Category: News

HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals company, said today it will sharply reduce air emissions at its Borger, Texas, plant with new control technology. 

The $60 million project also involved upgrading the site’s cogeneration system, which takes heat created by the carbon black production process and converts it to electricity that can be used by the plant. The electricity is also sold back to the power grid. Such energy conservation equipment is used by many Orion plants worldwide. 

“Investing in emissions control technology and generating more clean energy are key to our commitment to sustainability,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “I want to commend our engineers, the Borger team and our contractors for the timely completion of this complex project despite the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions.” 

The new emissions technology will lead to a major improvement in air quality, eliminating 23 tons of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions per day – a 90% reduction. The Borger plant produces carbon black for rubber and specialty clients. 

Orion also recently upgraded its emissions control technology at facilities in Ivanhoe, La., and Orange, Texas. Later this year, Orion plans to finish its final U.S. emissions project at its site in Belpre, Ohio. 

“We are proud that we’ve upgraded these plants, but it was an extremely demanding undertaking,” Painter said. “As we complete the Belpre project, Orion will have significantly more free cash flow to invest in growth projects. 2023 marks a new era for the company.” 

Upgrading the Borger plant supports Orion’s efforts to achieve the targets in its sustainability-linked term loan. Last year, Orion was one of the first public companies to take out such a loan, which has interest rates that go up or down depending on whether a company meets specific environmental, social and governance goals. 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and 

add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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. 

Contacts: 

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

 HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals company, announced today it was upgraded to a “B” score by the nonprofit organization CDP, recognizing Orion has addressed the environmental impact of its businesses and ensures good environmental management. 

The London-based CDP, formerly known as the “Carbon Disclosure Project,” operates a global system that enables companies to report their environmental impact. CDP assesses the information with its own methodology and provides a score. More than 18,700 companies worldwide reported data through CDP in 2022. 

“Our ‘B’ score is the latest example of the tremendous progress we have made in recent years with sustainability,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “Accountability is one of Orion’s core values, so we are committed to reporting openly and transparently about our climate program – especially the CO2 emissions reduction measures we have implemented and the success we’ve had protecting the environment and our communities.” 

Since 2017, Orion has disclosed its climate-related performance through CDP and until now received a “C” score, indicating an awareness level of engagement. CDP says companies with a “B” score have reached the management level. They “have addressed the environmental impacts of their business and ensure good environmental management,” the organization says. 

CDP says its “A” list is for companies that have advanced beyond awareness and management to become leaders on environmental transparency and action. 

Earlier this year, Orion was upgraded from a “Silver” to a “Gold” designation by EcoVadis, an independent organization that assesses companies’ sustainability performance in the areas of environment, labor & human rights, ethics, sustainable procurement and overall sustainability governance. The score placed Orion in the top 3% of companies assessed by EcoVadis. 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting 

specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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. 

Contacts: 

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

 HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a specialty chemicals company, said today it has reached a major sustainability milestone, becoming the first to achieve International Sustainability and Carbon Certifications (ISCC Plus) for multiple carbon black grades made from different feedstocks at plants in two regions of the world. 

The ISCC PLUS certification involved rigorous audits of Orion’s plants and processes that confirmed the company’s compliance with high sustainability requirements. It also verified the transparency and traceability of sustainable raw materials in the company’s value chain at three plants producing the concerned grades of carbon black. 

“The globally recognized certification further strengthens Orion’s position as the leader in our industry for developing sustainable solutions for our tire, mechanical rubber goods and specialty customers,” said Corning Painter, Orion’s CEO. “Earning the certification is a major achievement for the commercialization of our portfolio of sustainable products. ISCC PLUS documents to our customers that Orion continues to make progress with innovation focused on sustainability.” 

The ISCC PLUS certified products include the ECORAX® Circular grades produced in Borger, Texas, and Belpre, Ohio, using pyrolysis oils from end-of-life tires. Also covered is ECORAX® Nature 200, produced in Jaslo, Poland, and based on bio-circular feedstocks. 

