LyondellBasell opens research centre in Houston

LyondellBasell on Monday announced the opening of a technology centre in Houston, Texas, to develop process technologies and chemical catalysts for its intermediates and derivatives business.

Research and development activities at the 70,000-sq ft facility will focus on improving catalyst and process technologies to reduce manufacturing costs, improve yields, and lower capital costs of new construction for global chemicals business,  LyondellBasell said in a release.

The site will support research in the company's proprietary technologies for propylene oxide, butanediol and derivatives, glycols and glycol ethers, acetyls, olefins and solvents. 

It will develop appropriate technologies for three manufacturing plants in Houston area - in Channelview, Bayport and La Porte, Texas - as well as Botlek and Maasvlakte in the Netherlands, Fos-sur-Mer in France and a joint venture in Ningbo, China, the release said.

The centre will employ approximately 80 people, 22 of whom will be relocated from the company's former facility near Philadelphia, with the balance hired locally. 

The new facility is adjacent to the company's largest US manufacturing complex in Channelview, east of Houston.

"The Houston Technology Centre will support research to improve our current processes and catalysts and provide the capability to develop further technology enhancements in support of LyondellBasell's intermediate and derivatives business," said Massimo Covezzi, senior vice president of research and development.

"Having a research centre for our intermediates business on the US Gulf Coast in proximity to our manufacturing, commercial and engineering operations creates a critical mass that did not previously exist.  We have leading technologies in propylene oxide and acetyls and this action reaffirms our commitment to maintain our industry leadership in these areas," said Patrick Quarles, senior vice president of intermediates and derivatives.

LyondellBasell is among the industry leaders in chemicals and polymers technology.  The company has more than 5,000 patents and patent applications worldwide covering manufacturing processes, products and catalysts. 

This year the company is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded to Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta in cooperation with LyondellBasell predecessor companies. 

Their discoveries led to the production of polyethylene and polypropylene and modern plastics that are lighter, stronger and more durable.

Other LyondellBasell R&D centres include Cincinnati, Ohio, which focuses on polyolefin product application and development in North America; Frankfurt, Germany, focused on polyethylene and metallocene catalysts; and Ferrara, Italy, focusing on polypropylene and Ziegler-Natta catalysts.

LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500. The company manufactures products at 58 sites across 18 countries.