Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a global supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon blacks, held its 125th anniversary celebration of its manufacturing plant in Cologne, Germany on September 9, 2020, US time.
"Congratulations to all of our employees in Cologne for jointly making this extraordinary historic milestone" said Dr. Sandra Niewiem, senior vice president and general manager of the European region of Orion's Orion Global Specialty Carbon Black Business Unit. "We have been committed to innovation and collaboration with customers for many years. Working closely together to develop the world's best specialty carbon black, and to have outstanding achievements in the industry, these are worthy of everyone's congratulations and pride!"
The origin of Orion can be traced back to 1862, when the German entrepreneur Augustel Wegelin established a carbon black factory in the center of Cologne. After thirty years of rapid development, in 1895, the factory moved to its current location in the south of Cologne.
In the 1930s, Degussa AG acquired and expanded the base. In 2007, Degussa AG was renamed Evonik Industries AG. The carbon black business was subsequently sold in 2011 and became an independent company Orion Engineered Carbons. After several years of development, Orion was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. The company continued to expand its investment, including the Cologne factory and R&D center, upgrading its production and packaging capabilities, and creating the most advanced logistics center.
Today, Orion Cologne factory has been relocated for 125 years. This factory is the world’s oldest industrial carbon black production base and the world’s largest specialty carbon black production base, serving various specialty carbon black and rubber carbon black markets, such as polymers, printing inks, coatings, batteries, Rubber products and tires. At the same time, Orion provides global support to its communities. For example, the Cologne plant has signed a long-term agreement with the neighboring city of Hürth to become the main heating supplier in the region.
