Clariant & Lummus Novolen to jointly invest in polypropylene catalyst production line at Louisville

26-Aug-13

Clariant and Lummus Novolen will jointly invest about CHF 65 million in this new state-of-the-art polypropylene catalyst production line at Clariant’s catalyst production hub in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The plant is expected to be on stream in 2015. By leveraging the successful licensing and process design experience of Lummus Novolen and the strong catalyst R&D capabilities of Clariant, the two companies expect to further strengthen their joint position in polypropylene catalyst. The polypropylene Ziegler-Natta catalyst market is expected to continue the high growth pace shown over the last decade with estimated growth rates of more than five percent in the next five years. “The strategic partnership with Lummus Novolen is a significant milestone for the catalyst business. It strengthens our competitive position in a market with future perspectives and strong growth rates. This cooperation is another example for the successful implementation of Clariant’s strategy which is focused on innovation, portfolio management and profitable growth,” said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, Clariant in a press release. “This alliance between Lummus Novolen and Clariant in the field of polypropylene catalyst will strengthen the innovation potential to better serve the needs of our clients. The state-of-the-art catalyst production plant will guarantee continuous supply and consistent product quality,” said Daniel McCarthy, Executive Vice President and President of CB&I’s Technology operating group.