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Propylene oxide and derivatives: a Shell history

For over 50 years, Shell Chemicals has been growing into a globally recognised supplier to the propylene oxide and derivatives businesses.

Side profile of boat

Currently, Shell Chemicals is among the top four global players in the PO and derivatives sector. This substantial capacity growth has been fuelled by continual developments in our proprietary SMPO technology, and manifested in world-scale, integrated assets that are strategically placed to meet customer needs. It is this same commitment to our customers that drove the establishment of our polyurethanes research and technology centre in Bangalore, India, providing our key clients with practical advice and research findings on the issues that matter to their industries.

Propylene oxide and derivatives: a Shell history
YearEvent
1957First propylene oxide plant acquired in Carrington, UK
1959First polyether polyols produced in Carrington
1964New polyol plant starts up in Pernis, The Netherlands
1970New TDI / MDI joint venture plant starts up in Antwerp, Belgium (halted production in 2003)
1971Major polyol plant expansion at Pernis, The Netherlands
1980First SMPO plant starts commercial production in Moerdijk, The Netherlands
1988New "product" laboratory opened in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
1990Polyols and SMPO de-bottlenecking in The Netherlands
1997Shell Seraya Research Laboratory opens in Singapore
1997SMPO/Polyols/MPG plants start up in Singapore
1998New rigid polyols facility starts up at Pernis, The Netherlands
1999New SMPO plant starts up in Moerdijk, The Netherlands
1999New polymer polyol capacity becomes available
1999Shell/Huntsman Strategic Alliance on Rigid foam Urethanes
2002New SMPO/Polyols plant starts up in Singapore
2003New styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) polymer polyol plant in The Netherlands
2006SM/PO and derivatives plants come on-stream at CSPCL Nanhai in China
2007Closure of CARADOL polyether polyols plant at Carrington UK
2008Opening of new R&D centre in Bangalore, India. Expansion of polyols plant at Pernis, The Netherlands
2009Shell Chemicals celebrates 50 years of polyols (see link to feature article)
2011Modifications at Pernis increase capacity of CASE polyols