Our Plants
At our two sites in Marl and Antwerp, we operate coordinated, integrated production networks. The main raw material is crack C4, which represents the start of the value chain. It is derived by breaking open (“cracking”) crude oil. Since 2015 we have also used FCC-C4 as a raw material.
Our plants are closely networked in terms of their material and energy use. That is our strength. The byproducts from a production step that would otherwise need to be disposed of in an expensive and potentially environmentally harmful way can now be used as raw material for other products. Waste heat from the production processes is used for other chemical processes or to generate steam.
The plants in Marl are closely networked – and not just at the site. Marl has a canal connection with its own inland port, which is connected to our site in Antwerp via the Rhine River. In addition, it has access to the European pipeline network, the public rail network and the nearby highway.
Our plants are supplied via long-distance pipelines, ships, railways and trucks. For instance, C4 hydrocarbons arrive through long-distance pipelines. The internal supply network provides oxygen and compressed air to the plants as well as oxygen and nitrogen, which come from an air separator in Marl.
To further increase the value, efficiency and sustainability of the C4 process chain, we are continuously further developing our processes. As an industry leader in this area, we employ about 70 experts on hydroformylation, oligomerization and esterification. In our ultramodern applications engineering lab, our technical specialists offer a wide range of analysis and testing methods to fulfill specific customer requests.