Evonik’s Hydrogen Peroxide Operations Reach Safety, Production Milestones

It is an exciting time to be in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) business – especially if you’re the top H2O2 producer in North America.

Evonik’s Active Oxygen Business Line has produced nearly 9 billion pounds of H2O2 in the Americas over the past 25 years; the Business Line expanded its footprint with the addition of a new plant in Maitland, Canada a year ago, and the H2O2 unit continues to set safety records.

“2012 was an exciting year for us and we expect even greater accomplishments in 2013,” said Thomas Rieche, who heads Evonik’s global Active Oxygens Business Line. “When you’re one of the top producers in the industry, you must try even harder to improve operations and customer service. Each and every one of our dedicated employees is prepared to go the extra mile this year.”

Evonik’s H2O2 Business Line, which also has plants in Gibbons, Canada, and Mobile, Ala., has achieved an impressive safety record in the Americas – a combined 43 years without a Lost Time Accident (LTA). The Maitland plant has reached 26 years with no LTA; the Gibbons facility achieved 10 years without a LTA; and the Mobile plant surpassed seven years with no LTA. A LTA is a work-related injury resulting in time off from the job.

“Reaching over 15,000 days with no LTA is a remarkable achievement and a direct result of strong teamwork and diligent safety training,” said Rieche. “Safety is always a high priority for Evonik Corporation and prevention is the key to eliminating workplace injuries.”

Even though safety is always a top priority, so is operational excellence. Rieche noted Mobile’s H2O2 plant, which recently celebrated its 25th year anniversary of operations, received Evonik’s Operational Excellence (OPEX) Award recognizing significant cost-savings and establishment of best practice methods.

Jack Chenault, Vice President & General Manager, Americas for Evonik’s Active Oxygens, noted the company continually fine-tunes its operations. “We don’t rest on our laurels,” says Chenault. “Our 150 employees are continually looking for ways to do their jobs better and safer. We believe that excellence in safety is a key to our success. Continuing improvements in production, logistics and business performance can only be fully leveraged with corresponding improvements in safety awareness and performance. The realignment of the H2O2 organization and work flows between Evonik’s administrative center in Parsippany and the H2O2 plants in Canada and the U.S. have created a more safe, diverse and integrated business.”

Ingo Hamann, Evonik Vice President Production and Engineering, Americas for Evonik’s Active Oxygens, said management strongly support knowledge sharing within the company, too. “Our operations personnel visit other plants looking for innovative ways to operate the business,” he explained. “This has led to significant improvement in our operations. We continue to make strategic investments that enhance safety in our facilities and the efficiency of our operations.”

By optimizing our operational processes, Evonik improves productivity and strengthens the company’s competitive position, says Hamann. “It’s important that everyone is committed to improving operational processes,” he said. “This starts with management and requires acceptance throughout all levels of the business line to successfully implement these procedures. All Evonik team members doing their part and working together is the key to our success – and to our impressive safety record.”

H2O2 is an environmentally-friendly chemical used for oxidation reactions, bleaching processes in pulp, paper and textile industries, waste water treatment, exhaust air treatment and for various disinfection applications. Decomposing to yield only oxygen and water, H2O2 is one of the cleanest, most versatile chemicals available.

For additional information about Evonik in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america. Please visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvonikNorthAmerica. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EvonikN_America.