 "Orion Engineered plans closure of carbon black plant in France")
Orion Engineered Carbons SA, a global supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black, on June 3, 2016 announced that the management of its company in France, Orion Engineered Carbons SAS, has begun consultations with the Works Council at its Ambes, France facility in order to implement a restructuring and down staffing with a potential cessation of production at the site by the end of 2016.
According to Jack Clem, Orion’s group CEO, in order for the group to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace, it must fully utilise the capabilities of its carbon black operations, concentrating resources at more efficient facilities and those capable of producing technically special and unique grades that can compete in today’s challenging environment.
He added, “Orion remains committed to maintaining its position as the leading producer of specialty carbon blacks and a major supplier of carbon blacks to the global rubber industry. The consolidation of the Orion group’s manufacturing operations in Europe would be another step in improving our sustainability to better serve our existing markets particularly those requiring more specialised products to meet their end customers’ demands.”
Orion Engineered Carbons, a worldwide supplier of carbon black, offers standard and high-performance products for coatings, printing inks, polymers, rubber and other applications. Its high-quality gas blacks, furnace blacks and specialty carbon blacks tint, colourise and enhance the performance of plastics, paints and coatings, inks and toners, adhesives and sealants, tyres, and manufactured rubber goods such as automotive belts and hoses.
According to Jack Clem, Orion’s group CEO, in order for the group to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace, it must fully utilise the capabilities of its carbon black operations, concentrating resources at more efficient facilities and those capable of producing technically special and unique grades that can compete in today’s challenging environment.
He added, “Orion remains committed to maintaining its position as the leading producer of specialty carbon blacks and a major supplier of carbon blacks to the global rubber industry. The consolidation of the Orion group’s manufacturing operations in Europe would be another step in improving our sustainability to better serve our existing markets particularly those requiring more specialised products to meet their end customers’ demands.”
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The facility in Ambes was founded by the American Philips Petroleum Company and Continental Carbon Company in 1959 and began operations in 1960 as Cofrablack. It was purchased by Degussa, the predecessor to Orion Engineered Carbons, in 1986.
Orion Engineered Carbons, a worldwide supplier of carbon black, offers standard and high-performance products for coatings, printing inks, polymers, rubber and other applications. Its high-quality gas blacks, furnace blacks and specialty carbon blacks tint, colourise and enhance the performance of plastics, paints and coatings, inks and toners, adhesives and sealants, tyres, and manufactured rubber goods such as automotive belts and hoses.