Significantly, the certified products are similar to conventional grades and are “drop-ins” that require minimal reformulation in the complex rubber compounds used by our major tire manufacturing customers. 

“No other company is making multiple grades of sustainable carbon black with different feedstocks at multiple plants across the world,” Painter added. “Introducing a broad range of products that can be used in highly demanding tire applications using such materials is a critical step to enable the transition to a circular economy for tires.” 

A decade ago, Orion was the first major producer to develop and commercialize carbon black made from renewable feedstocks, such as industrial-grade vegetable oils or other oils derived from waste and residues of biological origin from agriculture or forestry. 

Orion is also the only carbon black producer in the BlackCycle initiative, an EU-funded project focused on developing the production of circular carbon black. 

“Our customers have shown a tremendous amount of interest in our sustainable products,” said Pedro Riveros, senior vice president for global rubber carbon black and general manager for the Americas. “Several companies have made very public statements about achieving fully sustainable raw materials by 2050, or earlier. Since rubber and carbon black are the largest raw materials in rubber compounds, replacing conventional carbon blacks with our sustainable products will largely contribute to the achievement of these commitments.” 

Carbon black makes up about 30% of a typical tire by weight. The material reinforces tires, making treads more resistant to tearing, cutting, abrasion and other wear. Carbon black also plays an important role in creating tires with lower rolling resistance, which leads to increased fuel efficiency. It also enables engineers to fine tune performance and protects tires from the damaging effects of UV light. 

The ISCC PLUS certification is granted by the ISCC Association, which is based in Cologne, Germany, and promotes the sustainable production of biomass, circular and bio-based materials and renewables. 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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. 

Contacts: 

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

 HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals company, today released its 2021 Sustainability Report, showcasing progress the company is making in implementing its sustainability strategy with initiatives focused on advancing the circular economy, renewable feedstocks and electrification. 

The report outlines how Orion is transforming its product portfolio to reflect sustainability in its business strategy. This exemplifies how companies like Orion that produce essential products are actively seeking innovative ways to realize circularity, promote electrification and reduce their carbon footprint. 

“We have incorporated environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into our management framework,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “Our strategy is designed to deliver value-adding solutions that will have a meaningful impact on our industry.” 

Orion’s key sustainability accomplishments in 2021 include: 

• Launching ECORAX Nature 105, the first product made from 100% renewable feedstock and designed for rubber applications. 
• Becoming one of the first public companies in the 
• U.S. to take out a sustainability-linked term loan, with favorable interest rates tied to the company’s success in meeting certain emissions-reduction targets at its U.S. plants. 
• Developing a roadmap — with milestones in 2025, 2030 and 2035 — for the development of sustainable solutions in the company’s portfolio, paving the way to transform into a sustainable business model. 

“We’ve recently announced our aspirations to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Our Sustainability Report shows that with our portfolio of approaches, Orion is well positioned to confront some of the most pressing challenges of our era,” Painter said. “The conductive additives we produce are vital for electric vehicles and energy storage. As one of the leading innovators in tire recycling, we are also committed to supporting the transition to a circular economy.” 

Download the 2021 Sustainability Report at: https://orioncarbons.com/sustainability_reports 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high- 

performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three 

continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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

 HOUSTON — Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a specialty chemicals company, announced today that it will complete its gas black expansion in Germany at plants in Dortmund and Cologne by early 2023. 

Orion is the only carbon black producer in the industry with gas black capabilities. Gas blacks, known for excellent dispersion and coloristics, are used in coatings, printing ink and other applications. 

“The expansion in Germany is core to our strategy to further strengthen our leadership in the premium specialty market,” said Sandra Niewiem, senior vice president of global specialty carbon black and the EMEA region. “As we experience continuous high demand for gas blacks, we are confident that the extra capacity will be welcomed by our customers.” 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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. 

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

HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a specialty chemical company, today announced plans to build the only plant in the U.S. producing acetylene-based conductive additives – a critical link in the value chain for lithium-ion batteries, high-voltage cables and other products powering the global transition to electrification and renewable energy. 

