Production of phenol, acetone and alpha-methylstyrene at the Gladbeck chemical site
INEOS Phenol GmbH
Gladbeck (home plant) · Marl · Beveren/Antwerp (BE) · Theodore, Alabama (US) · Pasadena, TX (US) · SingaporeNew on Amplifa
About INEOS Phenol GmbH
INEOS Phenol GmbH has been producing phenol and acetone at its home plant in Gladbeck since 1954 using the cumene process; the feedstock is cumene (cumene hydroperoxide process), which is supplied by pipeline from the cumene suppliers in Scholven and Marl as well as via the inland port of Marl. In addition to phenol and acetone, alpha-methylstyrene is also produced. Phenol capacity grew from an original 8,000 t/year to 650,000 t/year. Phenol is a starting material for, among other things, pharmaceutical products, plastics, paints and resins; acetone serves as a solvent and precursor for Plexiglas and polycarbonate; alpha-methylstyrene is used in the production of ABS plastics. The plant employs around 280 staff and is part of the INEOS Phenol Division with sites in Belgium, the USA and Singapore. In June 2025, INEOS announced its intention to permanently close the Gladbeck site due to uncompetitive energy and CO2 costs in Europe.
- Site
- Gladbeck
- Processes
- Production of phenol, Production of acetone, Production of alpha-methylstyrene
- Materials
- Phenol, Acetone, Alpha-methylstyrene, Cumene
- Certificates
- REACh registration, SHE guidelines (20 principles)
- Founded
- 1952
- Employees
- 280
- Industries
- Chemical industry, Plastics processing, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive, Building materials/resins, Chemical industry (phenol, acetone, alpha-methylstyrene)
- 01
Cumene supply via pipeline (Scholven/Marl, inland port of Marl)
- 02
Cumene oxidation to cumene hydroperoxide
- 03
Cleavage into phenol and acetone
- 04
By-product alpha-methylstyrene
- 05
Tank truck loading and pipeline connection to international waterways
Products and Raw Materials
Cumene
Feedstock for phenol production, sourced by pipeline from Scholven and Marl.
Phenol
Main product; starting material for pharmaceuticals, plastics, paints, chipboard resins and nylon.
Acetone
Solvent and precursor for Plexiglas and polycarbonate.
Alpha-methylstyrene
Used in the production and finishing of ABS plastics.
Sites
Gladbeck
DEHome plant – phenol and acetone production
- Materials
- Phenol, Acetone, Alpha-methylstyrene
- Phenol plant (650,000 t/year)
- Process control system / control room (2007)
Marl
DESite of INEOS Cumene GmbH
- Materials
- Cumene
Beveren (Antwerp)
BEINEOS Phenol Belgium N.V. – Antwerp plant (since 1993)
Theodore, Alabama
USINEOS Phenol – Mobile plant (since 2000)
Pasadena, TX
USINEOS Phenol Pasadena
Singapore
SGINEOS Phenol Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production of phenolChemical production | – | – | – | – | Cumene |
| Production of acetoneChemical production | – | – | – | – | Cumene |
| Production of alpha-methylstyreneChemical production | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenol plant | – | 1 | – | – | Gladbeck |
| Process control system / control room | – | 1 | – | 2007 | Gladbeck |
Quality and Certification
The products are registered under the European chemicals regulation REACh. Occupational safety follows internal SHE guidelines (20 SHE principles); the plant maintains a plant fire brigade staffed 24/7.
| Evidence | Gladbeck |
|---|---|
| REACh registration | |
| SHE guidelines (20 principles) |
History
- 1952
Foundation of Phenolchemie by Hibernia AG/Scholven Chemie, Rütgerswerke AG and Bakelite.
- 1954
Start of phenol and acetone production in Gladbeck with 8,000 t/year.
- 1979
Acquisition of the Hibernia share by VEBA Chemie AG; transfer of 50% to Hüls AG.
- 1993
Commissioning of the Antwerp plant, Belgium.
- 1994
Full 100% acquisition of the Phenolchemie shares by Hüls AG.
- 2000
Commissioning of the Mobile plant, USA.
- 2001
Acquisition by INEOS – Phenolchemie becomes INEOS Phenol.
- 2003
Increase of the Gladbeck capacity to 650,000 t/year (2003–2005).
- 2007
Full commissioning of the new control room with a new process control system.
- 2014
According to the company (as of 12/2014), the world's largest phenol plant is located in Gladbeck.
- 2024
Announcement to restart the Antwerp plant and temporarily shut down the Gladbeck plant.
- 2025
17 June 2025: announcement of the intention to permanently close the Gladbeck site due to uncompetitive energy and CO2 costs.