Here at CheMondis we strive to provide and sustain a trusted marketplace for buyers and suppliers. In order to put this into practice, we are proud to introduce two new features on our marketplace.
Suppliers can now profit from credit checks and debt collection services. We have recently started to test both features and would be happy to receive your feedback. The features were implemented to create more transparency on the marketplace and to increase convenience considering the overall cashing process.
Imagine you receive a purchasing request from a new buyer and want to verify if they are able to meet their payment target. The process of searching, finding, and evaluating credit checks is time-consuming and expensive. On CheMondis, you can now get credit checks before striking a deal, during our pilot phase even free of charge.
Even worse, imagine your customer is not able to fulfill the payment, which you previously agreed to. Typically, one would contact and hire an Incasso service. Again, the process of searching, finding, and evaluating an appropriate debt collection service is time-consuming and expensive. CheMondis has the solution. Now Suppliers can request access to our debt collection service, administered by our trusted partner.
Credit Rating Request
When selling products online suppliers do not always know who they are dealing with. It is hard to determine if a buyer is creditworthy and solvent – especially when they are first-time buyers. As a supplier, it is therefore incredibly helpful to understand your buyer’s financial behavior – ideally without having to deal with external rating agencies.
The “Credit Rating Request” allows suppliers to request a credit report at the push of a button. Our credit-rating provides a basis for efficient decision making. While gaining buyer information, suppliers can now decide which payment option to offer. Either grant buyers invoicing or demand payment in advance. Take the decision you consider as most secure for your business – before striking a deal.
After you hit the ”Payment Overdue Help Request” button we will provide you with a debt collection offer – within a few business days. The credit reports are provided in collaboration with our trusted partner and contain the following information:
Creditworthiness Index & Credit Limit
Get information about the creditworthiness of the business partner at one glance and thus identify risks at an early stage. This allows you to effectively prevent debt losses and sustainably secure your business results.
Financial Data
Get financial data of the past 3 years. This includes both the individual and consolidated financial statements in accordance with the German Commercial Code (HGB) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Payment Experience
Payment experiences include both invoices paid within the payment period and late payments. If a company repeatedly exceeds the payment deadline, it is statistically proven that the probability of insolvency increases many times over.
For this reason, our trusted partner Creditsafe has built a pool of payment experiences. The pool is currently fed by 7,000 partners and enables you to view over 74 million payment experiences worldwide.
Information about the Managing Director
Get information about current and former managing directors, shareholders and authorized signatories, which includes the following details:
First & Surname
Address
Date of birth
Nationality
Function in the company
Number of previous and current orders
Date of order and cancellation
Furthermore, you can find out whether Companies in which the managing director previously held a managing position are still active or insolvent. And if the managing director has already accompanied companies into insolvency.
Your benefits in a Nutshell
As a Supplier: Get a basis for efficient decision making, regarding potential new buyers. Also, profit from less administrative work, near to zero-time consumption and lower general costs while using our “credit rating request”. In case something should go wrong, we also offer support when a payment is overdue.
Debt Collection Service
Debt collection is an unpleasant topic – but it can happen. In case your buyer has difficulties paying your invoice, you can make use of our debt collection service. If you notice payment is overdue, you can now request debt collection directly via our marketplace.
The CheMondis customer support will reach out to you and the buyer to clarify the situation. Request debt-collection directly on CheMondis and profit from less administrative work, near to zero-time consumption and low general costs. Use our new features and benefit from the simplicity and convenience of our marketplace.
Now it is up to you
What do you think of our new features? Are they helpful? What is most helpful to you? And which other features could be useful on the marketplace? Let us know and leave a comment in the section below!
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
In the past nanotechnology sounded like science-fiction, nowadays it is fully incorporated in our daily lives. Even if we don’t always notice nano-particles – they are widely applied in chemical and downstream industries.
Nano-particles have unique physical and chemical properties due to their high surface area and nanoscale size (ranging from 1nm-100nm). The properties are dependent on the particle size and shape, allowing the possibility of tuning the material according to the required characteristics.
