Celanese to shut UK cellulose plant

Spondon, UK – Celanese Corp. is planning to close its 460-employee acetate manufacturing facility in Spondon, Derby by late 2011. The facility has a nameplate capacity of around 41 kilotonnes per annum of cellulose acetate tow and 60 ktpa of acetate flake.

Celanese believes it can supply its acetate customers from elsewhere in its global production network, which includes facilities in Lanaken, Belgium; Narrows, Virginia; and Ocotlan, Mexico, as well as joint venture facilities in China. The UK closure, it said, will “reduce fixed costs and align future production capacities with anticipated industry demand trends.”