Celanese Corporation Expands Michigan Technology Center to Advance Innovation and Growth
Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global leader in specialty materials and chemical solutions, has officially opened its expanded Michigan Technology Center (MTC). This strategic investment strengthens the company’s U.S.-based innovation footprint and reinforces its Engineered Materials (EM) 2026 growth strategy.
The enhanced facility is designed to foster earlier and deeper collaboration with customers, accelerate development timelines, and integrate advanced technologies across Celanese’s extensive engineered materials portfolio. By consolidating key technical capabilities in one centralized hub, the company is positioning itself to drive faster innovation cycles and deliver higher-value solutions across major end markets.
A Unified Hub for Advanced Development
The expanded Michigan Technology Center brings together piloting operations, application development, and advanced engineering prototyping under one roof. This integration creates a highly collaborative environment where technical expertise, state-of-the-art tools, and innovative technologies work seamlessly together.
A key component of the expansion includes relocating the Santoprene® TPV piloting operation from Houston, Texas, to Michigan. This move not only reduces overall operational costs but also strengthens Celanese’s ability to serve North American customers more efficiently. By centralizing extrusion development, foaming technologies, and advanced engineering capabilities, the facility enhances coordination across multiple product platforms and accelerates commercialization pathways.
The expansion reflects Celanese’s long-term commitment to operational excellence, technological leadership, and customer-centric innovation.
Leadership Perspective on the Expansion
Todd Elliott, Senior Vice President of Engineered Materials, emphasized the strategic importance of the Michigan Technology Center in supporting the company’s growth trajectory.
According to Elliott, the expanded facility represents a significant milestone in Celanese’s innovation journey. By bringing advanced development capabilities closer to customers while simultaneously improving operational efficiencies, the company strengthens its ability to co-create differentiated solutions. This collaborative model not only enhances product performance but also helps drive sustainable, long-term growth with development partners across industries.
The investment underscores Celanese’s focus on accelerating innovation while maintaining disciplined cost management and strong execution.
A Customer-Centered Innovation Engine
The Michigan Technology Center was purpose-built around the way customers and partners design, test, validate, and commercialize applications. Serving critical industries such as automotive, electrical and electronics, and medical, the center enables hands-on co-development with Celanese experts to optimize performance and reduce time to market.
By offering direct access to advanced engineering and material science expertise, the MTC allows customers to address complex challenges earlier in the product development cycle. Whether refining material selection, optimizing part design, or validating performance under demanding conditions, the center provides the technical depth required to bring next-generation solutions to life.
The collaborative approach fosters stronger partnerships and improves alignment between material innovation and end-market needs.
Distinctive Technical Capabilities
Customers working with the Michigan Technology Center benefit from a unique and comprehensive set of capabilities, including:
Hands-On Co-Development
Customers collaborate directly with Celanese experts in application validation, design optimization, and material testing. This integrated model ensures rapid iteration and improved design outcomes.
Specialized Santoprene® TPV Pilot Line
The center features a highly specialized Santoprene® thermoplastic vulcanizate pilot line, enabling greater flexibility in extrusion and compounding. This capability expands the design space for customers seeking enhanced performance and durability.
Advanced Foaming Technologies
The integration of advanced foaming technologies supports lightweighting initiatives and performance optimization across industries. These technologies enable innovative product designs while maintaining structural integrity and durability.
Accelerated Development Cycles
Local responsiveness combined with Celanese’s global technical resources significantly reduces development timelines. Customers can move from concept to commercialization more efficiently.
Enhanced Supply Chain Resilience
By strengthening U.S.-based innovation and development support, Celanese improves supply chain reliability and responsiveness for North American customers.
Together, these capabilities create a comprehensive ecosystem for engineered materials innovation.
Facility Expansion and Infrastructure Enhancements
The expansion of the Michigan Technology Center included substantial upgrades at both the Troy and Auburn Hills sites.
The Troy facility was expanded by more than 10,000 square feet of new high-bay processing space. Additionally, 3,000 square feet were modified to include a new control room, an electrical room, and space designated for future office development. These upgrades enhance operational efficiency and create a more dynamic working environment for technical teams.
The nearby Auburn Hills location adds nearly 4,000 square feet of updated laboratory and innovation space. These modernized labs are equipped to support advanced testing, validation, and materials characterization across multiple product families.
Importantly, both projects were completed with zero Tier 1 or Tier 2 safety or environmental incidents. The combined effort required approximately 60,000 people-hours, covering building construction, site preparation, and equipment relocation. A total of 27 truckloads of specialized equipment were transferred to Michigan, including injection molders, extrusion lines, quality control testing equipment, and Santoprene® compounding systems.
The successful completion of the project demonstrates Celanese’s commitment to operational excellence, safety, and disciplined project management.
Strengthening Portfolio Power Across Engineered Materials
The expanded center supports development across more than 17 Engineered Materials product families. These include well-known material platforms such as:
- Zytel® PA
- Hytrel® TPC
- Forton® PPS
- Santoprene® TPV
By centralizing advanced engineering, computer-aided engineering (CAE), Field Technical Service (FTS), and application development capabilities in Michigan, Celanese improves its ability to engage earlier in customers’ design processes. Early engagement leads to optimized material selection, faster prototyping, and smoother commercialization.
The integration of technical services under one roof also enhances cross-functional collaboration. Engineers, scientists, and application specialists can work more closely, ensuring that insights from testing and prototyping directly inform product development decisions.
Driving Responsible and Sustainable Growth
Beyond innovation and operational efficiency, the Michigan Technology Center reinforces Celanese’s commitment to responsible growth. Streamlined development workflows reduce material waste, while advanced foaming and lightweighting technologies help customers design lighter, more energy-efficient solutions.
By enabling innovations that reduce environmental impact without compromising performance, the MTC aligns with Celanese’s broader sustainability objectives. The center’s U.S.-based development capabilities also contribute to supply chain stability and regional manufacturing resilience.
Positioning for Long-Term Success
The expansion of the Michigan Technology Center marks a pivotal step in Celanese’s long-term growth strategy. By combining advanced piloting operations, engineering excellence, and customer collaboration within a single innovation hub, the company enhances its ability to deliver differentiated solutions at speed and scale.
As industries continue to demand lighter, more durable, and higher-performing materials, Celanese’s investment in the MTC ensures it remains at the forefront of engineered materials development in North America. Through strengthened partnerships, improved operational efficiency, and integrated technical expertise, the company is well positioned to drive the next wave of innovation and growth across its Engineered Materials business.
Source link: https://www.businesswire.com/
