Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern visited the Borealis Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Austria, today. A tour of Borealis’ main Research & Development (R&D) hub highlighted polyolefin innovations but also the greater innovative power of Austrian science and industry.
Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. Chancellor Christian Kern’s visit to Borealis facilities in Linz included a tour of the company’s international Innovation Headquarters and its application hall. As the innovative heart of global Borealis operations, the Innovation Headquarters employs more than 450 scientists and experts from over 30 countries. R&D focus is on polymer design and compounds for polymer applications that deliver meaningful solutions to important global challenges, primarily in the areas of infrastructure, automotive and advanced packaging. A unique aspect of the Innovation Headquarters is its application hall, built for the collaborative on-site testing of newly developed products by Borealis experts and customers.
Following the Innovation Headquarters tour, Chancellor Kern and Borealis Chief Executive Mark Garrett held informal talks with senior management and works council representatives.
“I think we can rightly say that Borealis is a hidden champion in Austria. While our head office is in Vienna, we have operations in 120 different countries. In order to maintain and expand our technology leadership we constantly invest in R&D,” explains Mark Garrett. “These investments continue to pay off: in 2015 alone, we registered 96 patents, producing more innovations than any other company in Austria. What is more, we earned a record profit of EUR 988 million in the same year. Borealis not only plays a vital role for the industrial base of Linz, but also enhances the appeal of Austria as a whole for industry and commerce.”
“We are pleased to have been able to discuss important topics such as R&D with Chancellor Kern and to have clearly communicated our stance regarding the importance of reducing taxes and duties. Politics and industry share the same goals: we need to maintain the economic competitiveness of Austria, and improve its appeal as a good place to work – especially for top international researchers and managers,” Mark Garrett concludes.
In March of this year, Borealis announced a new EUR 80 million investment package for its Linz location. Designed to bolster the long-term competitiveness of the location, the programme will improve overall efficiency and environmental performance thanks to the installation of ultramodern equipment and implementation of innovative processes.
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For further information please contact:
Kerstin Artenberg
Vice President HR & Communications
Tel. +43 (0)1 22 400 389 (Vienna, Austria)
e-mail: kerstin.artenberg@borealisgroup.com
Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. With headquarters in Vienna, Austria, the company currently has around 6,500 employees and operates in over 120 countries. Borealis generated EUR 7.7 billion in sales revenue and a net profit of EUR 988 million in 2015. The International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi owns 64% of the company, the remaining 36% belonging to OMV, an international, integrated oil and gas company based in Vienna. Borealis provides services and products to customers around the world in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
Building on its proprietary Borstar® and Borlink™ technologies and more than 50 years of experience in polyolefins, Borealis and Borouge support key industries with a wide range of applications in the areas of energy, automotive, pipes, consumer products, healthcare, and advanced packaging.
The Borouge 3 plant expansion will make Borouge the world’s largest integrated polyolefins complex. Once fully ramped up in 2016, the additional 2.5 million tonnes of polyolefins capacity will yield a total Borouge capacity of 4.5 million tonnes, and a combined Borealis and Borouge capacity of 8 million tonnes.
Borealis offers a wide range of base chemicals, including melamine, phenol, acetone, ethylene, propylene, butadiene and pygas, servicing a wide range of industries. Borealis also creates real value for the agricultural industry, selling approximately 5 million tonnes of fertilizers. Technical nitrogen and melamine products complement the portfolio with applications ranging from mono-nitrogen oxide (NOx) abatement to glues and laminates in the wood working industry.
For more information visit:
www.borealisgroup.com
www.borouge.com
www.waterfortheworld.net
Borstar is a registered trademark of the Borealis Group.
Bormed, Borlink and Water for the World are trademarks of the Borealis Group.
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