Figure 1: Properties that are improved when a bulk material is produced as the analogous nano-particle, and the respective applications derived from them.
As shown in figure 1, the decrease of size from materials in micro-size to nano-sized, causes:
an increase in the surface area
anti-bacterial properties
hardness
electron band gap
changes in the optical, electric and magnetic properties.
Due to these characteristics, they are suitable candidates for various commercial and domestic applications, which include catalysis, imaging, medical applications, energy-based research, and environmental applications.
Main applications of nanomaterials
Paints & coatings
Cosmetics
Catalysts
Lightening / display industry
Energy sector: solar cells / batteries
Membranes and filters
Cosmetics
After recognizing the estrogen-like activity of numerous organic sunscreen additives, inorganic UV absorbing pigments based on titania nanoparticles and zinc oxide were introduced at a large scale to the cosmetics industry.
There, nanoparticles were advantageous since they range below 50 nm. Visible light scattering becomes negligible, and corresponding UV protection can be realized with a reduced whitening effect that is typical on sunscreen products.
Other applications of Nanoparticles in the cosmetic industry include skin creams and lotions. These use proteins derived from stem cells or other nutrients, which are encapsulated in nanoparticles and merge with the membranes of skin cells to allow an active delivery in deeper skin layers.
Paints & Coatings
Additives containing nanoscale materials have previously been used in the production of paints and coatings. For example, barium sulfate and iron oxide as coloring pigments and synthetic amorphous silica to influence the fluidity of the product.
Today it is possible to tailor the nanostructures in the coating industry to the specific needs of the various applications. Novel nano-based coatings are used today, for instance, to functionalize surfaces, to provide protection against corrosion and dirt, to prevent biological soiling and graffiti, or to create attractive designs by special color effects. The German Paint and Printing Ink Industry Association (VdL) estimates that by 2020 about 20 % of the turnover in Germany will come from the use of nanotechnology.
Lightening
With more efficient and cheaper technologies, LED lighting and displays have allowed ultra-flat, very bright, and power-saving applications.
Most recently, quantum dots (semiconductor nanoparticles with dimensions of up to 10 nm) have become one of the most promising optoelectronic materials. Quantum dots have tunable and valuable properties. They are assumed to be the next-generation display technology.
Quantum-Dot-based materials have purer colors, longer lifetime, lower manufacturing cost, and lower power consumption. Another key advantage of the quantum dot displays is that, because Quantum Dots can be deposited on virtually any substrate, one can expect printable and flexible – even foldable – displays of all sizes.
Energy sector: solar cells, batteries
Solar cells are exposed to intense radiation – this creates a strong demand for extremely bleach resistant materials.
Further it puts severe limitations on the use of organic materials, particularly when designing organic photovoltaics. As a result, the design of increasingly or even predominantly inorganic solar cells is a major research area, and functional layers are subsequently replaced using nanoparticle-based inks.
A recent example is the so-called hole injection layers, today accessible using transition metal oxide nanoparticles.
On top of that, nanoparticles have been changing the battery industry due to the production of materials with nanopore. This allows a selective exchange and transport of some components.
Membranes and filters
Traditional manufacturing of water filtration membranes is based on the so-called phase inversion. Here, a nonsolvent is used to precipitate a polymer in the form of a pre-shaped, partially dissolved film. This elegant process suffers from huge solvent consumption and difficult process control.
Splitting up film formation and nanopore generation, recently afforded an easy to control process. First leading to a composite film that is subsequently converted into the final porous Membrane.
Catalysts
Nanomaterial-based catalysts are usually heterogeneous catalysts, broken up into metal nanoparticles – in order to speed up the catalytic process. Metal nanoparticles have a higher surface area. There is increased catalytic activity, in comparison to the analogous bulk material, because more catalytic reactions can occur at the same time.
Nanoparticle-surface supports heterogeneous catalysts, permitting the materials to be dispersed in a reaction medium and rapidly removed when isolating a product.
