Arlanxeo, a leading synthetic rubber company, said that it intends to realign its production network of Keltan Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) elastomers to improve competitiveness and harmonise technology platforms across the Keltan EPDM portfolio.
As a result, Arlanxeo is closing its Keltan production unit in Orange, Texas in Q2 2020. The company adds that it will strive to limit the impact of the closure by working in close cooperation with all affected stakeholders, both internally and externally. Arlanxeo will endeavour to minimise involuntary separations and to provide alternative opportunities for those affected by the closure.
Christian Widdershoven, Executive Vice President High Performance Elastomers (HPE) and member of Arlanxeo´s Executive Leadership team commented: “We realise that the closure of Arlanxeo´sKeltan EPDM unit will have a deep impact on our people in Orange. Taking care of our employees that devoted time and efforts for the company over the last decades will be our first priority.” With regard to customers, Chretien Rooijakkers, Vice-President Marketing & Sales HPE adds: “Our teams will support our customers in North America, and around the globe, to make their transition to our specifically developed alternative Keltan grades as smooth as possible”.
Arlanxeo intends to continue supporting its customers within North America and to retain its production presence in the US with its Butadiene Rubber (BR) and Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR) production units at its Orange site.