NEXTCHEM (MAIRE) signs toll manufacturing agreement with Röhm for chemical recycling of PMMA

• Röhm will supply the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) scrap material to be processed by MyRemono via the NXRe™ PMMA technology and chemically transformed into ultra-pure monomers with virgin-like quality against a tolling fee
• MyRemono’s investment for the technology development and scale-up, as well as for the construction of the first industrial-scale plant, is expected to be approximately €15 MM, mainly funded by a bank loan and the EU Innovation Fund grant
• The facility, expected to be completed by 2026 in Italy, will yield recycled MMA with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduced by > 90% and process 5,000 tpy of PMMA, sufficient to produce about 10 MM car taillights
• The agreement follows the establishment of a Europe-wide circularity network for PMMA, including MyRemono, Röhm, Pekutherm and Polyvantis

MAIRE has announced that NEXTCHEM (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary MyRemono, has signed a toll manufacturing agreement with Röhm under which Röhm will supply PMMA scrap material feedstock to be processed and chemically transformed by MyRemono into ultra-pure monomers with virgin-like quality.

This initiative leverages on NEXTCHEM's proprietary NXRe™ technology, an advanced and efficient molten metal depolymerization process for the continuous chemical recycling of PMMA. Röhm will also act as the off taker of recycled methyl methacrylate monomer (rMMA), to be reused for the manufacturing of new PMMA products in a fully circular process. The agreement provides for a processing fee to be paid by Röhm to MyRemono.

The initiative follows the establishment of a Europe-wide circularity network for the recycling of PMMA, which includes MyRemono, Röhm, Pekutherm and Polyvantis. Pekutherm will manage the logistics and sorting of PMMA materials, while Polyvantis will handle the mechanical recycling.

MyRemono will manage the chemical recycling of PMMA scrap material at its first-of-its-kind industrial-scale plant, currently being developed in Italy, with the support of the EU Innovation Fund. The plant is expected to be completed in 2026 with an initial processing capacity of about 5,000 tpy of PMMA, an amount needed to produce approximately 10 MM car taillights, demonstrating how significant volumes of recycled material can replace virgin resources in manufacturing.

Compared to the current virgin MMA production routes, the recycled MMA produced via NXRe™ PMMA TECHNOLOGY is expected to feature a carbon footprint reduction of more than 90%. MyRemono’s overall investment for the technology development and scale-up, as well as for the construction of the first industrial-scale plant, amounts to €15 MM, mainly funded by a bank loan and the €4-MM EU Innovation Fund grant.

With this agreement NEXTCHEM sets the base for the licensing of its NXRe™ PMMA technology, a key milestone for the future development of chemical depolymerization of other value-added materials, such as polystyrene and polyolefins.

Alessandro Bernini, MAIRE CEO, commented: “Our NXRe™ PMMA technology will play a key role in advancing circularity, serving as one of the core pillars of our value proposition for circular solutions and sustainable materials. The implementation of this world-first advanced recycling plant, and the creation of this industrial consortium are a clear example of the relevance and validity of how disruptive technologies respond to current challenges.”

From left: Hans Peter Hauck (COO, Röhm), Lukas Dössel (Director Circular Economy, Röhm), Daniela Pfister (Commercial Director, Pekutherm), Heiko Pfister (Managing Director, Pekutherm), Giovanni Sale (Corporate and Business Strategy SVP, MAIRE), Massimo Di Amato (Circular Solutions VP, NEXTCHEM and Managing Director MyRemono).

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