The surface activity of gold is undoubtedly the most prominent and outstanding example of industrial relevance.
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
The chemical industry supplies raw materials to almost every other industry and is essential for economic competitiveness. Although essential, chemicals must be properly managed to avoid damage to human health and the environment. Each country or economic union has a specific way of regulating and controlling chemicals. Within the European Union, we have REACH.
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals. It is a European Union regulation that addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. REACH came into force on the first of June 2007 and has been described as the most complex legislation in the European Union’s history.
REACH AIM: Improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals and promote alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances.
How does REACH work?
REACH establishes procedures for collecting and assessing information on the properties and hazards of substances. The regulation has been established by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which manages the technical, scientific, and administrative aspects of REACH.
ECHA receives and evaluates individual registrations for their compliance. Further EU member states evaluate selected substances to clarify initial concerns for human health or for the environment. Authorities and ECHA’s scientific committees assess whether the risks of substances can be managed.
To comply with the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They must demonstrate how the substance can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users.
REACH obligations are not only complied with manufacturers of chemical substances, but also to all companies which deal with preparations of the product or articles that contain those substances. For this reason, REACH has an impact on a wide range of companies across many sectors.
If you are an importer of chemical and non-chemical products (such as paints, clothes, furniture, plastic, etc.) you need to ensure that all components should be registered under REACH. Companies established outside the EU are not bound to the obligations of REACH.
The responsibility for fulfilling the requirements of REACH, lies with the importers established in the European Union, or with the only representative of a non-EU manufacturer established in the European Union. REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year, per manufacturer/importer. Some substances are excluded from all or certain aspects of REACH.
Total exemptions
Radio-active substances
Substances under customs supervision
Substances used in the interest of defense and covered by National exemptions
Waste
Non-isolated intermediates and transported substance
Partial exemptions
Substances used in food
Medicinal products;
Substances included in Annex IV of the REACH Regulation which are known to be safe (such as Nitrogen)
Corn
Oil
Substances covered by Annex V of the REACH Regulation
Substances which occur in nature, if they are not chemically modified
Minerals
ores, ore concentrates
cement clinker
natural gas
liquefied petroleum gas
natural gas condensate, process gases and components thereof
crude oil, coal, coke
Substances occurring in nature other than those listed under paragraph 7, if they are not chemically modified unless they meet the criteria for classification as dangerous according to Directive 67/548/EEC. (Examples include beeswax and some fibers)
Polymers (however, monomer shall be registered)
Recycled or recovered substance already registered
Re-imported substance
Substances used for the purposes of product and process-oriented research and development (PPORD) Note: PPORD notification shall be submitted instead.
China, the largest chemical manufacturer in the world, has also moved towards a more efficient and coherent system for the control of chemicals in compliance with GHS. Balkan countries such as Croatia and Serbia are in the process of adopting the EU REACH system under the auspices of the EU IPA program.
Switzerland has moved towards the implementation of REACH through partial revision of the Swiss Chemical Ordinance. Turkey has also paved the way to adopt REACH with the new Chemicals Management Regulation.
Transported isolated intermediates
Manufacturers or importers of transported isolated intermediates in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year need to submit a registration dossier(unless the substance is exempted from the registration provisions). The information to be submitted for standard registration purposes is listed under article 10.
However, a registrant of transported isolated intermediates can provide reduced registration information according to article 18 (2) if he confirms that he is manufacturing and/or using the substance under strictly controlled conditions and if he confirms himself or states that he has received confirmation from the user that the substance is used under strictly controlled conditions as described under article 18 (4).
In that case, both the registrant and the users are each liable for their own statement regarding the strictly controlled conditions.
Article 18 on CheMondis
As described in our Terms & Conditions, suppliers must comply with the regulations in order to sell their products on CheMondis. Next to safety and technical datasheets, users can add other relevant information about their products.
