Celanese Announces GUR® UHMWPE Capacity Expansion At Bishop

Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced plans to expand manufacturing production capacity for its GUR® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) product at the company’s Bishop, Texas facility. Expansion of the GUR® UHMWPE manufacturing facility will increase capacity to 38 kT/a, with final completion expected in May 2016.

“Increasing production capacity at our Bishop facility will enable Celanese to expand our reach, support a growing and diverse customer base, and respond to increasing consumer needs for materials in high-value lithium-ion battery, medical and pharmaceutical, and filtration applications,” said Scott Sutton, president, Materials Solutions for Celanese. “With this expansion, Celanese strengthens its position as the world’s leading producer of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, with the broadest portfolio of grades among any of our competitors.”

This capacity expansion provides Celanese with additional production flexibility to introduce two new medical GUR® grades for the pharmaceutical industry. These new products will draw on the company’s expertise in manufacturing engineered materials with stringent raw material controls for product consistency and quality that meet pharmaceutical regulations. These new medical grades for the pharmaceutical industry will serve customer applications including filtering, purification of liquid drug formulations, and mechanically operated devices used in drug contact and delivery.

GUR® UHMWPE is a linear polyethylene with a much higher molecular weight than standard PE, which offers outstanding abrasion resistance, superior impact strength, non-sticking and self-lubricating properties, and excellent mechanical characteristics, even in cryogenic conditions. The material is eight times lighter than steel and lasts 10 times longer than high density PE in abrasive environments.

As a polyethylene with a very high molecular weight, GUR® UHMWPE is produced as a powder that requires specific processing. In the semi-finished industry, the high pressures generated in compression molding and ram extrusion processes fuse the particles together. The material is then typically formed into stock shapes or profiles.

Celanese offers GUR® UHMWPE grades for applications including orthopedic implants, water and air filtration, battery separators, fibers, additives and membranes. Celanese GUR® UHMWPE premium grades for orthopedic implants and pharmaceuticals meet the requirements of health organizations, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union regulations. FDA Drug and Device Master Files are available for premium grades.

Source: Celanese