Umicore will expand its production of homogeneous catalysts at its site in Catoosa, Oklahoma, United States. This expansion will secure supplies at multi-ton levels from both Europe and the U.S. to meet long-term partnership agreements with leading companies in the specialty chemicals sector.
A wide range of industries – from fine chemicals to functional materials, polymer and the pharmaceutical industries – use homogeneous catalysts to enhance their processes and the environmental benefits this brings. Umicore’s advanced homogenous catalytic technologies reduce energy consumption and minimize waste, contributing to a lower carbon footprint.
The production expansion consists of adding a facility to the existing state-of-the art Catoosa plant, with construction starting in 2025 and production in early 2027, positioning Umicore as a worldwide leader in Grubbs Catalyst® technology. This technology’s ultra-targeted functionalities are critical for industries to produce specific chemicals quickly and reliably. Umicore also manufactures Grubbs Catalyst® in Germany, Europe.
“This expansion project in the United States represents a significant milestone for Umicore’s catalysts business. With two large-scale plants on two continents, and our manufacturing of best-in-class catalyst technology paired with excellence in our production processes, we guarantee our customers an efficient, sustainable and shorter supply chain,” said Jensen Verhelle, Executive Vice-President of Umicore’s Catalysis Business Group. “The expansion is the result of our longstanding and successful collaboration with our partners, underscoring our leadership in the industry and the growing importance of homogenous catalysts on an industrial scale.”
Homogeneous catalysts are substances that enable chemical reaction transformation and are in the same liquid phase as the reactants. This allows them to mix uniformly, leading to highly selective reactions under mild conditions. Reactants are substances that undergo change during the reaction to form new products.
Umicore to expand homogeneous catalyst production for industrial applications
