"Invitation to a barbecue"
LANXESS is at home in El Dorado in the US State of Arkansas. With around 430 employees at three plant sites, El Dorado is the key location of the product development and production of our global brominated flame retardant additives and brominated products business. The innovative products and technologies there are important to our growth plans in this region. One employee who knows the facilities like the back of his hand is Terry Lewis, Head of Production at the El Dorado West Plant.
Terry, please tell us a little more about your career at LANXESS. You’re practically an institution, aren’t you?
You could say that! I started at the West Plant back in 1978, but I’ve also worked at the Central and South factories at times. In 2018, I went back to the West Plant, where I am now in charge of bromine production. Although we are the smallest of the three plants, we are the largest bromine producer in South Arkansas.
Terry Lewis
Head of Production at the El Dorado West Plant
What is bromine used for?
We extract the bromine from a salt spring at a depth of a good two kilometers. The natural reservoir here in South Arkansas is the second largest in the world. Bromine and bromine-based intermediates are used in the electrical and electronics industries, construction industry and oil and gas industry, to name just a few of their uses. Our products are thus connected to many aspects of daily life.
How many employees work for LANXESS in El Dorado?
With 12 people at the West plant, we are the smallest LANXESS team at the site. There are 152 employees at the South plant and 275 at the Central plant. Most of us come from the region. The connection to the plants and the feeling of togetherness are really pronounced here. And there is also a good exchange between the plants; I’m not the only person who has worked in more than one.
LANXESS took over the plants in El Dorado from Chemtura in 2017. What has happened since then?
Due to significant investment by LANXESS, we have implemented several projects to improve our processes and modernize our plants since we became part of the company. We are very pleased that so much money has been invested. This shows that we are valued in the company. Currently, we are all observing with great interest how the pilot project with our partner Standard Lithium develops. The company has developed an innovative process for the extraction of high-purity lithium directly from our brines – of which, by the way, we process several million liters every day. A pilot plant has been set up recently, and if everything works out well, lithium extraction could become a new business pillar for us.
LANXESS and its employees are also very involved in community life. What do you think about that?
This is personally close to my heart. LANXESS has recognized how deeply rooted it is in the region, and promotes this through its social commitment – such as with educational projects at schools here. For example, we launched a STEM education program in 2017, pledging to donate USD 250,000 over five years to schools in our county. This makes me proud to work for the company.
Speaking of roots, Arkansas is considered a particularly nature-friendly state in the USA. What is special about the people and the region?
We just like being outside. Many colleagues meet up in their spare time to go fishing or for other outdoor activities. I’d say that the people here are very friendly, helpful, and are not afraid to “grab the bull by the horns” – both professionally and personally. Walking through town on a Saturday practically guarantees you an invite to a barbecue, because that’s what we love so much.
We extract the bromine from a salt spring at a depth of a good two kilometers. The natural reservoir here in South Arkansas is the second largest in the world. Bromine and bromine-based intermediates are used in the electrical and electronics industries, construction industry and oil and gas industry, to name just a few of their uses. Our products are thus connected to many aspects of daily life.
How many employees work for LANXESS in El Dorado?
With 12 people at the West plant, we are the smallest LANXESS team at the site. There are 152 employees at the South plant and 275 at the Central plant. Most of us come from the region. The connection to the plants and the feeling of togetherness are really pronounced here. And there is also a good exchange between the plants; I’m not the only person who has worked in more than one.
LANXESS took over the plants in El Dorado from Chemtura in 2017. What has happened since then?
Due to significant investment by LANXESS, we have implemented several projects to improve our processes and modernize our plants since we became part of the company. We are very pleased that so much money has been invested. This shows that we are valued in the company. Currently, we are all observing with great interest how the pilot project with our partner Standard Lithium develops. The company has developed an innovative process for the extraction of high-purity lithium directly from our brines – of which, by the way, we process several million liters every day. A pilot plant has been set up recently, and if everything works out well, lithium extraction could become a new business pillar for us.
LANXESS and its employees are also very involved in community life. What do you think about that?
This is personally close to my heart. LANXESS has recognized how deeply rooted it is in the region, and promotes this through its social commitment – such as with educational projects at schools here. For example, we launched a STEM education program in 2017, pledging to donate USD 250,000 over five years to schools in our county. This makes me proud to work for the company.
Speaking of roots, Arkansas is considered a particularly nature-friendly state in the USA. What is special about the people and the region?
We just like being outside. Many colleagues meet up in their spare time to go fishing or for other outdoor activities. I’d say that the people here are very friendly, helpful, and are not afraid to “grab the bull by the horns” – both professionally and personally. Walking through town on a Saturday practically guarantees you an invite to a barbecue, because that’s what we love so much.
LANXESS in El Dorado, USA
With a good 18,000 inhabitants, the city of El Dorado is not a giant – but the three LANXESS plants are. They are among the world’s largest producers and processors of bromine. The sites are part of the Polymer Additives business unit. Bromine and bromine intermediates are used in numerous applications such as flame retardants, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, butyl rubber, polymers and biocides.The El Dorado facilities include three separate plant sites: the Central Plant, South Plant and West Plant. The Central plant began operations with 13 employees, producing bromine and methyl bromide, among other products. In the 1970s, the plant was expanded to produce flame retardants and oil field completion fluids. The South plant was the first of our bromine plants to be built. Michigan Chemical / Murphy Oil built the plant in 1957. The West plant is the smallest of the three El Dorado plants, but it is still the largest bromine producing plant in South Arkansas.
