During the ACHEMA, 19 - 24 May 2003, chemical industry exhibition in Frankfurt, Uhde GmbH of Dortmund, Germany, and KoSa of Houston, USA, agreed to work together in the field of polyester. In the past Uhde built a number of plants based on well-known technology from the former Hoechst AG. These plants continue to operate around the world.

Now Uhde is restarting this tradition with KoSa, the successor of Hoechst`s polyester business, to supply first-class processes for the production of PET bottle resins, technical filaments for tires and industrial yarn, textile fibres and filaments using KoSa`s know-how and technology.

With production facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Western Europe, KoSa is in a position to supply the high-quality products required by the market. These products are constantly adapted to market conditions through KoSa`s proprietary research and development work and state-of-the-art technologies.

"Uhde has thus achieved a significant strategic enhancement of its range of processes in the field of polymers and is now in a position to exploit any opportunities which arise on the world market with a state-of-the-art process," said Klaus Schneiders, a member of Uhde`s Executive Board.

"KoSa is pleased to cooperate with Uhde in this field," said James DelPiano, KoSa`s Global Director Technology Services. "Uhde brings the strong engineering capabilities to implement polyester projects around the world from basic engineering to Lump Sum Turn Key, allowing KoSa to expand its market."

Furthermore, with KoSa`s production experience, Uhde will be in a position to supply its clients with plants to manufacture products as required by the market. Additionally KoSa will be available to offer its marketing services and experience to such clients.

Uhde is a company in the Technologies segment of the ThyssenKrupp Group and has a workforce of 3,500 employees worldwide. The company`s activities focus on the design and construction of chemical and other industrial plants in the following fields: fertilisers, organic chemicals , polymers, electrolysis, oil, gas and refining technology and pharmaceuticals.

KoSa is a leading, global producer of commodity and specialty polyester fibers, polymers, and intermediates. The company employs approximately 7,500 people worldwide.

Contact

Uhde GmbH
Andreas Beckers - Public Relations
Phone:+49 2 31 5 47 -2514
Fax: +49 2 31 5 47 26 28
E-Mail: BeckersA@tkt-uhde.thyssenkrupp.com