Production of titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2) via the sulfate and chloride processes, using ilmenite from its own mine in Norway.

KRONOS Worldwide, Inc. / KRONOS INTERNATIONAL, Inc.

Dallas, Texas (US) · Leverkusen (DE) · Nordenham (DE) · Fredrikstad (NO) · Hauge i Dalane (NO) · Langerbrugge/Ghent (BE) · Lake Charles, Louisiana (US) · Varennes, Québec (CA)New on Amplifa

1916Founded

618,000 t TiO2/yearProduction capacity

9 sites (5 Europe, 4 North America)Locations

Distribution network in over 100Distribution

About KRONOS

KRONOS is a global manufacturer and marketer of titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2), the most important white pigment for whiteness, brightness and opacity. Since 1916, the company has been producing TiO2 – initially using the world's first commercial process in Fredrikstad, Norway – and today develops pigments using both the sulfate and the chloride process. The production plants are located in Leverkusen and Nordenham (Germany), Fredrikstad (Norway), Langerbrugge/Ghent (Belgium), Lake Charles (USA) and Varennes (Canada); the raw material ilmenite comes from the company's own Titania AS mine in Hauge i Dalane, Norway. Annual capacity is approximately 618,000 t of TiO2. KRONOS TiO2 pigments are found in paints and coatings, plastics, paper and fibers, printing inks, and special applications such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, glass, ceramics and building materials. In addition to pigments, TiO2 slurries and by-products such as iron(II) sulfate (Kronos ecochem) are marketed; a distribution network covers more than 100 countries.

Site: Leverkusen
Processes: Sulfate process for the production of titanium dioxide pigments, Chloride process for the production of titanium dioxide pigments, Production of TiO2 slurry (suspension pigments), Production and shipment of dry and slurried titanium dioxide pigments and specialty products, Production of titanium dioxide and titanium oxychloride (Langerbrugge), Marketing of iron salts (by-product, mainly iron(II) sulfate) via Kronos ecochem, Customer Service, Logistics services (warehouses on two continents, worldwide delivery)
Materials: Titanium dioxide (anatase), Titanium dioxide (rutile), Ilmenite, Titanium oxychloride, Iron(II) sulfate, Barium sulfate, Sulfate Process, Chloride Process
Certificates: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 50001:2018, ISO 45001:2018, FSSC 22000 Version 6.0, Responsible Care, OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Star, EcoVadis Gold Medal, FSSC 22000
Founded: 1916
Industries: Paints and coatings, Plastics, Paper and fibers, Printing inks, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics

01
Ilmenite mining (Titania AS, Hauge i Dalane)
02
Sulfate process or chloride process for TiO2 production
03
Processing and surface treatment of the pigments
04
Slurry production (Lake Charles)
05
Quality inspection and technical application laboratories
06
Logistics and distribution via warehouses on two continents

Processes & Products

Sulfate Process

Processes patented by KRONOS for producing anatase and rutile TiO2 pigments, in continuous use since 1916, among other things for coatings, inks, fibers and paper.

Chloride Process

Process developed by KRONOS, first commissioned in the late 1960s, complementary to the sulfate pigments.

TiO2 Anatas

Titanium Dioxide (Anatase)

Crystal modification with effective UV absorption and low photocatalysis, suitable for outdoor applications.

TiO2 Rutil

Titanium Dioxide (Rutile)

First produced worldwide in 1939 in Leverkusen; today the most widely used modification with the highest opacity.

Ilmenit

Ilmenite

Raw material from the company's own Titania AS mine (Hauge i Dalane) for TiO2 production via the sulfate process.

FeSO4

Iron(II) Sulfate

By-product of production, marketed via Kronos ecochem, among other things for wastewater treatment and the cement industry.

TiOCl2

Titanium Oxychloride

Intermediate/by-product of the chloride route, produced e.g. in Langerbrugge.

BaSO4

Barium Sulfate

Historical component of the product 'Titan White' (25% TiO2, 75% BaSO4) of the early Leverkusen production.

