Total S.A. (Paris, France; www.total.com) has inaugurated its revamped Carling – Saint-Avold petrochemical complex in eastern France following three years of transformation works.
In September 2013, Total announced that it would adapt the Carling site, investing close to €200 million to upgrade existing facilities and build new, higher value-added units to improve the site’s competitiveness. The Carling — Saint-Avold complex has been turned into a leading polymer production site in Europe.
“Announced in 2013, the Carling upgrade project has been successfully completed” says Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of Total. “The complex has transitioned from a site producing commodities facing intense competition to a high value site aligned with market demand. In 2013, the Group pledged to an ambitious adaptation plan for Carling, thereby securing the future of all those concerned. I would like to thank the teams that made this model evolution possible. I am proud to say that Total has fulfilled its pledge.”
The adaptation of the Carling — Saint-Avold complex did not involve layoffs or compulsory staff transfers. Each employee was offered a personalized plan, such as transfers to other positions within the Group, retirement or assistance to create their own businesses.
The Carling — Saint-Avold Complex now has the following:
– Polystyrene production capacity was increased to make it Total’s leading site in Europe; the polyethylene unit was upgraded to deliver advanced plastics (e.g. health care market); and a unit was built to manufacture polypropylene compounds to meet automotive market demand for innovative and lighter plastics to replace steel and thereby make vehicles more fuel-efficient.
– The site now houses Cray Valley Europe headquarters and R&D center, and it also serves as a logistics hub; a new unit was built producing high valued-added Ricon and Krasol resins offering exceptional adhesion, longevity and damping properties; and finally, upgrade works were performed on a unit producing premium odorless, transparent Cleartack resins.