Celanese

Last updated
Celanese Corporation
Company type Public
ISIN US1508701034
IndustryChemicals and advanced materials
PredecessorCelanese AG
Founded1918;106 years ago (1918) in New York City
Founder Camille Dreyfus
Headquarters
Irving, Texas
,
U.S.
Area served
Global
Key people
  • Lori J. Ryerkerk (CEO)
  • Scott Richardson (COO)
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$10.9 billion (2023)
Increase2.svg US$1.69 billion (2023)
Increase2.svg US$1.96 billion (2023)
Total assets Increase2.svg US$26.6 billion (2023)
Total equity Increase2.svg US$7.09 billion (2023)
Number of employees
12,410 (2023)
Website celanese.com
Footnotes /references
[1] [2]

Celanese Corporation, formerly known as Hoechst Celanese, is an American technology and specialty materials company headquartered in Irving, Texas. [3] It is a Fortune 500 corporation. The company is the world's leading producer of acetic acid, producing about 1.95 million tonnes per year, representing approximately 25% of global production. [4] Celanese is also the world's largest producer of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). [5]

Contents

Celanese operates 25 production plants and six research centers in 11 countries, mainly in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company owns and operates the world's three largest acetic acid plants: one in the Clear Lake area of Pasadena, Texas, [6] one on Jurong Island in Singapore, and a third in Nanjing, China. [4] [7]

History

In 1918, the American Cellulose & Chemical Manufacturing Company (known as Amcelle) was founded in New York City by Swiss chemist Camille Dreyfus. [8]

The American Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Co. Ltd plant in Cumberland, Maryland, was set up during World War I to produce cheaper fabric for airplane manufacturing. The plant location was chosen inland to protect against Zeppelin attacks. It was also situated in proximity to a ready source of water at the Potomac River and easy access to coal supplies and railroad lines. After a series of delays, production began on Christmas Day, 1924 with a series of cellulose acetate commercial fabrics and yarns intended as alternatives to silk. [9] The plant was closed in 1983, [10] and was later torn down to provide a space for a new state prison. [11]

The company had introduced the word “Celanese,” a combination of “cellulose” and “ease” in 1925, seeking to promote the ease of cleaning and care of their acetate yarn, or artificial silk, fabrics. They officially took this name in 1927, becoming Celanese Corporation of America.

After World War II

In 1947, Celanese started producing acetate fiber at its plant near Ocotlán, Jalisco, Mexico. The plant was closed in 2019. [12]

By 1958, Celanese had 13 domestic plants, three research and development centers, some 30 groups of products, and approximately 13,000 employees. [13]

In 1959, Celanese commissioned Edward Durell Stone, a 20th-century American architect, to build the “Celanese House,” a model home in New Canaan, Connecticut, to showcase the company's new materials and styles. [14]

Celanese spiral logo.svg
Logo introduced in the 1970s, designed by Saul Bass

Celanese bought operations of the British chemicals firm Imperial Chemical Industries in 1982. This included the Fiber Industries Incorporated plant in Salisbury, North Carolina, a part of Invista since 2004. [15]

In 1983, Celanese built a $20 million plant in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to produce polybenzimidazole (PBI), a material used to fabricate high-performance protective apparel used in firefighter's gear and astronaut space suits. [16]

Celanese spun off its pharmaceutical business as Celgene in 1986.

In 1987, Celanese Corporation was acquired by Hoechst and merged with its American subsidiary, American Hoechst, to form Hoechst Celanese Corporation. [17]

In 1998, in a $2.7 billion deal, Hoechst Celanese sold its Trevira division to a consortium between Houston-based KoSa, a joint venture of Koch Industries, IMASAB S.A., and Grupo Xtra, both of Mexico. [18] [19] [20] Also in 1998, Hoechst combined most of its industrial chemical operations into a new company, Celanese AG.

In 1999, Hoechst spun off Celanese AG as a publicly traded German corporation, cross-listed on both the Frankfurt and New York stock exchanges as "CZZ" and "CZ", respectively.

On 16 December 2003, the U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group announced a takeover offer for Celanese, [21] after two years of wooing management. [22] Shareholders formally approved the offer from Blackstone on 16 June 2004, and Blackstone completed the acquisition of Celanese AG. The company was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, and Blackstone changed the entity's name back to Celanese Corporation. Under Blackstone, a number of streamlining initiatives were undertaken, and several acquisitions were made.