Locations

Dallas, Texas

Corporate Headquarters

Leverkusen

CP production plant (KRONOS TITAN GmbH, Peschstraße 5)

Materials: TiO2 (chloride process)

Nordenham

SP production plant (sulfate process)

Materials: TiO2 (sulfate process)

Fredrikstad

SP production plant (sulfate process)

Materials: TiO2 (sulfate process)

Hauge i Dalane

Ilmenite mine (Titania AS)

Materials: Ilmenite

Langerbrugge/Ghent

CP production plant

Materials: TiO2, titanium oxychloride

Lake Charles, Louisiana

CP production plant and slurry production

Materials: TiO2, TiO2 slurry

Varennes, Québec

CP production plant

Materials: TiO2 (dry and slurried), specialty products

Products & Applications

**Coatings**TiO2 pigments · Paints and coatings

**Paper**TiO2 pigments · Paper and fibers

**Pharma & Cosmetics**TiO2 pigments · Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

**Special Applications**TiO2 pigments · Glass, ceramics, building materials

Inside the production

Industries

Paints and coatingsPlasticsPaper and fibersPrinting inksPharmaceuticalsCosmeticsGlassCeramicsBuilding materials

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
Sulfate process for the production of titanium dioxide pigmentsChemical production	–	–	–	–	Titanium dioxide (anatase), Titanium dioxide (rutile), Ilmenite
Chloride process for the production of titanium dioxide pigmentsChemical production	–	–	–	–	Titanium dioxide (anatase), Titanium dioxide (rutile), Titanium oxychloride
Production of TiO2 slurry (suspension pigments)Chemical production	–	–	–	–	Titanium dioxide
Production and shipment of dry and slurried titanium dioxide pigments and specialty productsChemical production	–	–	–	–	Titanium dioxide
Production of titanium dioxide and titanium oxychloride (Langerbrugge)Chemical production	–	–	–	–	Titanium dioxide, Titanium oxychloride
Marketing of iron salts (by-product, mainly iron(II) sulfate) via Kronos ecochemChemical production	–	–	–	–	Iron(II) sulfate

Additional services

Customer ServiceLogistics services (warehouses on two continents, worldwide delivery)Technical service (pigment selection, application optimization, on-site training, weathering tests)Laboratory analyses and test formulations (coatings and plastics laboratories)Development of new pigments in collaboration with customersMarketing of by-products (iron salts, mainly iron(II) sulfate) via Kronos ecochem

Quality & Certification

The production plants are certified to ISO 9001; this is complemented by environmental, energy and occupational safety management systems (ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001) as well as site-specific certifications such as FSSC 22000 in Varennes. Technical service laboratories support customers with pigment selection, application optimization and weathering tests.

Evidence	Leverkusen/Nordenham	Langerbrugge/Ghent	Varennes	Lake Charles	Fredrikstad
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 14001:2015
ISO 50001:2018
ISO 45001:2018
FSSC 22000
Responsible Care

History

1902
Founding of the Titania AS ilmenite mine in Hauge i Dalane, Norway (part of the company since 1927)
1902
(according to Wikipedia) Start of the company's history in 1916
1916
World's first commercial TiO2 production at the Fredrikstad plant, Norway; first patent for anatase pigment via the sulfate process
1922
Acquisition of the initially independent companies by National Lead (NL Industries)
1927
Founding of Titangesellschaft mbH by IG Farbenindustrie AG and Titan Co. A/S in Leverkusen; the Hauge i Dalane mine joins the company
1928
Start of sulfate TiO2 production in Leverkusen (product 'Titan White': 25% TiO2, 75% BaSO4)
1939
World's first rutile TiO2 pigment production at the Leverkusen plant
1957
Opening of the sulfate plant in Varennes, Canada
1980
Greenpeace action against the dumping of dilute sulfuric acid from the tanker 'Kronos' into the North Sea
1989
End of the dumping permit; since then, environmentally sound recycling of the sulfuric acid metal salt solution
1969
Commissioning of the Nordenham plant