Borica replaces toxic catalysts with eco-friendly solutions

Country Business Reports interviews and articles by Discovery Reports www.discoveryreports.com

It is unusual to see a chemical company prioritising policies on safety, health and the environment, and stressing sustainable and responsible activities over business profits, but these practices are typical within industry leader Borica.

For 20 years, Borica has focused on creating value for its customers and society by providing safe, high-quality and reasonably priced eco-friendly catalyst solutions and services. Starting as a speciality and commodity chemicals distributor to companies in the United States and Europe, Borica developed its capabilities to produce and sell its own products under the TYTAN trademark.

It manufactured fatty ester and speciality methacrylate monomer in Taiwan while remaining focused on an environmental approach. Through a talented team of experts, innovation-backed proprietary technologies and a strong sales and marketing division, Borica grew to become the No 1 titanium catalyst provider globally.

“We constantly innovate to apply new technologies in our creations,” says Kevin Tsuo, president and CEO. “Once our developed products become commercially successful in Taiwan, we launch them in other countries. We are a leader because we focus on constantly developing new products.”

The company’s core product TYTAN titanates lead the world’s pack of homogeneous esterification and transesterification catalysts. Typically used by plasticiser, acrylate and methacrylate manufacturers, the TYTAN range of organo-titanate and organo-zirconate based catalysts can be found in many applications today.

These include printing inks, industrial coatings with anti-corrosive properties, decorative paints, sealants, oilfield chemicals, polyurethane catalysts for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres and bottles, and coupling agents. Looking to grow its footprint, Borica eyes expansion in the PET bottle and fibre sectors by developing catalysts that reduce heavy metal pollution.

“We want to develop safer and eco-friendly chemicals to replace some of the top existing chemicals being used today,” Tsuo says. “For instance, we are working on a tin catalyst substitute to help industries protect employees by using non-toxic sealant and polyurethane catalysts.”

Empowering talented people in its main base and research and development centre in Taiwan, Borica trains staff to advance their knowledge and technical skills. In the product development pipeline are catalysts for lithium batteries to improve efficiency, and for self-cleaning glass to enhance energy savings.

While the company’s product range is very specialised, Borica covers markets worldwide. It seeks to share its technical experience with professors, students and research institutes.

“We collaborate with universities to educate them about what the industry needs,” Tsuo says. “This way, we foster sustainability and open up opportunities that produce mutual benefits.”

www.borica.com