On 21 January 2005, Celanese Corporation conducted an initial public offering and became a publicly traded corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CE". [23] When Blackstone sold the last of its shares in 2007, it had made five times what it had invested and it, and its co-investors collected a $2.9 billion profit. [24]

In June 2009, the company sold its polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) business to Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. [25]

Celanese has a process to make ethanol from natural gas. [26] [27]

In late 2020, Celanese sold their 45% stake in Polyplastics to Daicel, who already owned 55% of the company. This transaction resulted in Daicel attaining full ownership of Polyplastics. [28]

Class action lawsuits

In 1985, Hoechst Celanese was named along with Shell Oil and US Brass as a defendant in a class action lawsuit for $7 billion in both past and potential future damages for which they were accused of being liable because of leaks in their polybutylene (PB) plumbing systems. [29] The lawsuit alleged a complex scheme to mislead buyers into believing that PB plumbing systems were suitable for use as potable water distribution systems and purportedly enjoying a lifetime of 50 years service. According to the lawsuit, scientists from the defendants allegedly reported that the PB plumbing systems would degrade even when exposed to low concentrations of chlorine typically found in municipal water systems. The lawsuit claimed that in spite of this knowledge, the defendants concealed the information and continued to market these products (Shell supplying PB resins to water pipe manufacturers and Hoechst Celanese providing acetal resins to manufacturers of pipe fittings) until approximately 1996. [30] The lawsuit was settled in 1995 for US$ 950,000,000. [31]

In January 2014, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of the citizens of Cannon's Campground, seeking relief from health and environmental dangers posed by groundwater and surface water contamination emanating from the Hoechst-Celanese manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. [32] The lawsuit alleged the dumping of a number of toxic chemicals into local waters, which has diminished property values and caused a number of illnesses. Hoechst Celanese asked the courts to dismiss these charges as spurious, claiming that its discharges have not caused substantial harm to anyone or to the environment, and further asserting that a 3-year limit on tort claims had expired, relieving the company of any responsibility for damages which might be eventually discovered. [33]

Products

Celanese cellulose acetate factory near Narrows, Virginia Celanese Viscose factory near Pearisburg, Virginia - panoramio.jpg
Celanese cellulose acetate factory near Narrows, Virginia

Acetyl intermediates

Acetyl intermediates is Celanese's largest segment, with a product range consisting of basic chemicals such as acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and vinyl acetate. Customers of acetyl intermediates and industrial specialties are in the chemical, paint and coatings, construction, and adhesive industries for polymerization.

Advanced engineered materials

Advanced engineered materials offers plastic polymers to customers in the automotive, electronics, telecommunications, and medical industries. Major products include engineered plastics for fuel system components (provided by Ticona, the engineering polymer business of Celanese), conveyor belts, electronics, safety systems, emissions filtration, and fluid handling. Polymer production is improved by the acquisition of SO.F.TER Group, Forlì, in Italy in 2016. [34] [35]

Consumer specialties

The food ingredients business Nutrinova produces the high intensity sweetener Sunett (acesulfame K), the preservatives Nutrinova, potassium sorbate, and sorbic acid, and other food ingredients. Major end-use markets include beverages, confections, baked goods, and dairy products. In 2021, Celanese ranked 7th on FoodTalks' Global Top 20 Food Preservative Companies list. [36]

Celanese is one of the world's largest producers of cellulose acetate. Acetate products are primarily used in cigarette filters, as well as in the production of fashion apparel and linings. Celanese also manufactures Clarifoil cellulose acetate film that is wood pulp based and certified biodegradable and compostable in home and industrial composting conditions.

Industrial specialties

Industrial specialties, using the feedstock from acetyl intermediates, manufactures polymer and emulsions such as polyvinyl acetate emulsions, and specialty chemicals as ethylene vinyl acetate. Major end-use markets include polyvinyl alcohol producers, paper, mortar and gypsum, textiles, paints, coatings, and adhesives manufacturers.

Advanced fuel technology

TCX Technology is a hydrocarbon-based ethanol production process developed and marketed by Celanese and launched in November 2010. Celanese researchers developed the TCX Technology to create a fuel that helps countries reduce their need to import oil and gas. Celanese plans to invest $700 million to build one-to-two plants in China and one in Texas that will produce TCX-based ethanol. [37] [38]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemical industry</span> Industry (branch), which is engaged in the manufacturing of chemical products

The chemical industry comprises the companies and other organizations that develop and produce industrial, specialty and other chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into commodity chemicals for industrial and consumer products. It includes industries for petrochemicals such as polymers for plastics and synthetic fibers; inorganic chemicals such as acids and alkalis; agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides; and other categories such as industrial gases, speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petrochemical</span> Chemical product derived from petroleum

Petrochemicals are the chemical products obtained from petroleum by refining. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as maize, palm fruit or sugar cane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetate</span> Salt compound formed from acetic acid and a base

