Towell Engineering Group and GFBiochemicals Form JV
MUSCAT, Oman/GELEEN, the Netherlands — Towell Engineering Group, Muscat, Oman, and GFBiochemicals, Geleen, the Netherlands, announced the formation of a joint venture for the production and marketing of bio-chemicals using GFBiochemicals’ proprietary technology.
The aim of the joint venture company, NXTLEVVEL Biochem, headquartered in Geleen, the Netherlands, is to build a leading position in bio-solvents and bio-plasticizers based on levulinic acid. Levulinic acid is considered a key bio-based building block enabling a wide portfolio of derivatives. The GFBiochemicals technology is the first that enables cost-effective production of levulinate derivatives at industrial scale. The technology has been developed for more than 10 years, and the company has more than 200 global patents to its credit. Combined with GF Biochemicals’ technology and Towell Engineering Group’s experience in engineering, construction and project management, NXTLEVVEL Biochem BV is poised to become a global player in the industry.
Aris de Rijke, who joined GFBiochemicals in 2014 after a career at Shell and DSM, will act as Chief Executive Officer of NXTLEVVEL Biochem. Steve Block, former executive of Elevance Renewable Sciences, will be the Vice President of Business Development, Sales & Marketing. Rudy Parton, who has devoted most of his professional life to the development of biomass to levulinic acid and its derivatives technologies, will be the Chief Scientific Officer.
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