| Type | Société anonyme |
|---|---|
| Traded as | Euronext: SOLB |
| Industry | Chemicals |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Founder(s) | Ernest Solvay |
| Headquarters | Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium |
| Key people | Aloïs Michielsen (Chairman), Christian Jourquin (CEO) |
| Products | Chemicals and plastics |
| Revenue | €7.109 billion (2010)[1] |
| Operating income | €305 million (2010)[1] |
| Profit | €1.777 billion (2010)[1] |
| Total assets | €14.01 billion (end 2010)[1] |
| Total equity | €6.839 billion (end 2010)[1] |
| Employees | 16,785 (FTE, end 2010)[1] |
| Website | www.solvay.com |
Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company with its head office in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. It was founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay to produce sodium carbonate by the solvay process. Since then the company has diversified to two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. It was formerly also active in pharmaceuticals, but agreed to sell that entire division to Abbott Labs for €4.5 billion in September 2009,[2] a deal completed in February 2010.
In 2010, the group’s consolidated sales amounted to €7.109 billion generated by its activity sectors. Solvay employs about 16,800 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext in Brussels.
The firm agreed the €3.4 billion acquisition of French-based chemicals company Rhodia on 4 April 2011.[3]
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Pope John Paul II worked for Solvay during World War II to avoid deportation to Germany.[4] Solvay was the main shareholder in Sucreries Raffineries Bulgares (1897–1916), once the largest industrial enterprise in the Principality of Bulgaria.[5]
Solvay has its head office in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium.[6]
Solvay's United States subsidiary, Solvay America, Inc., is based in Houston, Texas.[7][8]
Solvay is main partner of Solar Impulse and has contributed to the airplane in particular, with important R&D resources, which is scheduled to make maiden test flights in 2010.[9]
Fuel cell technology:
SolviCore, a joint venture by Umicore and Solvay in the field of fuel cells is already pre-marketing membrane-electrode assemblies for different types of batteries for portable or mobile use.[10]
New generation lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles components make use of Solvay fluorinated polymers. Compared to conventional vehicles the hybrids reduce CO2 emissions by 30%.[11]
Soil remediation
Novosol: sodium bicarbonate-based process for treating and recovering mineral residues contaminated with heavy metals. [12]
Renewable feedstock
Development and industrialization of proprietary Epicerol process for manufacturing epichlorhydrin from natural glycerin.[13]
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