Ballestra group, a leading player in the licensing, design and engineering of processing plants, as well as in the supply of proprietary technologies and equipment for the chemical industry. NextChem says that the integration of Ballestra significantly strengthens its technology portfolio in phosphate and potassium fertilizers and completes its coverage of the full NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) spectrum. At the same time, it provides access to new segments with high growth potential, particularly in chemistry for the production and circularity of strategic materials needed to develop and expand electrification, where Nextchem is already present with metals recovery technologies following the recent acquisition of ETEK.
NextChem has signed a binding agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Ballestra Group, a global leader in the licensing, design and engineering of processing plants, as well as the supply of proprietary technologies and equipment for the chemical industry. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Milan, Ballestra is the holding of a group of companies comprising BUSS ChemTech AG (Switzerland) and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd (India). It operates in over 120 countries with approximately 450 employees and offices in Europe and Asia. NextChem says that the acquisition will bring intellectual property, advanced proprietary technologies and distinctive engineering competences to its value proposition in specialty chemicals, including fluorine derivatives for lithium-ion batteries and for the metals and mining industries. This acquisition will also create cross-selling opportunities with Tecnimont, Maire Group’s integrated engineering and construction services business unit, in relation to energy transition and material transformation projects. The enterprise value is €108.3 million, resulting in a purchase price of approximately €126.5 million, subject to adjustments at closing, which is expected in the first half of 2026.
NEXTCHEM has signed a binding agreement to acquire Ballestra Group for around €126.5 million. The announcement was made by Maire – Nextchem’s parent company – on 24th December.
Join us at the CRU Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid 2024 Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona, 4-6 November, for a global gathering of the sulphur and sulphuric acid community. Meet leading market and technology experts and producers, network, share knowledge, and learn about market trends and the latest developments in operations, process technology and equipment.
Fertilizer International presents a global round-up of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid and finished phosphates projects.
Ballestra is taking a new approach to improving nutrient use efficiency by moving methylene-urea production to the fertilizer industry. Massimo Gori and Svet Valkov of Ballestra discuss the technology and benefits of having a slow-release fertilizer that uses a product from within the fertilizer industry.
Ballestra, Nitricity, Solex Thermal Science and Stamicarbon showcase their state-ofthe-art equipment and technologies.
Leading companies such as Ballestra, Buss ChemTech, Elessent Clean Technologies (MECS) and Prayon Technologies are working together to solve the numerous production challenges facing the operators of integrated phosphate fertilizer production plants.
Paz Muñoz and Carmen Perez of Stamicarbon discuss the strategic selection of future-proof technology for nitric acid plants. To produce nitric acid in a feasible and sustainable way, manufacturers must carefully choose the right technology and consider the capex and opex involved in the production process to ensure long-term profitability.