NEWS
Tioxide restarts at Greatham
Tioxide Materials has restarted single-stream production at its Greatham TiO 2 facility in Hartlepool, UK, following the successful completion of key commissioning milestones. The Tioxide and Deltio brands are now available again and a phased ramp-up is under way, with the aim of achieving full operational capacity of 150,000 tonnes / year in 2027.
The company was established in April when LB Group acquired the idled site, which was formerly operated by Venator Materials. It recruited over 60 employees in its first 12 weeks, bringing the total workforce to more than 200. They include roles in finance, business services, production, engineering and technical roles at Greatham itself, the R & D centre at Wynyard and the head office at Stockton-on-Tees. About 60 more will be added in the second wave.
Two labs in China for Clariant
Clariant has officially launched two new R & D laboratories for its Additives business in China. The company said that these both“ go beyond Clariant’ s existing local application development capabilities, enabling the full synthesis and development of new additives entirely on Chinese soil”.
One is at the recently expanded Daya Bay flame retardants plant in Huizhou( pictured). It is equipped with reactors for both atmospheric and high-pressure synthesis, plus analytical instruments including TGA, DSC, XRF, GC and ion chromatography, to support external collaboration with universities and others across China.
The second is housed within Clariant’ s existing Additives Technology Centre in Shanghai and is dedicated to the development of novel performance additives, including antioxidants, light stabilisers and waxes. Its capabilities span synthesis, analytics and a pilot-scale polycondensation facility.
This follows various agreements with Chinese partners that encompass local R & D, manufacturing and partnerships. In November 2025, for instance, Clariant announced a joint venture with Fuhua to develop next-generation phosphorus-based flame retardants, while also opening the second line at Cangzhou for Nylostab S-EED, a multifunctional additive for polyamide it produces in a joint venture with Beijing Tiangang.
10 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981