Supplying future demand for catalysts

Catalysts enable a precise alignment of plastics properties with varying demands and requirements and help determine, among other things, the hardness, plasticity and/or elasticity of end-products. Thus, the importance of these chemical substances cannot be undermined in the processing of a wide range of materials and end-products.

A steady supply of catalysts needs to be assured in the wake of rising global demand. Borealis,  a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilisers, recently inaugurated a new catalyst plant in Linz, Austria. The International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi owns 64 percent of Borealis, with the remaining 36 owned by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt.

The opening of the new catalyst plant in Linz is a central pillar of the growth strategy within the Borealis polyolefins business segment. Since 2007, the company has already invested EUR 50 million in the development of its Innovation Headquarters Supplying future demand for catalystsMaterial Focusin Austria, inaugurated in 2009.

Constructed at a cost of EUR 100 million, this  recent addition to the production facility will produce catalysts utilising the proprietary  Borealis Sirius catalyst technology. The opportunity to produce catalysts not only for the company’s own use, but also to continue to develop new and improved catalysts is of prime importance for Borealis.  “Research  and innovation is the key to our successful Value Creation through Innovation strategy,” emphasises Borealis Chief Executive Mark Garrett. “With today’s inauguration of the new plant, we are not only strengthening our research expertise, but also our overall leadership role in the area of catalysts. We are positioning ourselves as a  powerful partner in innovation in the development of high-quality product solutions,” Mr. Garrett explains. 
 
Ideal adaptation of desired plastics product 

Catalysts are substances required in small  quantities  for  the  production of plastics. In value-adding processing, catalysts assist in the  transformation of simple raw  materials into  complex molecules which exhibit a variety of properties for diverse applications. To a great extent they determine the final properties of a product, e.g. hardness, plasticity and/or elasticity. 

“Catalysts make it possible to form plastics more precisely. This of course means we can accommodate our customers’demands and requirements more precisely as well, which is why catalysts play a vital role in the development of innovative plastics solutions,” says Alfred Stern, Borealis  Executive Vice President Polyolefins.“The new facility in Linz will make it possible for us to build on the basic research carried out at our Innovation Centre in Porvoo, Finland by  further refining catalysts developed there until they are market-ready. This is an essential step in the development of catalysts and determines the quality and versatility of the final product,” Stern adds.

In a sense, one could describe catalysts as the ‘heart of certain polymerisation processes. Thanks to these high-performance catalysts, Borealis can produce in such a way that conserves resources, because larger and higher-quality volumes can be produced using less material. By-products are avoided and specific energy requirements reduced. Thus overall, efficiency and sustainability in chemical manufacturing processes are significantly increased.

The Borealis Sirius catalyst technology is at the forefront of polyolefin technology due to itAdidas Questar Boost