Further, suppliers are requested to tick a specific box indicating that their products are regulated by article 18, which covers the registration of transported isolated intermediates.
Our chemical team constantly re-checks all product information, including the indications about article 18. Nevertheless, CheMondis cannot be heald liable for all information provided by third-party-sellers.
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
Producing efficient energetic sources, that keep up with the world’s demand, is a challenge that goes hand in hand, with creating means of energy storage. Conventional lithium-ion batteries have nearly reached their physical limits, restraining advances on electronics, renewable energy, e-vehicles, and several other industries.
Solid-state batteries are an emerging promising option – as the next-generation energy storage technology.
Conventional battery technology
Battery technologies, applied nowadays, are based on two solid metal electrodes, with a lithium salt serving as a media for the ions flow. As the battery charges, the ions move through the liquid electrolyte, from the cathode metal to the anode metal, and the other way around when the battery discharges.
Cathodes are typically made of different classes of Li-based oxides, phosphates, such as lithium cobalt oxide. While anodes are typically made of titanates, Li-alloys, and metallic lithium and carbon forms, such as graphite.
Disadvantages
The lithium price is high (=High production cost)
Reduced lifetime, due to a natural charge-discharge degrading effect
The decomposition of the electrolytes releases hydrogen gas, can result in explosions.
Risk of leakage and/or corrosion, due to the liquid electrolyte
Solid-state battery technology
Solid-state (SS) batteries, on the other hand, use a solid material to promote the ion flow. The cell chemistry, of solid-state cells, is in general the same as of liquid electrolyte cells. Solid electrolytes are produced using polyethylene glycol and conducting Li-based materials (salts, ceramics, and glasses).
Advantages
Solid-State batteries contain no flammable material
cannot produce hydrogen gas (dramatic improvement in operational safety)
Allows for the use of higher-voltage cathode materials, which improves energy density (more energy storage / same battery size)
They weigh less and require less space (Since no cooling system is required)
Solid-state batteries can potentially cycle 10–100 times more than liquid batteries
Stability of SSEs also allows solid-state batteries to be charged and discharged at very high rates without unwanted side reactions, which increases the scope of application
But nothing is perfect
Solid-state batteries are still more expensive than conventional energy storage technologies. A study from the University of Florida has estimated that a typical cell phone-sized solid-state battery would cost about $15,000 to manufacture.
One battery big enough to power an electric car would cost, somewhat around $100,000. One of the causes for this is, once again, the high costs of lithium on the market. Therefore, several on-going studies focus on finding out alternative materials for electrodes and electrolytes.
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
As a B2B marketplace, CheMondis is dedicated to connecting key players of the chemical supply chain. We offer a unique digital purchasing and distribution experience on a cloud-based platform. But what does that even mean? What’s a marketplace? What’s the difference in comparison to a web-shop? And which of both is the best practice?
What is the difference between a marketplace and a online shop?
Simple: Online shops sell their own products digitally via the internet, while marketplaces offer a space to buy and sell products digitally. Typically, an Online shop has one single supplier, while a marketplace has a multitude of suppliers offering products.
Onlineshop vs. Marketplace: Best practice?
Onlineshops are an independent way to sell products online. Onlineshop sellers are not obliged to comply with the conditions of the marketplace and (usually) don’t pay transaction fees. It’s great not having to be reliant on a third party. However, while establishing an online shop one must provide a digital structure.
Either, one can use a web-based-service to use a pre-built online shop, or one can engineer a self-made online shop. Both ways are linked to high entry and maintenance costs. Above all challenges, leading customers to your shop and generating sufficient traffic, might just be harder than expected.
High marketing expensesare required, in order to achieve enough traffic. The cost and time spent establishing an online-shop are often underestimated.
On the other hand, a marketplace has close to no entry costs, the digital structure is already given, and marketing is provided by the platform. Users can practically start buying and selling right after registration. While selling and buying products online, there is no ideal way to go.
Smart buyers and suppliers don’t choose between one or the other, but rather use both.
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
