Tessenderlo is an international chemicals company with more than 100 branches in 21 countries. In 2008, it had sales of around Euro2.8bn and 8,100 employees. It has around 70 industrial sites located in Europe, including Belgium, France, UK, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. With over 110 global subsidiaries, it also operates in the US, Mexico, Brazil, China and Canada.
History
Founded in 1892, the company says it is ranked first in Europe and second worldwide in the manufacture of animal feed phosphates and is the leading worldwide producer of benzyl alcohol and benzyl chloride, liquid sulphur fertilisers, and sodium hydrosulphide. It is a major European producer of glycine and is the fourth largest producer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds and the sixth largest European producer of PVC.
Company movements
In June 2009, the US branch of Tessenderlo purchased the linuron herbicide assets from Dupont’s crop protection group. Please see US Tessenderlo Kerley acquires DuPont’s linuron herbicides or go to ICIS news.
The company is split into three business groups:
Chemicals
Inorganic Chemicals
The activities of this division are held largely responsible for the group's leading role in various global markets. Tessenderlo is a major player in inorganic chemicals. It claims to be the world's second largest producer of potassium sulphate, often used as a fertiliser. The company also produces sodium sulphate, which is often found in detergents.
A by-product of sulphate manufacture is hydrochloric acid. Tessenderlo claims to be the world's leading producer of this chemical. This acid is sold, but also used internally for phosphate production.
Another important product is zeolites which largely replaces phosphates in washing powders.
This division also includes the electrolysis unit. This includes the production of chlorine, which releases caustic potash and caustic soda. Along side the classic products of electrolysis there are its derivatives; ferric chloride and aluminium chloride are prepared. They can be used in water treatment and catalysts.
PVC
The main raw material for producing PVC is vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). The polymerisation of VCM to PVC occurs at its Southern Netherlands and Northern France plants. These two plants have VCM production capacity of 550,000 tonnes/year.
Plastics converting
It consists of companies which produce mainly pipes and fittings used for water supply and drainage systems, plumbing, etc., as well as profile sections and window frames. It also manufactures high performance semi-finished compounds ready to use (Tefanyl, Tefaprene, Tefabloc) in the shoe and building industries and in the automotive field. Overall, building and renovation applications represent 80% of the turnover achieved by the Tessenderlo group in plastics converting.
This business incorporates the Wymar group, Dyka Plastics, Sotra-Seperef, Plastival, CTS Cousin Tessier, Fairbrook, and Chelsea Building Products.
Specialities
Fine Chemicals
The fine chemicals division is based on two business units: organic chlorine derivatives and intermediates intended for the pharmaceutical industry.
Organic chlorine derivatives
Tessenderlo produces a total of 100,000 tonnes of benzene and toluene derivatives, as well as products derived from these, such as benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, phenylacetic acid, benzotrichloride and benzoyl chloride.
Intermediates for pharmaceuticals
Tessenderlo produces organic intermediates and active substances for pharmaceutical applications. It says it is the only European manufacture of glycine.
Natural derivatives
It claims to be the world's fourth largest producer of gelatins. The units within this division are:
Gelatin - The PB Gelatins division has a total capacity of over 21,000 tonnes/year shared between three factories in Europe. Around 50% of the gelatin produced by the group is intended for the food industry. The remainder is shared amongst the pharmaceutical and photographic industries.
Animal by-products - Via its French subsidiary, Caillaud, Tessenderlo is also a player in the collection and treatment of by-products of animal origin. In France, the Caillaud company has 13 industrial installations with an associated plant, Baert Verlee, in Elversele, Belgium.
Food additives- A third activity of this division involves the supply of flavouring products and blending of spices. Near Strasbourg, France PB Gelatins France specialises in spice mixtures for meat curing industries.
Tessenderlo
Strategy & Financial Highlights
Tessenderlo has set itself 5-year strategic objectives for its portfolio of businesses. The first of these is to reduce the share of commodities to below 30% over this period. The second is to obtain a return on capital employed (ROCE) of at least 12% in all its businesses. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Tessenderlo Strategy & Financial Highlights
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