10 CHEMICALS KNOWLEDGE HUB Issue 1 / July 2025 XiMo launches construction of an industrial production for innovative metathesis catalysts Pioneering Olefin Metathesis Technology Finds a New Home in Hungary: XiMo, a global leader in olefin metathesis and a specialist in cutting-edge catalyst development, marked a major milestone with the groundbreaking of its new production facility in the Gödöllõ Innovation and Logistic Park (Gödöllõi Innovációs és Logisztikai Park), just 30 kilometers northeast of Budapest. Backed by a multi-million-Euro investment, the new plant will focus on the large-scale production of XiMo’s innovative metathesis catalysts—technology rooted in Nobel Prize-winning science and central to the company’s core expertise. XiMo’s parent company, Verbio SE, is investing EUR 27.7 million in the project. The investment is supported by a 20 percent subsidy from the Hungarian government amounting to EUR 5.5 million. The plant will bring Nobel Prize-winning technology to an industrial scale, marking a major step toward greener, more sustainable chemical production. Production launch planned for summer 2026 The new facility will enable the large-scale production of advanced catalysts that drive olefin metathesis—a transformative chemical reaction at the heart of greener, more sustainable chemistry. This cutting-edge technology empowers the chemical industry to replace fossil-based feedstocks with renewable, plant-derived alternatives such as rapeseed methyl ester. By enabling the efficient conversion of bio-based raw materials into high-value products—including pheromones for sustainable crop protection, plant-based flavors and fragrances, lubricants, surfactants, and polymers—olefin metathesis plays a vital role in reducing environmental impact and advancing the transition to a circular, lowcarbon economy. “The new plant will enable us to produce molybdenum-, tungsten- and ruthenium-based catalysts on an industrial scale,” says Dr. Levente Ondi, Director of XiMo Hungary Kft. “We expect to begin regular production in summer 2026.” Appreciation and support by the Hungarian government The groundbreaking ceremony at the Gödöllõi Üzleti Industrial Park located – 30 kilometers northeast of Budapest – brought together government officials, company representatives, and business partners to mark the start of construction. Among the distinguished guests were the State Secretary at the Ministery of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Levente Magyar and Mayor of Gödöllõ, Dr. György Gémesi. The Hungarian government emphasized the economic and environmental impact of the new XiMo facility during the groundbreaking ceremony. Verbio SE, the German-based parent company of XiMo, is investing a total of EUR 27.7 million in the construction of the new catalyst production facility. The Hungarian government is supporting the project with a 20 percent subsidy, contributing EUR 5.5 million (HUF 2.2 billion) in public funding. Theodor Niesmann, CTO at Verbio SE, expressed appreciation for the partnership: “On behalf of Verbio, I would like to sincerely thank State Secretary Magyar and the Hungarian government for their ongoing support and trust in our company. Your commitment is deeply valued.” Pioneering green solutions for sustainable chemistry A significant share of the catalysts produced at the Gödöllõi plant will be used by Verbio in its new plant for bio-based chemicals in Bitterfeld, Germany. There, the company is currently building the world’s first Ethenolysis plant to manufacture renewable molecules from rapeseed methyl ester –marking another key milestone in Verbio’s commitment to sustainable innovation. The chemical industry, with its energy-intensive processes and reliance on fossil resources, faces growing pressure to meet ambitious climate targets. Verbio’s renewable chemicals based on XiMo’s innovative catalysts are helping to redefine what is possible. NEWS
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