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Latest News from IAL and the Global Chemicals Industry
Stay informed regarding IAL's latest publications and industry news covering the markets for Polyurethanes, Flavours & Fragrances and Thermal Insulation.


Somnigroup International Invests In Kingsdown
Somnigroup International is expanding its presence in the mattress industry by taking a minority stake in Kingsdown, a mattress manufacturer. According to executives of the company, the investment is indicative of Somnigroup's "confidence in Kingsdown's brand, heritage, and future." Novacap, the private equity firm that has maintained majority ownership of Kingsdown since 2018, maintains its majority stake. “Somnigroup’s investment represents a powerful endorsement of Kingsdo
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3 days ago1 min read


Symrise invests in Cellibre to drive fermentation-based flavour innovation
Symrise invests in Cellibre to drive fermentation-based flavour innovation
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4 days ago2 min read


dsm-firmenich opens its next-generation, completely automated pet-only premix facility in Tonganoxie, Kansas
dsm-firmenich opens its next-generation, completely automated pet-only premix facility in Tonganoxie, Kansas.
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4 days ago2 min read


Wanhua Chemical, ENGEL and Hitech Forge Strategic Alliance to Advance Polyurethane Innovation
On 10 October 2025, at the K Exhibition in Germany, Wanhua Chemical, ENGEL, and Hitech Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at driving innovation across the automotive manufacturing value chain. The signing ceremony was attended by senior executives including Hua Weiqi, Executive Vice President of Wanhua Chemical Group; Mr Gero Willmeroth, President Asia and Oceania of ENGEL; and Sun Wenqiang, Chairman of Hitech. This partnership unites three leading playe
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6 days ago1 min read


Nestlé introduces Carnation pistachio taste to enhance dessert pleasure
Nestlé introduces Carnation pistachio taste to enhance dessert pleasure
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7 days ago2 min read


The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Opens Fragrance Atelier in Paris to Accelerate Luxury Innovation
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has inaugurated its new Fragrance Atelier within La Maison des Parfums on Rue Volney, Paris, under the High Patronage of Emmanuel Macron, marking a major milestone in its global luxury fragrance strategy. The 2,000 m² innovation hub, blending French craftsmanship with modern design, is dedicated to advancing world-class fragrance expertise through AI-enabled creation, neuroscience modelling, and state-of-the-art technologies such as CO₂ supercr
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Oct 171 min read


PepsiCo launches Christmas crisp tastes, including Gingerbread Doritos
PepsiCo's Doritos Gingerbread, the brand's first-ever limited-edition seasonal flavour, will add a sweet twist to the savoury snack aisle this Christmas.
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Oct 161 min read


BASF and LEMON Sign MoU for Collaboration
BASF and LEMON Co., Ltd. have signed an MoU to co-develop advanced material solutions using Freeflex®, a fibre made from BASF’s Elastollan® TPU. LEMON, a leader in functional nanomembranes, will use Freeflex in its waterproof and windproof apparel. The partnership also explores future collaboration in technology and business development. Lee Jong-il, Chief Executive Officer, LEMON said , "This partnership with BASF allows us to expand the application of our electrospinning t
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Oct 161 min read


Centuary Mattresses Expands Into Sofa Segment
Centuary Mattresses, the retail brand of Shree Malani Foams, is stretching out beyond the bedroom and into the living room with a new line of sofas. The company is positioning its sofas as high-quality, premium products at accessible price points, with the marketing tagline “Comfort Re-engineered”. This strategic move allows the brand, already trusted for quality mattresses, to diversify into lifestyle seating solutions. The company has invested ₹50 crore in a 1,20,000 sq. ft
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Oct 162 min read


Stahl Launches Sustainable Embossable Polyurethane Solution for Synthetic Leather
Stahl, a global leader in speciality coatings for flexible materials, has unveiled PermaQure® EPU, a long-lasting embossable polyurethane (EPU) solution designed to enhance synthetic leather and PU-coated textiles across fashion, upholstery, footwear and more. Showcased at K 2025, the innovation builds on Stahl’s PermaQure® high-solids PU platform to deliver a robust embossing window and durable grain quality, ensuring seamless compatibility with existing PVC embossing lines.
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Oct 161 min read


TopBuild Acquires Specialty Products and Insulation (SPI) in $1B All-Cash Deal
TopBuild Corp., a leading installer and distributor of insulation, commercial roofing, and related building materials across the United States and Canada, has completed its acquisition of Specialty Products and Insulation (SPI) for $1.0 billion in cash. The deal, which closed on October 7, was financed using cash on hand, including proceeds from TopBuild’s September senior notes issuance. The acquisition does not include SPI’s metal building insulation (MBI) business. SPI, a
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Oct 162 min read


Givaudan opens a new White Biotechnology Innovation Centre in Toulouse, France
Givaudan, a global pioneer in fragrance and beauty, is pleased to announce the opening of its new White Biotechnology Innovation Centre (BIC) in Toulouse
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Oct 151 min read


Givaudan expands its China footprint with a new Guangzhou fragrance and production base
Givaudan has reached a significant milestone by breaking ground on a new, cutting-edge factory in Guangzhou, China, expanding its scented product capabilities in one of the world's most rapidly increasing markets.
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Oct 142 min read


Huntsman Expands TPU Distribution Partnership with WOBATEK Kunststoffvertriebs GmbH
Global chemical major Huntsman has expanded its long-standing distribution partnership with WOBATEK Kunststoffvertriebs GmbH, enhancing access to its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer portfolio in Central and Eastern Europe. Under the new agreement, WOBATEK will distribute Huntsman’s AVALON®, IROGRAN® and IROSTIC® TPU products in Austria, Poland, Southern Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Founded in 2000 and based in Sinzheim, Germany, WOBATEK is a special
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Oct 141 min read


Sawariya Group moves into the fragrance business with the acquisition of Scentido
Sawariya Group has announced the acquisition of Scentido, the country's premier premium niche fragrance retail brand.
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Oct 132 min read


OrthoLite Scales Foaming Facility in India
OrthoLite layed the foundation for the OrthoLite Foaming Plant in India. This marks a significant step forward in OrthoLite’s strategy to localize the entire product creation process from end to end while strengthening service and production capabilities to support regional and global brand partners. “We will produce the full OrthoLite range of comfort foams as we ramp up, including standard PU comfort insoles, hybrid formulations with recycled and regrind content, and low-de
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Oct 131 min read
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