Albemarle
Contact UsNews & Events
Home / History
Print | Share

History

Proud Past, Bright Future

With a history that extends back to 1887, today’s Albemarle is a leading global producer of polymer solutions, fine chemistry, and catalysts. Our products are used as additives to, or intermediates for, a wide range of products manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, cleaning product manufacturers, water treatment companies, agricultural companies, electronics goods manufacturers, refineries, and paper and photographic companies. We operate on a global scale, serving customers around the world.

2011Jordan Bromine Company, a joint venture between Albemarle and Arab Potash Company, announced that it will double the capacity of its bromine production in order to meet expanding global customer requirements.

Albemarle announced it had developed a proprietary technology for lithium extraction from brine.

Albemarle expanded its presence in the biofuels market with the acquisition of Catilin Inc., based in Ames, Iowa.

President of Albemarle, Luke Kissam, is elected CEO by Board of Directors.

Albemarle announced the formation of Albemarle Environmental Division. This newly-formed division focuses the resources of Albemarle Corporation in this important market segment within the air pollution control industry.

Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company (SOCC), a joint venture equally owned by Albemarle Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of Albemarle Corporation, and SABIC affiliate, SPECIALTY CHEM (Saudi Specialty Chemical Company), held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 18, 2011 to initiate the construction of a new aluminum alkyls manufacturing facility in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
2010Grand Opening of global shared services center – Albemarle's Center of Excellence (ACE), in Budapest, Hungary. The facility was developed as part of the company's "Project One Albemarle" initiative designed to standardize and streamline the company's global processes.

Albemarle Corporation and Petrobras announced plans to build a world-scale hydroprocessing facility in Santa Cruz, Brazil. The new facility will complement existing production of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts.

Albemarle Corporation announced the completion of the R&D laboratory facilities and the beginning of construction on its Yeosu, South Korea manufacturing facility. Upon completion, the site will produce finished catalysts, activators like methylaluminoxane (MAO) and metallocene components, as well as High Purity Metal Organics for the HBLED market.

Albemarle Corporation sold its Teesport, UK facility to Kemira Oyj.
 
2009Albemarle and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Affiliate, TAYF, create Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company (SOCC), a Strategic Catalysts Joint Venture, to build a world-scale organometallics production facility strategically located in the Arabian Gulf Industrial City of Al-Jubail.

Albemarle Chemicals SAS, a wholly owned affiliate of Albemarle Corporation, completed the sale of its facility in Port de Bouc, France to Azur Chimie SAS.
2008Albemarle and Weifang Sinobrom Import and Export Company, Ltd. (Sinobrom) reached an agreement in principle to form a new joint venture that will combine the existing business of Sinobrom, a leading marketer of bromine derivatives in China, with Albemarle's global bromine expertise in the specialty chemical industry, forming Sinobrom Albemarle Bromine Chemicals (Shandong) Company Ltd.

Albemarle acquired full-service power plant mercury-control provider Sorbent Technologies Corporation.

Albemarle completed its acquisition of two polymer additive joint ventures in China: Ningbo Jinhai Albemarle Chemical & Industry Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jinhai Albemarle Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.

Albemarle announced plans to move its corporate headquarters from Richmond, VA to Baton Rouge, LA.
2007Albemarle opened a new regional sales office in Dubai to meet growing market needs in India and the Middle East.

Albemarle opened a new Technical Center and broke ground on a phosphorus flame retardant manufacturing plant at the company's first wholly owned site in Nanjing, China.

Albemarle’s Board of Directors approved a two-for-one split of the Company's common stock.
2006Albemarle acquired the fine chemistry services and pharmachemicals business associated with the South Haven, Michigan facility of DSM Pharmaceutical Products (DSM).

Albemarle has completed the transfer of ownership of Albemarle's manufacturing facility in Thann, France to ICIG.
2005Albemarle broke ground at its site in Nanjing, China, for a technology center and a facility for the repackaging of aluminum alkyl polyolefin catalysts.
2004Albemarle acquired the refinery catalyst business of Akzo Nobel N.V. with sites and/or joint ventures in the Netherlands, Houston, USA, France, Brazil, Japan and Singapore.
2003Albemarle acquired Taerim International Corporation (Taerim) and formed Albemarle Korea Corporation.

Albemarle acquired Atofina’s bromine fine chemicals business in Port de Bouc, France.

Albemarle completed the acquisition of the phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants businesses of Rhodia including the production sites in Avonmouth, United Kingdom.

Albemarle acquired Ethyl Corporation’s fuel and lubricant antioxidants business.
2001Albemarle announced the acquisition of the custom and fine chemicals businesses of ChemFirst Inc.

Albemarle acquired Martinswerk GmbH in Bergheim, Germany, and Martinswerk’s 50% stake in Austrian joint venture Magnifin Magnesia Produkte GmbH.

Albemarle announced the purchase of certain assets of Ferro Corporation's PYRO-CHEK® flame retardant business, along with a plant at Port-de-Bouc, France.
2000Albemarle and Jinhai Chemical and Industry Company, a Chinese company, announced the establishment of a joint venture company for the manufacture, sale and export of specialty polymer stabilizers and flame retardants.
 
1998Albemarle acquired a custom manufacturing and oilfield chemicals plant in Teesport, England.

Albemarle Corporation forms a joint venture with Jordan Dead Sea Industries Company (JODICO) and Arab Potash Company (APC) to manufacture bromine and bromine derivatives in a world-scale complex to be built in Jordan.
1997Albemarle increased its Asia Pacific presence through an alliance with Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc., acquiring 50% of outstanding stock of Nippon Aluminum Alkyls, Ltd.
1996Albemarle sells its alpha olefins, polyalphaolefins and synthetic alcohols businesses to Amoco for about $500 million.

Albemarle acquired Asano Corporation, a sales and marketing company headquartered in Tokyo.
1994Ethyl spins off its chemical business to create an independent, publicly traded company named Albemarle Corporation.
 
1987Ethyl acquired Dow Chemical’s bromine chemicals business and its Magnolia, Arkansas plant.
 
1976Ethyl leaves paper manufacturing with the sale of Oxford Paper. Ethyl opened a chemical plant in Feluy, Belgium to make aluminum alkyls.
 
1969Certain Albemarle Paper assets are sold to a group of employees, who formed James River Corp. Bromine operations began in Magnolia, Arkansas.
1962Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Company borrowed $200 million and purchased Ethyl Corporation (Delaware), a corporation 13 times its size, and Ethyl Corporation (Virginia) is formed.
 
1953Ethyl acquired an Orangeburg, South Carolina specialty chemical plant from Wannamaker Chemical Company.
1942Ethyl Gasoline Corporation changed its name to Ethyl Corporation to characterize a broader interest than just gasoline products. Ethyl opened a plant in Pasadena, Texas in 1952.
1937TEL production began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for Ethyl Gasoline Corporation.
1921The antiknock properties of tetraethyl lead (TEL) as a gasoline additive are discovered after a lengthy search by a team of General Motors research chemists. TEL is to be the principal product of Ethyl Corporation for more than 40 years.
 
1887Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Company opened with a handful of employees producing Kraft and blotting paper.
 
Contact Albemarle
Related Resources Terms of Sale and Purchase
Literature Library
Image Library
Contact Us
Event Calendar
worldwide locations

View the Location Map


Albemarle is a leading specialty chemical company providing innovative chemistry solutions to customers in over 100 countries around the world. We are committed to creating value for our shareholders, customers and employees, while continually striving for excellence by doing the right things the right way.

© 2012 Albemarle Corporation, All Rights Reserved