Orion’s planned facility in La Porte, Texas, south of Houston, will be backed by a long-term agreement for acetylene supplied from a neighboring site owned by Equistar Chemicals LP, a subsidiary of LyondellBasell. 

Acetylene is a colorless gas widely used as a chemical building block. Orion’s production process turns acetylene into a powder, which is added to lithium-ion batteries, enhancing electrical conductivity and extending the lifetime of the most valuable component of an electric vehicle. The material plays a similar role in high-voltage cables used for wind and solar farms. 

Orion will invest between $120 million and $140 million in the facility, expected to start up in the second half of 2024. The investment should increase the company’s conductive additives capacity by approximately 12 kilotons per year. 

“With this investment, we will quadruple our effective manufacturing capacity of acetylene-based conductive additives,” said Corning Painter, Orion’s CEO. “We are already experiencing high demand for this material, so expanding capacity for it is one of our top investment priorities and a major milestone in our growth plans. This is a very big day for Orion.” 

The company, which has a similar plant in France with locally supplied acetylene gas from LyondellBasell, is the sole producer of acetylene-based conductive additives in the European Union. 

The U.S. plant will bring new technology and high-skilled jobs to the country and positively impact long-term job creation for the local community. Demand for battery additives is expected to grow rapidly amid a global boom in the construction of gigafactories making lithium-ion batteries. 

The facility, which will have a favorable environmental profile, will be subject to obtaining the routine regulatory approvals. 

“Batteries will continue to play an increasingly vital role in the world’s shift toward clean energy,” Painter said. “By being a key supplier of materials to the battery industry, we’re living up to our mission of delivering solutions for a more sustainable future.” 

Orion will hold its first quarter earnings conference call tomorrow, Friday, May 6, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) and will provide additional details of this announcement during the call. The dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows:

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers through May 12, 2022:

Photos: The attached images show Orion’s plant in Berre-l’Etang, France. The facility produces acetylene-based conductive additives. 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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. 

Contacts: 

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

HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a specialty chemicals company, announced today it aspires to align its sustainability objectives with the Paris Climate Agreement and strive to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. 

The net-zero ambition demonstrates Orion’s ongoing commitment to address global climate change while meeting customers’ needs for highly engineered materials essential for tires, coatings, batteries and numerous other everyday products. 

To make its net-zero aspirations realistic, Orion developed a roadmap with near- and long-term targets. The company aspires to: 

• Launch a broad range of products using recycled materials by 2025, and during the same period position the company to enlarge its footprint in the conductive additives space, such as in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and other applications critical for the transition toward electric power. 
• Generate 30% of its adjusted EBITDA through sustainable solutions by 2030. 
• Grow the sustainable solutions’ share of adjusted EBITDA to 50% by 2035. 
• Set new aspirational, mid-term goals for greenhouse-gas emissions reduction that are aligned with science-based methodologies. 

“We know our goal is ambitious, and we want to make sure it’s meaningful. Like most companies, we can’t say we have all the answers now. But we’re determined to work hard to find sustainable solutions with collaboration, innovation and the right regulatory environment,” said Corning Painter, Orion’s CEO. 

“Our ambition to align with the Paris Climate Agreement is a natural progression in our sustainability journey. Investing in sustainability is core to our growth strategy and key to our success as a business,” Painter added. 

For more information about OEC’s sustainability performance and initiatives, visit Orion Engineered Carbons – Sustainability – Sustainability Roadmap (orioncarbons.com) . 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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

 HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE:OEC), a specialty chemical company, today began commercial sales from a new reactor for carbon black production in northern Italy. 

The new 25-kiloton line at the facility in Ravenna produces both specialty and technical rubber carbon blacks, primarily for the European market. 

“The new line offers customers seeking long-term solutions a unique strategic opportunity to align with a dependable plant that has been operating for more than 60 years in Europe,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. 

Additional investments at the plant include a new co-generation facility to convert waste heat into electricity, generating up to 120 MWh of electricity per year. Seventy percent of the electricity is supplied to the national grid, serving about 30,000 households. Orion is a net exporter of electricity in Europe and worldwide. 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE:OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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

 HOUSTON – Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a leading global supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black, announced today that Jeffery Glajch has accepted the role of chief financial officer for Orion with a planned joining date of April 18, 2022. 

