Orion building second plant in China


Huaibei Plant, China 

The new facility positions the company for growth, enabling Orion to meet increasing demand for carbon black in the rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific region 

HOUSTON — Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) today began constructing its second plant in China for specialty and high-performance carbon black, expanding the chemical company’s production capacity in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. 

Orion’s new facility in Huaibei in the eastern province of Anhui is expected to be completed late next year and to begin operating in 2023. 

With a targeted initial production capacity of 65-70 kilotons per year, the plant will be able to make a variety of carbon black for specialty and high-end rubber grades. 

Huaibei Plant, China

“The strongest growth in demand for carbon black in the coming years is widely projected to be in Asia,” Orion CEO Corning F. Painter said. “This new site in China will enable us to better supply our customers and strengthen our position as a leading global supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black.” 

The new site complements Orion’s first Chinese plant, built in 1994 in Qingdao in the eastern province of Shandong, as well as Orion’s production site in Yeosu, South Korea. 

An innovator in sustainability, Orion will equip the plant to convert its waste heat to steam that will be sold to the local industrial park. 

Carbon black, available as powder or beads, is commonly used in tires, textile fibers, coatings, batteries and numerous other everyday goods. It tints or colorizes as well as reinforces products, conducts electricity and provides UV protection, among many other uses across a wide range of applications and end markets.

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE:OEC) is a global supplier of carbon black products, including high-performance specialty gas blacks, acetylene blacks, furnace blacks, lamp blacks, thermal blacks and other carbon blacks that tint, colorize and enhance the performance of polymers, plastics, paints and coatings, inks and toners, textile fibers, adhesives and sealants, batteries, tires, and mechanical rubber goods. The company has over 125 years of history providing customized solutions from a network of 14 global production sites and is dedicated to responsible business practices that emphasize reliability, innovation and sustainability. For more information, please visit orioncarbons.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information, other than as required by applicable law. 

Contact: 

William Foreman
Director of Corporate Communications and
Government Affairs
Orion Engineered Carbons
Direct: +1 832-445-3305
Mobile: +1 281-889-7833
william.foreman@orioncarbons.com

Wendy Wilson
Head of Investor Relations
Orion Engineered Carbons
Direct: +1 281-974-0155
wendy.wilson@orioncarbons.com

With research partners, Orion is working toward a more sustainable industry with projects focused on renewables, recycling and electrification.

HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (NYSE: OEC) today published its 2020 Sustainability Report, showcasing the chemical company’s latest work with research partners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when making carbon black – an essential ingredient in tires, coatings, ink and numerous other everyday products.

The projects include testing ways to replace fossil fuels with oil derived from used tires or forest products in the production of carbon black. Orion is also working to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in electric vehicles.

“We recognize the urgency to act on climate change,” said Corning F. Painter, chief executive officer at Orion. “Successfully charting a path to a more sustainable world will require collaboration across the industry and the scientific community.”

Orion engineers are collaborating with the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden to develop technology to make renewable oil from sustainable forest products, replacing fossil-based fuels that are commonly used when making carbon black.

The company is also the only carbon black producer that is part of the EU-funded BlackCycle initiative, experimenting with ways to produce new tires with carbon black that is recycled from old tires.

Another project involves partnering with the European Commission’s HiQ-CARB Consortium to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries, using Orion’s acetylene black – a highly conductive carbon black.

“We are conscious that sustainability is not just about climate change,” Mr. Painter said. “Our report also highlights how we address social issues and governance practices.”

Orion’s participation in community support programs throughout the world included donations of much-needed equipment and supplies for the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic over the past year.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for all the frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic,” Mr. Painter said. “We are pleased to be a contributing member at our locations through our charitable donations, such as personal protective equipment. I am also extremely grateful to our employees for their resilience and teamwork to enable us to succeed during the challenging times we faced in 2020.”

To view the full 2020 Sustainability Report visit orioncarbons.com/sustainability

About Orion Engineered Carbons

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE:OEC) is a global supplier of carbon black products including highperformance specialty gas blacks, acetylene blacks, furnace blacks, lamp blacks, thermal blacks, and other carbon blacks that tint, colorize and enhance the performance of polymers, plastics, paints and coatings, inks and toners, textile fibers, adhesives and sealants, batteries, tires, and mechanical rubber goods, such as automotive belts and hoses. The company has over 125 years of history providing customized solutions from a network of 14 global production sites and is dedicated to responsible business practices that emphasize reliability, innovation and sustainability. For more information, please visit orioncarbons.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information, other than as required by applicable law.

Contact:

William Foreman
Director of Corporate Communications and
Government Affairs
Orion Engineered Carbons
Direct: +1 832-445-3305
Mobile: +1 281-889-7833
william.foreman@orioncarbons.com