Robertet expands its extraction capabilities with the acquisition of Phasex

The supplier of natural raw materials for fragrances and flavors, has inked an agreement to acquire Phasex, a pioneer in supercritical CO2 extraction based in North Andover, Massachusetts, United States.

Founded in 1981, Phasex focuses mainly on three market segments: natural products, biopharmaceuticals and polymers.

Supercritical CO2 extraction makes it possible to extract aromatic or functional components from a solid biomass or liquid raw material by using supercritical carbon dioxide. Supercritical CO2 is more environmentally friendly than available alternatives, such as hexane, butane and ethanol. The supercritical process involves using pressure and temperature to reach the supercritical phase, where the CO2 is between a liquid and a gas. In this phase, the CO2 offers unique dissolving powers, which makes it possible to remove certain components from the substrate material.

Phasex has remained at the forefront of this technology ever since it was founded, performing R&D and pilot tests through to large-scale production. The company has 30 employees and has recorded annual sales of between EUR 5 million and EUR 12 (USD 5.44 million and USD 13,06 million) over the past five years. Robertet says he wants to double its revenues in the coming years, in particular by developing new ranges of natural ingredients for both flavors and fragrances.

This acquisition of a supplier that has been working closely with Robertet since 2018 should help the company to strengthen production capacities and extend the CO2 extraction capabilities to clients in North America.

“The acquisition of Phasex represents a major step forward for us. Robertet is now the first company in the Fragrances & Flavors sector to have invested in CO2 extraction in North America, with a clear focus on high value-added extracts for both the Aroma and Nutricosmetics industries. By integrating Phasex’s expertise, we are further consolidating our position as a leader in natural ingredients as we develop more sustainable, efficient solutions for our customers. Through this transaction, we have strengthened our industrial base in North America, which is one of the key drivers toward our goal of achieving EUR 1 billion in total sales by 2030,” Jérôme Bruhat, Chief Executive Officer of the Robertet Group.