20 years Energizing Chemistry - We celebrate!
Happy Birthday LANXESS! On January 31, 2025, our company celebrates its 20th anniversary. For two decades now, it is “Energizing Chemistry”.
Our claim stands for fresh thinking, new approaches and flexibility. With this “DNA”, LANXESS has reinvented itself again and again over the past 20 years and has also mastered challenging situations.
From “Bayer's leftover ramp” to a leading supplier of rubbers and plastics to a genuine specialty chemicals group. We take you on a journey through our exciting history.
LANXESS Timeline
Watch our Timeline and Milestones
2003-2007
November 7, 2003
March 18, 2004
July 1, 2004
September 30, 2004
January 31, 2005
June 20, 2005
April 1, 2006
April 1, 2006
April 1, 2006
January 1, 2007
September 20, 2007
November 7, 2003
The beginning
The Supervisory Board of Bayer AG approves the comprehensive strategic realignment of the Bayer Group. Part of this is the spin-off of the chemicals businesses and partly polymer businesses into an independent company.
March 18, 2004
LANXESS - the name
The young company announces its new name. LANXESS: composed of the French "lancer" and the English "success".
July 1, 2004
LANXESS starts internally
LANXESS starts to operate largely independently. The Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG is Axel C. Heitmann.
September 30, 2004
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH is listed in the commercial register
The entry marks an important step in the history of the company, which emerged from the spin-off from Bayer.
January 31, 2005
LANXESS goes public
LANXESS shares are listed in the Prime Standard of the Official Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
June 20, 2005
LANXESS included in stock index MDAX
The admission to the MDAX is based on the so-called "fast-entry rule", companies can be admitted to the MDAX outside the regular review dates in March and September if they are among the 40 largest stocks within the MDAX in terms of turnover and market capitalization.
April 1, 2006
LANXESS sells Paper business unit
The sale of the Paper business unit to the Finnish Kemira Group is an important step in optimizing the LANXESS portfolio.
April 1, 2006
Foundation of Saltigo
LANXESS fine chemicals are transferred to a separate company in order to be able to react more agilely on the market.
April 1, 2006
Sale of the Dorlastan fibers business Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation
The sale of LANXESS's Dorlastan fibers business to the Japanese Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation (AKF) was completed on April 1, 2006. This transaction was part of LANXESS's strategy to optimize its portfolio.
January 1, 2007
LANXESS divests textile processing chemicals business
The Dutch investor Egeria and the management of the Textile Processing Chemicals business unit are taking over all activities of this business unit outside North America.
September 20, 2007
Joint venture between LANXESS and INEOS
LANXESS brings the Lustran Polymers business unit into a joint venture with Ineos.
2008-2012
January 1, 2008
April 1, 2008
June 26, 2008
October 28, 2008
June 8, 2009
March 3, 2010
March 9, 2010
May 17, 2010
January 12, 2011
Acquisition of Darmex
April 14, 2011
May 1, 2011
July 8, 2011
September 5, 2012
September 17, 2012
September 24, 2012
January 1, 2008
CURRENTA founded
Bayer Industry Services becomes Currenta (60% Bayer, 40% LANXESS). The so called “Niederrheinwerke” are also renamed – ChemPark.
April 1, 2008
LANXESS acquires Petroflex chemicals group
LANXESS announces the acquisition of approximately 70% of Petroflex S.A., Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro-based company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of synthetic rubber.
June 26, 2008
First acquisition in China
LANXESS expands the Asian business of the Inorganic Pigments business unit with its first acquisition in China. In Jinshan, near Shanghai, LANXESS takes over two production facilities from its former cooperation partner Jinzhuo Chemicals Company Ltd., which are characterized by their modern and environmentally friendly production methods.
October 28, 2008
Kölnarena officially becomes LANXESS Arena
LANXESS becomes the official namesake of the former Kölnarena. Since then, Germany's largest event hall has been known as the LANXESS Arena.
June 8, 2009
Further acquisitions in Asia
LANXESS is acquiring the chemicals businesses and facilities of the Indian company Gwalior Chemical Industries Ltd. and of the Chinese company Jiangsu Polyols Chemical Co. Ltd.
March 3, 2010
Production start of rubber chemicals in Jhagadia
In India, the production plant for rubber chemicals is relocated from Thane to Jhagadia and starts production.
March 9, 2010
Inauguration of new combined heat and power plant in Porto Feliz
This plant is part of the company's efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact.
May 17, 2010
Groundbreaking ceremony for butyl rubber plant in Singapore
The new production plant will significantly expand production capacity for butyl rubber.
January 12, 2011
Acquisition of Darmex
LANXESS acquires the Argentinian company Darmex S.A., which specializes in release agents and vulcanization bladders for the tire industry.
April 14, 2011
LANXESS takes over Syngenta's material protection business
This acquisition enables LANXESS to become one of the leading suppliers of biocides for the protection of building materials.
May 1, 2011
LANXESS acquires DSM Elastomers
LANXESS acquires the DSM Elastomers from Dutch Royal DSM N.V. DSM Elastomers produces synthetic rubber ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) under the brand name Keltan.
July 8, 2011
Rhein Chemie acquires release agents for the tire industry from Wacker
Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH is expanding its product range for the tire industry by acquiring the tire release agents business of Wacker Chemie AG. The acquisition strengthens the company's good position in the tire industry and makes LANXESS the world’s leading supplier of tire release agents.