An acetate is a salt formed by the combination of acetic acid with a base. "Acetate" also describes the conjugate base or ion typically found in aqueous solution and written with the chemical formula C
2H
3O−
2. The neutral molecules formed by the combination of the acetate ion and a positive ion are also commonly called "acetates". The simplest of these is hydrogen acetate with corresponding salts, esters, and the polyatomic anion CH
3CO−
2, or CH
3COO−
.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyvinyl acetate</span> Adhesive used for porous materials

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA, PVAc, poly(ethenyl ethanoate)), commonly known as wood glue, PVA glue, white glue, carpenter's glue, school glue, or Elmer's Glue in the US, is a widely available adhesive used for porous materials like wood, paper, and cloth. An aliphatic rubbery synthetic polymer with the formula (C4H6O2)n, it belongs to the polyvinyl ester family, with the general formula −[RCOOCHCH2]−. It is a type of thermoplastic.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetic anhydride</span> Organic compound with formula (CH₃CO)₂O

Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the chemical compound with the formula (CH3CO)2O. Commonly abbreviated Ac2O, it is the simplest isolable anhydride of a carboxylic acid and is widely used as a reagent in organic synthesis. It is a colorless liquid that smells strongly of acetic acid, which is formed by its reaction with moisture in the air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cellulose triacetate</span> Chemical compound

Cellulose triacetate, triacetate, CTA or TAC is a chemical compound produced from cellulose and a source of acetate esters, typically acetic anhydride. Triacetate is commonly used for the creation of fibres and film base. It is chemically similar to cellulose acetate. Its distinguishing characteristic is that in triacetate, at least "92 percent of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated." During the manufacture of triacetate, the cellulose is completely acetylated; whereas in normal cellulose acetate or cellulose diacetate, it is only partially acetylated. Triacetate is significantly more heat resistant than cellulose acetate.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinyl acetate</span> Chemical compound

Vinyl acetate is an organic compound with the formula CH3CO2CH=CH2. This colorless liquid is the precursor to polyvinyl acetate, ethene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, and other important industrial polymers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isopropyl acetate</span> Chemical compound

Isopropyl acetate is an ester, an organic compound which is the product of esterification of acetic acid and isopropanol. It is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic fruity odor.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetic acid</span> Colorless and faint organic acid found in vinegar

Acetic acid, systematically named ethanoic acid, is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula CH3COOH. Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main component of vinegar apart from water. It has been used, as a component of vinegar, throughout history from at least the third century BC. Acetic acid is also known as acetyl hydroxide (AcOH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Celanese</span>

British Celanese was a chemical company based in England. It was formed in 1916,,in 1957 it became a subsidiary of Courtaulds and was closed in 2012.

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TCX Technology is the brand name for a hydrocarbon-based ethanol production process developed and marketed by Celanese Corporation. Celanese researchers developed the TCX Technology in its Clear Lake City, Texas plant under the direction of its CEO to create a fuel that helps countries reduce their need to import oil and gas. Celanese launched the TCX Technology in November 2010 and plans to invest $700 million to build one-to-two plants in China and one in Texas that will produce TCX-based ethanol. Celanese expects to produce approximately 300 million gallons of TCX ethanol by 2016.

<i>Acetobacter aceti</i> Species of bacterium

Acetobacter aceti, a Gram-negative bacterium that moves using its peritrichous flagella, was discovered when Louis Pasteur proved it to be the cause of conversion of ethanol to acetic acid in 1864. Today, A.aceti is recognized as a species within the genus Acetobacter, belonging to the family Acetobacteraceae in the class Alphaproteobacteria. Its bacterial motility plays an important role in the formation of biofilms, intricate communities where A. aceti cells aggregate and collaborate, further enhancing their ability to metabolize ethanol and produce acetic acid. Widely distributed in various environmental niches, this benign microorganism thrives in habitats abundant in fermentable sugars, such as flowers, fruits, honey, water, and soil, present wherever sugar fermentation occurs. A. aceti grows best within temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, with an upper limit of 35 degrees Celsius, and in slightly acidic conditions with a pH between 5.5 to 6.3. A. aceti has long been used in the fermentation industry efficiently producing acetic acid from alcohol as an obligate aerobe dependent on oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. A. aceti, classified as an acidophile, able to survive in acidic environments, possesses an acidified cytoplasm, providing most proteins with acid stability. The microorganism's ability to thrive in environments rich in fermentable sugars shows its potential as an organism for studying microbial metabolism and adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camille Dreyfus (chemist)</span> Swiss chemist (1878–1956)

Camille Edouard Dreyfus was a Swiss chemist. He and his brother Henri Dreyfus invented Celanese, an acetate yarn. He founded The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation in honour of his brother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henri Dreyfus</span> Swiss chemist (1882–1944)

Henri Dreyfus was a Swiss inventor of the modern weaving loom. He and his brother Camille Dreyfus also invented Celanese, an acetate yarn.

