Umicore today announced that it will install a new automotive catalyst production capability in Bad Säckingen, Germany. The new facility will be an extension of the plant in Rheinfelden some 15 km away. The investment will provide additional capacity as well as greater flexibility to produce various catalyst systems for light duty vehicles. The new capacity is expected to be commissioned in mid 2013.
William Staron, Umicore's Executive Vice President of Catalysis said: "We continue to see strong growth for automotive catalysts in Europe, mainly driven by an increasing need for more complex catalyst systems to meet the requirements of stricter emission legislation. The Bad Säckingen operation will further enhance our ability to serve our customers in this market. It also enhances our operational flexibility while providing the opportunity for future expansion."
Umicore profile
Umicore is a global materials technology group. It focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are centred on four business areas: Catalysis, Energy Materials, Performance Materials and Recycling. Each business area is divided into market-focused business units offering materials and solutions that are at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life.
Umicore generates the majority of its revenues and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean technologies, such as emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries and photovoltaics, fuel cells, and recycling. Umicore's overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life.
The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base; it generated a turnover of € 14.5 billion (€ 2.3 billion excluding metal) in 2011 and currently employs some 14,600 people.