Expoquimia’s tribute to chemical companies, entities and professionals

As part of its 60th anniversary, Expoquimia today held an event of sectoral recognition in which some thirty distinctions were awarded to highlight the loyalty of the exhibiting companies present since the first edition in 1965, as well as the trajectory of companies, entities, media and professionals who have contributed decisively to the development of the chemical industry in Spain.

The tribute was attended by the general director of Fira de Barcelona, Constantí Serrallonga; the president of Expoquimia, Carles Navarro; and the director of the show, Xavier Pascual. During his speech, Serrallonga stressed that Expoquimia “has been built thanks to the people and companies that have trusted the project since its inception, turning it into a solid community that, over six decades, has grown on the basis of collaboration, shared knowledge and trust”.

The first to receive the recognition were a dozen companies that participated in the inaugural edition in 1965 and that are still present at the show today, a symbol of a key loyalty to consolidate Expoquimia as a benchmark. Carlo Erba Reagent, Endress y Hauser, Hellma, JP Selecta, Lapeyra y Taltavull, Lleal, Metrohm Hispania, Mettler-Toledo, Ollearis, Orbe Organización de Ventas, Quimipol – J. Blanch Ferrer and Syntegon Telstar Technologies have been distinguished, examples of continuity and resilience in a sector in constant transformation.

Notable business anniversaries

The event also served to recognise companies that celebrate relevant milestones in their history. Among them are Labbox Labware, which celebrates its 20th anniversary; Denios, 40 years old; Contagas, Técnica de Fluidos, Deltalab, Auxilab and the AEQT (Tarragona chemical hub), which reach 50 years of age; Watson Marlow, 70 years old; Wika Instruments, 80 years old; Haver & Boecker Ibérica, centenarian; Biesterfeld, 120 years old; and Robert Bosch Spain, which reaches 140 years of history.

The recognition has also been extended to entities and media that play a key role in areas such as associationism, business promotion and the dissemination of knowledge within the chemical industry. In this section, the following have been distinguished: Acció, for its 40th anniversary; the publications Revista PQ and Técnicas de Laboratorio, both 50 years old; the College of Chemists of Catalonia, which celebrates its 75th anniversary; ANQUE, 80 years old; and Leitat, which has 120 years of experience.

The event concluded with the recognition of the professional career of the Professor Emeritus of IQS and president of the Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering (MeCCE), Rosa Nomen, and the professor of Chemical Engineering at the Complutense University of Madrid and president of the Chemistry and Society Forum, Carlos Negro. Both have stood out for their contribution to the scientific, academic and industrial development of the sector. Both represent careers marked by knowledge, innovation and commitment to the progress of chemistry, in tune with the evolution of the show itself.

The president of Expoquimia, Carles Navarro, stressed that “these recognitions highlight an industry that has been able to reinvent itself over the decades without losing its essence and that today is key to facing the great global challenges from innovation and sustainability”. For his part, the director of the show, Xavier Pascual, stressed that “Expoquimia is the reflection of this evolution and the confidence of a sector that has made the show its meeting point generation after generation”.

Organised by Fira de Barcelona, Expoquimia brings together more than 400 exhibitors in Hall 2 of the Gran Via venue until tomorrow, Friday.

Barcelona, June 4, 2026

Group’s photo here

Maria Dolors Herranz
Tel. 93 233 25 41
[email protected]