Ticona starts work on new Germany polymers plant

30 September 2008 12:59  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Ticona will start production of engineering polymers at the Hochst industrial park in Germany in 2011 after relocating the operation from its existing Kelsterbach site, the company said on Tuesday.

Over the next two years, Ticona, the engineering polymers business of the US' Celanese, will build the production unit, the pilot plant and the research and development facility at the site, it said at a cornerstone-laying ceremony.

The 10-hectare Ticona plant will have a capacity of 140,000 tonnes/year, an increase of 40% over the current capacity at its Kelsterbach site. 

The regional government office in Darmstadt approved the project in May, while the final construction and operating permit was granted in mid-September.

Hochst industrial park is operated by Infraserv Hochst, providers and operators of infrastructures for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Europe.

“Hochst industrial park justifiably considers this relocation as its ‘project of the century,’ and we are proud to see it become a reality now,” said Jürgen Vormann, managing director of Infraserv Höchst.

Roland Koch, minister-president of the German state of Hesse, said: “The relocation of the Ticona site from Kelsterbach to Höchst industrial park gives the company state-of-the-art production facilities. Its qualified jobs remain in the region.”

The company reached a settlement in November 2006 to move its production of Hostaform polyacetal copolymer (POM) and Celstran long fibre reinforced thermoplastics after a long-winded dispute over the construction of a new runway at Frankfurt international airport.

It would receive €650m ($942m) over five years to pay for the relocation and make way for the airport’s expansion.

($1 = €0.69)

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By: Hilde Ovrebekk
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