Earlier this week on Wednesday 19 September, hybrid chemicals company Celanese Corporation formally inaugurated its integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, incorporating six plants with Celanese''s technologies and environmental and safety standards.

Dallas-based Celanese Corporation, with net sales of $6.7 billion in 2006, of which approximately 60 per cent were generated outside North America, is a leading global producer of value-added industrial chemicals, including acetyl products (acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, polyacetal products) and high-performance engineered polymers.

Its products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia.

The inauguration marks a major milestone for company''s operations in China and Asia, with the company having celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Singapore operations, where Celanese manufactures acetyl products such as acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer for the broader Asia region.

Also during the week, the company celebrated its 20-year-old acetate joint venture at Nantong Cellulose Fibres Company. The joint venture has grown to include other manufacturing sites in Kunming, Zhuhai and Bazhou. As the first Celanese entry into the China market, the joint venture represents the significant and successful foundation for the company''s current and future expansion in China.

The Nanjing complex will further enhance Celanese''s capabilities to better meet the growing needs of its customers in a number of industries across Asia. The acetic acid facility has been running at full production rates since June 2007 and production of vinyl acetate emulsions is set to commence in October. Operations for the four other plants will begin throughout 2008.

"We are very excited to bring our latest technology and international best practices to this complex, which will enable our new plants to enjoy low energy requirements as well as low environmental impact," Weidman said. "We will implement the same global high standards for environment, health and safety (EHS) here as we do in other parts of the world. We are pleased to contribute to the sustainable development of China."

The acetic acid plant in Nanjing uses world-leading technology and is the largest train manufacturing unit of acetic acid in China, with annual capacity of 600,000 metric tons, which can be upgraded to 1,200,000 metric tons if market demand continues to grow.
The emulsions plant features a state-of-the-art pressure reactor to make vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) emulsions as well as a conventional reactor for the production of homo- and co-polymers of vinyl acetate and acrylic emulsions.

The products will be integral in the manufacture of high-performance adhesives, high-tech glass fiber and cutting-edge low VOC / low odor paint. This new plant in Nanjing is the tenth emulsions facility in the Celanese global network.