Job Cuts

Clariant AG is cutting 1,000 jobs this year. The job cuts are a result of a sharp decline in customer demand for its products in the textile, leather, automotive and construction industries.

Job Cuts

Huntsman will cut 1,175 jobs, close a plant in the United Kingdom and slash capital spending to reduce costs as demand for its products falls amid the recession. The company also plans to cut 490 full-time contractor positions. The job cuts will involve attrition and layoffs. The plant closure will impact the company’s Grimsby, United Kingdom, titanium dioxide plant. Production will stop in the first quarter, causing 200 full-time employees to lose their jobs.

Catalyst Systems

Lummus Novolen Technology is launching research and development activities at a new facility at the BASF SE site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The goal of working in close proximity is to provide both companies with strategic and synergistic business opportunities. The companies are finalizing a cooperative agreement to jointly develop catalyst systems.

Potential Plant Closures

Celanese Corp. is assessing the potential closure of acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) production in Pardies, France, as well as assessing the potential closure of VAM production in Cangrejera, Mexico. These assessments are necessitated by the significant changes in the global economic environment and anticipated lower customer demand.

Expansion

Saltigo GmbH increased capacity for an active ingredient precursor for a major pharmaceutical manufacturer without needing to halt or interrupt the production process at its plant in any way. The project involved raising the output of a plant from 30 metric tons/year to an urgently required 50 tons/year under ongoing production.