AFYREN, a greentech company that offers manufacturers natural, low-carbon products created with technology based on natural micro-organisms, recently announced the completion of the construction phase of the AFYREN NEOXY plant, its industrial commissioning and the annual financial results for the year ending December 31, 2021.

 

Nicolas SORDET, AFYREN’s CEO, stated, “2021 was a transforming year for AFYREN, culminating in the IPO in September. The year 2022 also promises to be full of challenges and we are pleased to have met the first one with the launch of the industrial commissioning of our AFYREN NEOXY plant on the Carling Saint-Avold site, in accordance with the announced schedule and at cost. We now have the financial resources and a first industrial tool to accelerate the achievement of our Purpose. We enable low-carbon, circular industry by providing biobased solutions built with our partners to benefit the environment.”

 

In the second half of 2020, AFYREN launched the construction of AFYREN NEOXY, its first large-scale plant, located in Carling-Saint Avold, in the Grand Est region. AFYREN NEOXY is the first industrial-scale plant for the production of biobased carboxylic acids from sugar beet co-products. These ingredients are widely used in human and animal nutrition, flavors and fragrances, cosmetics, and fine chemicals. 

 

Today, the construction phase for this plant is nearing completion: all the equipment has been delivered and the acceptance and start-up process is underway in accordance with the planned schedule. These tests will be spread out over several weeks for a gradual commissioning of the different equipment, a test phase that will prepare the launch of production.

 

The construction phase went smoothly and on time, despite the health crisis (more than 200,000 hours worked, with a strong mobilization of our teams and partners, bringing the number of people present on site simultaneously to more than 150 at the height of the project). The construction phase was completed at cost, including provisions for possible adjustments to be made during the start-up phase. The operating team is now fully recruited.

 

AFYREN NEOXY will launch the production of its seven biobased organic acids with the objective of delivering the first batches during 2022.

 

Jean SAINT-DONAT, President of AFYREN NEOXY, adds, "The industrial commissioning of the AFYREN NEOXY plant is a key step in the history of AFYREN. We are ready to start and deliver the first batches of biobased acids developed with AFYREN technology this year. We are facing this transition to industrial scale with serenity alongside the fifty or so new employees already recruited and trained, and we are confirming our deep commitment to the environment by promoting short supply and sales channels thanks to our strategic geolocation in the heart of Europe.”

 

The commissioning of the first AFYREN NEOXY plant will enable the delivery of the first batches from 2022. In parallel, AFYREN is currently studying the implementation of plant n°2 for commissioning at the end of 2024, notably by analyzing different scenarios for several raw materials, in North America and Asia, by ongoing discussions with potential partners and by evaluating the structuring of the financing.