Between October 25th and 27th, Managers and Directors of Esseco Industrial assembled in Versilia for the Division quarterly meeting, focusing on analyzing the third-quarter performance and prospects. Delegates from various subsidiaries, including Esseco UK, Addcon, Altair Chimica, Hydrochem, and other Esseco affiliated companies worldwide, engaged in discussions concerning the market dynamics marked by persistent demand stagnation within an increasingly uncertain international landscape.
The inaugural session of the event commenced with a warm welcome from Francesco Nulli, CEO of the Esseco Group. Roberto Vagheggi, General Manager of Esseco Industrial and CEO of the chlorine-alkali division took the helm of the proceedings. He started by reflecting on the imminent second anniversary of Esseco Industrial‘s establishment in November 2021, offering an affirmative evaluation of the enhanced collaboration and the sharing of best practices facilitated by the new organizational structure.
The Corporate Level: transformation path and results
On a Division level, this transformative journey has different steps, such as the Zolfindustria and Esseco’s Chemical Division merging, successfully concluded in 2022. The next phase will involve the integration of Hydrochem and Altair Chimica, giving rise in the coming months to Altair Chemical. This consolidation of activities related primarily to the chlorine-alkali market under a single brand represents a significant stride in fortifying Esseco Industrial‘s market position, driven by greater transparency in their commercial offerings.
These corporate-level restructurings have corresponded to intensive internal reorganization activities, involving functions and processes, allowing for significant synergies in capital expenditures, procurement, management control, and operations, with particular reference to customer service and logistics activities. Newly created central functions will amange all regulatory aspects, certifications, and institutional relations, ensuring that Esseco Industrial conveys its strategies and mission with clear and more prominent messages. Finally, a single office has been established for all companies to participate in tenders to obtain funding to support our investments.
Throughout the days, interventions from various companies within the group – Altair Chimica and Iberica, Esseco Italia, Esseco UK, Addcon Nordic, Addcon Germany, Esseco do Brasil – presented the results achieved and prospects until the end of 2023. The work on the sustainability budget and efforts in the field of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) garnered great interest, driven with dedication by the individual companies of the industrial division. This is particularly true regarding the energy mix of Esseco Industrial, which is gradually but rapidly shifting towards zero CO2 emission sources, using solar energy produced both on production sites and through Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) in Lazio, Marche, and Sicily; hydroelectric energy through the two plants in Pieve Vergonte; and soon, biomethane, in an advanced stage of study and design.
About Esseco UK
Esseco UK had Ruggero Pellegrin, Managing Director, and Rob Smart, Commercial Manager, as their representatives at the event. During the gathering, Eng. Pellegrin initiated his address by outlining Esseco UK‘s quarterly performance results. Then, he delved into the company’s development and innovation projects, such as the Solar Panel project and the new Sulphur Burner and Waste Heat Recovery. Specifically, Esseco UK is implementing a new solar panel facility on the roofs of the Wakefield production site’s buildings. The panels will cover an area of 250 square meters and will allow for a reduction in electricity usage from the grid up to 65 MWh per year.
In 2024, the EssecoUK Team will install and start up a new Sulphur Burner and Waste Heat Recovery system. The recovery of heat from the combustion of Sulphur will enable Esseco UK to reduce electricity consumption from the grid. Additionally, it will reduce the consumption of fossil fuel in traditional steam generators (boilers) by 95%. The two projects will reduce the Site carbon foot print by more than 68%.
The Company, in line with the Division objectives, has supported and will continue to deploy a significant portion of its investments for an energy mix evolution, starting from the 5.7 million Euro investment for the new burner and waste heat recovery system to the 170,000 euros invested to complete the solar panel project. The goal is to reach a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025.
