Versalis (Eni) is Italy’s largest chemical company and holds market stewardship in manufacturing intermediates, polyethylene, styrenics and elastomers. It is interfacing with markets through globally-oriented strategies and market-driven product portfolio, emphasizing R&D and licensing. Versalis has also entered the bio-based chemicals and polymers industry partnering with leading global biotech companies. Through Matrìca, a 50:50 joint venture with Novamont, the company has turned an existing petrochemical site into a leading production and R&D centre for green chemistry at Porto Torres, Sardinia. It has also partnered with Genomatica, to produce butadiene from renewable feedstocks; it has started off a major project to produce guayule-based natural rubber for a research project aimed at utilizing guayulebased rubber in tire production; with Elevance Renewable Sciences for productions from vegetable oils at Porto Marghera. Amongst other green undertakings, it is worth noticing the R&D project on “yeast oils” from biomass to develop new bio-based products being conducted at the Versalis green chemistry centre at Novara. Recently, the company has entered into a brand new partnership with Solazyme, a renewable oil and bioproducts company, to launch and expand the commercial use of Encapso™ – the world’s first commercially-available, biodegradable encapsulated lubricant for .
As part of its strategy, the company aims to gain a leadership position in fast-growing markets by leveraging its technological and industrial expertise. Versalis is present with a subsidiary Versalis Americas headquartered in Houston, Tx, USA; in the Asia-Pacific region through its Shanghai-based subsidiary Versalis Pacific Trading, and in Mumbai, India, with subsidiary Versalis Pacific India. In the region, the company has entered into partnership with Lotte Chemical (South Korea) for development of its elastomer division, and with Ecombine and EVE Rubber Institute – respective subsidiary and affiliate companies of Mesnac, for a Joint Technology agreement to develop an innovative technology for high performance green tires.
Versalis has entered into a strategic partnership with Neville Venture for the production of hydrocarbon resins at the Versalis Priolo plant in Sicily, Italy.