References

  1. ↑ "Celanese Corporation 2023 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 23 February 2024.
  2. ↑ Stych, Anne (Apr 10, 2019). "Irving-based chemical company names new CEO". Dallas Business Journal . Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Contacts." Celanese. Retrieved on December 12, 2012. "Celanese Corporation Headquarters 222 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 900N Irving, Texas 75039 USA"
  4. 1 2 "Celanese Acetic Acid Plant, Nanjing". Chemical Technology. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  5. ↑ ""Celanese to cut jobs due to poor economic climate" ICIS News Jan. 15, 2009" Retrieved Jun. 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ ""DuPont declares VAM force majeure" ICIS News Sep. 5, 2007" Retrieved Jun. 29, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Celanese to Build Acetic Acid Plant in China". www.businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  8. ↑ "History of CELANESE CORPORATION". referenceforbusiness.com.
  9. ↑ "Hoechtst Celanese Corporation History". fundinguniverse.com.
  10. ↑ Meyer, Eugene (1983-10-03). "City in Distress". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  11. ↑ Wheeler, Timothy (1998-12-08). "Prison presence in Western Md. Allegany: Corrections jobs are replacing industry jobs that left the county over past 20 years, but a proliferation of prisons is not welcomed by everyone". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  12. ↑ Carlson, Kara (2019-07-02). "Closing Mexico chemicals plant will cost Celanese Corp. up to $110 million". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  13. ↑ "Celanese Corporation of America". Chemical & Engineering News. 36 (4b): 24. 1958-01-27. doi:10.1021/cen-v036n004b.p024. ISSN   0009-2347.
  14. ↑ Reagan, Candace (2018-07-26). "Joint Ventures and New Frontiers (1960-1969) – Celanese Blog". Celanese Blog. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  15. ↑ Raymond, Amanda (June 12, 2016). "Durafiber Technologies employees look back at 50 years". Salisbury Post . Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  16. ↑ Greenhouse, Steven (1984-06-24). "Celanese Sticks with the Basics". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  17. ↑ "Celanese AG History" (PDF). New York Stock Exchange. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  18. ↑ Davis, Kathleen (1998-04-23). "Hoechst sells division for $2.7 billion". Spartanburg Herald-Journal . Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  19. ↑ Williams, Grace (1998-04-22). "Hoechst sells Trevira to Koch/Mexican team". ICIS . Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  20. ↑ "Company News; Celanese Canada in Talks to Sell Its Polyester Business". The New York Times . 1999-03-25. Retrieved 2019-11-25– via Bloomberg News.
  21. ↑ "Offer Document". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  22. ↑ David Carey and John E. Morris, King of Capital: The Remarkable Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone (Crown 2010), pp. 199-203.
  23. ↑ Celanese - History
  24. ↑ King of Capital, p. 205.
  25. ↑ "About Us | Sekisui Specialty Chemicals".
  26. ↑ "Law prevents company from making fossil-fuel-based ethanol". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  27. ↑ "How A Dumb Law Blocks A Great Way To Fuel America".[ dead link ]
  28. ↑ "60680466". S&P Global Market Intelligence. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  29. ↑ Reisch, Mark (17 July 1995). "Shell, Hoechst Celanese face $7 billion lawsuit". Chemical & Engineering News. 73 (29): 8. doi:10.1021/cen-v073n029.p008.
  30. ↑ "14". Class action dilemmas : pursuing public goals for private gain. Hensler, Deborah R., 1942-. Santa Monica, CA: Rand. 2000. ISBN   978-0-8330-4394-8. OCLC   70768994.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  31. ↑ Evans, Judith (1995-11-10). "Tennessee Judge Approves Plastic Pipe Settlement". The Washington Post . The Washington Post . Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  32. ↑ "Cannon's Campground & Groundwater Pollution | Louthian Law". www.louthianlaw.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  33. ↑ Kitzmiller, Felicia (25 February 2014). "Companies ask court to dismiss class action lawsuit". GoUpstate.com. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Archived from the original on 2014-03-03.
  34. ↑ Celanese rileva SO.F.TER Group (Italian)
  35. ↑ Celanese completes acquisition of SO.F.TER Grouop
  36. ↑ Wang, Yiyi (2021-09-29). "2021年全球食品防腐剂企业20强" [Global Top 20 Food Preservative Companies]. FoodTalks (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  37. ↑ ""Celanese faces U.S. road block on ethanol" Reuters Jun. 15, 2011" Retrieved Sep. 5, 2020.
  38. ↑ ""Company sees its coal-to-ethanol technology as a game changer – for itself and the industry" ICIS Chemical Business Jan. 10, 2011" Retrieved Apr. 6, 2012. (subscription required)
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