After having restructured its operations in January 2014 (see Plasteurope.com of 30.09.2013), its recent acquisition of Rockwood Holdings has prompted US speciality chemicals producer Albemarle (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; www.albemarle.com) to once again readjust its global business units and executive leadership team.

The realignment is due to go into effect at the end of Q1 this year. By then, Albemarle will have put three global business units into place: Chemetall Surface Treatment, focused on speciality chemicals for the surface treatment of metals and plastics; Refining Solutions, which will consist of the current Heavy Oil Upgrading and Clean Fuels Technologies businesses; and Performance Chemicals, which will combine the company’s lithium, aluminium alkyls and derivative catalysts businesses with its existing Performance Chemicals unit. The latter business will be headed by Michael Wilson.

Commenting on the change, CEO Luke Kissam said, “The new company will be structured to leverage its complementary fit, especially between lithium and bromine, allowing us to capitalize on our long-term lithium strategy while providing immediate scale and ability to leverage its similarities with bromine.”

Albemarle’s joint venture with Israel Chemicals (ICL, Tel Aviv / Israel; www.icl-ip.com) is set to start producing the former’s “GreenCrest” polymeric flame retardant (PolyFR) this year – for previous coverage, see Plasteurope.com of 02.09.2014.