Solutia acquires phosphonates Business from Cognis

Solutia will supply former Cognis customers out of its plant in Newport, Wales, which is the largest phosphonates production plant in the world. Cognis will close its HEDP plant in Holthausen, Germany, later this year.

"As the global leader in phosphonates and water conditioning technology, we look forward to building relationships with the customers that Cognis has served through the years," said Jacques Verspeek, worldwide business director for Solutia's Dequest Business Group. "We trust these new customers will benefit from Solutia's technical expertise, recently expanded portfolio of phosphonates and polymers, and worldwide technical support."

"This agreement has a strategic dimension. Transferring the phosphonate production operations will allow us to concentrate even more intensely on our core businesses in Care Chemicals," explains Richard Ridinger, Vice President Care at Cognis, "and our existing customers will not suffer in any way as they will be in good hands with Solutia, a highly competent partner." Solutia will also be taking over the Turpinal brand from Cognis.

Phosphonates are highly active specialty chemicals, used as chelants, dispersants and crystal growth inhibitors in a multitude of water related applications. HEDP is a specific type of phosphonate that Solutia markets under the Dequest 2010 brand name for applications such as industrial water & process treatment, detergents and institutional/ industrial cleaners.