Celanese takes over FACT Future Advanced Composites Technology GmbH
Kelsterbach, Germany / Florence, Kentucky – December 21, 2009 – Ticona’s parent company, the Celanese Corporation, announced today the acquisition of FACT Future Advanced Composites Technology GmbH (FACT). With its main office in Kaiserslautern and a workforce of about 60 employees, the company is a leading producer of long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT) for injection molding, extrusion, compression molding and blow molding applications. Prior to its acquisition by Celanese, FACT was a subsidiary of the Ravago Group of Belgium. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Your contact:
Henning Küll
Phone: +49 (0) 6107 772 17 97
Fax: +49 (0) 6107 772 72 31
E-mail: kuell(at)ticona.de
Internet: http://www.ticona.com
“At Celanese we continue to execute our strategy designed to build advantaged positions through the strategic use of cash for high-return projects that grow our business where we have sustainable advantages,” said David Weidman, chairman and chief executive officer, Celanese.
With the new production site in Kaiserslautern, the acquisition supports Ticona Engineering Polymers by building on Ticona’s LFT process technology and broadening specific product offerings, thereby improving the company’s capability to grow with its customers.
“This acquisition will grow the company’s Celstran® product line, expand industry coverage, and combine the development capabilities of the two companies to satisfy increasing customer demands in the automotive industry and in general industrial applications,” concluded Roeland Polet, vice president, Ticona.
Bundling production capacities
FACT will become part of the newly established Celstran GmbH and be managed under the umbrella of the Ticona organization. Within the framework of business integration plans, the existing Celstran production that employs about 25 people in Kelsterbach will be relocated to Kaiserslautern by mid-2011. By consolidating the two existing LFT production facilities at Kaiserslautern, the corporation expects to realize technological and production engineering synergies that will benefit customers and strengthen Ticona’s competitive position.
Ticona’s production site in Kelsterbach will be closed in mid-2011 in order to make room for the expansion of Frankfurt Airport. The new plant that Ticona is currently building in Frankfurt’s Höchst Industrial Park for the production of the engineering polymer Hostaform® POM will be fully operational by mid-2011.
Broad range of applications for long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics
LFTs are versatile engineering polymers in the form of pellets with a fiber length of about 10 millimeters. Thanks to their combination of mechanical properties, impact strength, creep resistance and low warpage, these thermoplastics are extremely well-suited for metal replacement applications. Structural components in the automotive segment such as instrument panels and modules as well as fan rotors in the industrial sector are just a few examples of current applications using Ticona’s Celstran LFT.
Except where indicated otherwise, all brand names listed here are registered trademarks of Ticona or their affiliated companies.
About Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the technical polymers business of the Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of engineering polymers and generated sales of $1.06 billion in the 2008 business year. The company has approximately 2,000 employees worldwide and operates production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany, Brazil and China. For further information please visit www.ticona.com.
Celanese Corporation – As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.8 billion in 2008, with about 65% generated outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and execution of its business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 8,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.celanese.com.