Solvay (company)


 * This article deals with the company named Solvay. For other meanings see Solvay.

Solvay is a Belgian chemical and pharmaceutical company. It was founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay to produce sodium carbonate by the solvay process. Since then the company has diversified to three major sectors of activity: pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics.

Solvay, which operates in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics, generated EUR 8.6 billion of sales in 2005 from more than 400 units spread over 50 countries. The company employs about 30,000 people, 2,650 of them in research.