Glajch will succeed Bob Hrivnak, who currently serves in the dual role of interim CFO and chief accounting officer. Hrivnak will continue as chief accounting officer. 

Glajch has over 30 years of experience leading corporate finance and accounting control functions for both public and private companies. He joins Orion from Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM), a leading designer and manufacturer of vacuum and heat transfer equipment for energy markets and process industries, where he has served as CFO for the past 13 years. In this role, Glajch led all aspects of finance, business development, investor relations, risk management, legal, information technology and human resources. Prior to Graham Corporation, he held senior financial roles at a number of companies. 

Glajch holds an MBA from Purdue University, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Clarkson University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Carnegie-Mellon University. 

“Jeff is a seasoned leader with a demonstrated track record of driving company growth and providing strong strategic financial leadership,” Corning Painter, Orion’s CEO, said. “We are excited about the experience he brings and look forward to him joining the Orion leadership team.” 

Painter added, “We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Bob, who as our interim CFO has ensured a seamless transition. We look forward to Jeff and Bob working together to further strengthen our excellent finance organization.” 

The company will release its full year 2021 results after the market closes on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, to be followed by a conference call on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. (EST). Details for the call can be found on the company’s investor website. 

About Orion Engineered Carbons 

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. 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
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• The BlackCycle consortium announced the world’s first production of sustainable carbon blacks (sCB) for tire applications. 

• An important step towards a truly circular process. 

• A major technological breakthrough made possible by the BlackCycle partners 

After its first 18 months of existence, the consortium of the BlackCycle project welcomed on the 22nd of November 2021 at Michelin’s technology center at Ladoux (France), 120 international industry leaders, academics, H2020 project coordinators, politicians, and institutional representatives from 20 countries to exchange ideas and discuss the deployment of circular economy initiatives in Europe. 

During the workshop, the BlackCycle consortium announced the world’s first production of sustainable carbon blacks (sCB) for tire applications on a conventional carbon black furnace reactor by using oils derived from an end-of-life tire pyrolysis process. This novel production of a sustainable material from end-of-life tyres represents a truly circular process. 

The usage of pyrolysis oil (supplied by Pyrum Innovations, Germany) as carbon black feedstock was successfully evaluated in the Innovation department of Orion Engineered Carbons. Orion concluded that replacing in a rubber coumpound a fossil fuel-based carbon black with a carbon black made from oil derived from the ELT pyrolysis will not change its properties. BlackCycle has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 869625. 

Therefore, even the most demanding applications will maintain a high-performance regarding properties such as durability, conductivity, rolling resistance and other characteristics. 

The processing of the rubber compounds will be unchanged according to the analysis of the green compounds. 

Hence, we can assume that sCBs are an easy drop-in solution without the need to adjust the formulations of the rubber compounds or process parameters for instance in mixing, molding, or curing. Because the carbon black content of elastomeric materials is relatively high with about 30 weight % on average, the technology applying pyrolysis oil as feedstock for CB production is a major leap towards a more sustainable rubber industry. 

This major technological breakthrough was made possible by the BlackCycle value chain driven by the stakeholders of the project. 

Orion, Sustainable Carbon Black 

About the BlackCycle project: 

BlackCycle (Grant agreement No 869625) is one of the R&D research and innovation projects funded by the European Commission under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research program to implement the concept of circular economy to the end-of-life tyres at the European level. The BlackCycle project has an upcycling ambition, targeting to create a circular economy of the end-of-life tyre (ELT) into technical applications like tyre industry by producing high technical second raw materials (SRMs) from ELTs. These SRMs will be used to develop new ranges of passenger car and truck tyres, which will be sold commercially in European and global markets. The BlackCycle project consortium is formed by 12 partners from 5 different countries (Orion, Ineris, Quantis, Icamcyl, Aliapur, CSIC, CPERI/CERTH, Sisener, Pyrum, Estato, Hera, and Axelera) and led by the French world leader in tire manufacturing Michelin, https://blackcycle-project.eu/