September 5, 2012
LANXESS builds EPDM plant in China
The largest investment to date in China: LANXESS contributes EUR 235 million to the plant in Changzhou (Jiangsu province). Ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers are used, for example, for seals in the construction industry.
September 17, 2012
Inauguration of a new production plant for PBT in Gastonia
LANXESS is building a new production plant for polyamide and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which are used in the automotive industry, in the state of North Carolina, U.S.
September 24, 2012
LANXESS in Germany's leading stock index DAX 30
On September 5, 2012, the Working Committee on Stock Indices of Deutsche Börse AG decides to include LANXESS AG in Germany's DAX 30 index, where it would remain until 2015.
2013-2015
July 4, 2013
July 4, 2013
September 3, 2013
April 1, 2014
June 25, 2014
July 4, 2013
LANXESS opens first production site in Russia
LANXESS business unit Rhein Chemie produces polymer-bound rubber additives for the markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at its new plant in Lipetsk. These products are mainly used in the automotive and tire industries.
July 4, 2013
Start of construction of IPG plant in Ningbo
LANXESS is building a new production plant for synthetic iron oxide pigments. The special feature: The plant receives the "National Green Plant" certificate for its efforts to minimize the CO2 footprint
September 3, 2013
Cologne becomes new LANXESS headquarters
LANXESS moves into the LANXESS Tower at Kennedyplatz 1 in the Cologne-Deutz district in Germany with around 1,000 employees. At the new headquarters, the central management functions of the Group are bundled under one roof for the first time.
April 1, 2014
Matthias Zachert appointed new LANXESS Management Board Chairman
Matthias Zachert succeeds Axel C. Heitmann as Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.
June 25, 2014
125 years of Rhein Chemie
The company was founded in 1889 by chemists Dr. Albert Müller and Dr. Hermann Dubois and has since developed into a leading supplier of additives and specialty chemicals.
2016-2019
April 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
April 21, 2017
February 8, 2018
December 31, 2018
August 6, 2019
November 13, 2019
April 1, 2016
LANXESS and Saudi Aramco finalize formation of ARLANXEO
LANXESS and the Saudi Aramco subsidiary Aramco Overseas Company each held a 50% stake in the synthetic rubber joint venture.
The formation of ARLANXEO was a the first strategic step for LANXESS to exit the polymers business.
September 1, 2016
Acquisition of Chemours´ Clean and Disinfect business
LANXESS completes the acquisition of the "Clean and Disinfect" business from US chemicals group Chemours, which comprises various active ingredients and specialty chemicals especially for disinfection and hygiene solutions.
April 21, 2017
acquisition of Chemtura
LANXESS completes the acquisition of US-based Chemtura, a leading global supplier of flame retardant and lubricant additives. With a total enterprise value of EUR 2.4 billion, Chemtura is the largest acquisition in the history of LANXESS.
February 8, 2018
Acquisition of phosphorus additives business of Solvay
LANXESS successfully completes the acquisition of the phosphorus chemicals business of the Belgian chemicals group Solvay, including its U.S. production site in Charleston, South Carolina.
December 31, 2018
Withdrawal from ARLANXEO
LANXESS exits the rubber joint venture ahead of schedule and transfers all shares to Saudi Aramco.
August 6, 2019
LANXESS verkauft Anteile an Currenta
The specialty chemicals group is selling its 40 percent stake in the chemical park operator Currenta to Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). The sale was valued at an equity value of approximately EUR 780 million before taxes.
November 13, 2019
“Climate Neutral 2040" climate initiative launched
The aim of this initiative is to become climate neutral by 2040. LANXESS plans to reduce its CO2 emissions to less than 220,000 tons. This is to be achieved through various climate protection projects and the use of renewable energies.
2020-2022
February 3, 2020
October 13, 2021
July 1, 2022
August 4, 2022
February 3, 2020
Acquisition of IPEL
IPEL is one of the leading biocide manufacturers in Brazil. With this acquisition, LANXESS strengthens its position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of biocidal active ingredients and formulations.
October 13, 2021
Introduction of Scopeblue
The "Scopeblue" label of LANXESS identifies products with circular - recycled or biobased - raw materials or a particularly low carbon footprint compared to conventional products.
July 1, 2022
Acquisition of the Microbial Control business of International Flavors & Fragrances
With this acquisition, LANXESS has significantly expanded its portfolio of antimicrobial active ingredients and formulations for material protection, preservatives and disinfectants, making the company one of the world's largest suppliers of antimicrobial protection products.
August 4, 2022
Scope 3 target: entire supply chain to become climate neutral
The upstream and downstream supply chains are to become climate-neutral by 2050. This includes indirect emissions, particularly from purchased raw materials, but also from logistics and end products. By 2030, Scope 3 emissions are to be reduced by 40% compared to the base year 2015.
2023-2025
April 1, 2023
October 25, 2024
October 25, 2024
April 1, 2023
LANXESS and Advent International establish the joint venture Envalior
The joint venture is the result of the merger of the DSM Engineering Materials business and the former LANXESS High Performance Materials business unit. LANXESS holds around 40% of the shares, while Advent International owns around 60%.
October 25, 2024
Sale of the Urethane Systems business to UBE Corporation
With the sale of Urethane Systems, LANXESS is parting with the last remaining polymer business in its portfolio.
October 25, 2024
LANXESS receives excellent sustainability ratings
- 1st rank in Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe, 4th rank worldwide
- Group among the top-rated chemical companies in ISS ESG ratings
- MSCI ESG confirms AA rating for the fourth time
- Gold status at EcoVadis