Scientific Design Company, Inc. is one of the world's leading process technology companies. Since its beginning in 1946, Scientific Design has developed some of the petrochemical industry's most significant process technologies and heterogeneous catalysts, which are used today to produce millions of tons per year of petrochemical intermediates in hundreds of licensed process plants worldwide.
From early efforts by founders in a garage in Long Island, New York, to extensive research and manufacturing facilities today in Little Ferry, New Jersey, highlights of the Company's history include:
1946 |
Original Scientific Design (SD) founded to develop and license process technology and engineer chemical plants. |
1950's |
Ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol (EO/EG), maleic anhydride (MAN) and terephthalic acid (TAPTA) technology developed and commercialized. TAPTA technology sold to Amoco.
Manufacture of EO and MAN catalysts started. |
1960's |
New technology developed for catalytic oxidation of hexane to cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (nylon precursors).
Company name changed to Halcon. Scientific Design continues to function as engineering and licensing division. Catalyst manufacturing operates as another division.
Technology developed and joint venture (Oxirane) formed between Halcon and ARCO to manufacture propylene oxide (PO) and co-products (t-butyl alcohol or styrene). Seven PO plants built and owned worldwide over 11 years (some in joint venture with other). |
1970's |
Aniline from phenol technology developed and commercialized. Acetic anhydride via carbonylation route developed. |
1980's |
Halcon/SD share of Oxirane joint venture and propylene oxide technology sold to ARCO in 1980.
Halcon/SD acquired by Texas Eastern Corporation, a Houston, Texas based energy and pipeline transmission company.
Acetic anhydride process successfully commercialized by Tennessee Eastman. Rights to this process subsequently sold. |
1985 - 1987 |
SD withdraws from general engineering and construction business to concentrate on process licensing, process engineering, and catalyst manufacture.
Denka Chemical Company (Houston, Texas based producer of neoprene rubber, MAN and MAN catalyst) acquires Halcon/SD EO/EG, MAN and other licensing, process engineering and catalyst business from Texas Eastern in February, 1987. New entity named Scientific Design Company, Inc. Formed to acquire these assets and carry on these businesses. |
1988 |
Linde AG of Germany acquires Scientific Design from Denka. |
1995 |
Scientific Design is ISO certified as a Manufacturer and Supplier of Heterogeneous Catalysts. |
1996 |
Scientific Design celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
Scientific Design acquires all rights to the Alkoxylation (Ethoxylation and Propoxylation) process technologies of Pressindustria S.P.A. |
2002 |
Scientific Design is awarded the license, process engineering and catalyst supply contracts for the world's largest EO/EG Plant (575,000 tpa). |
2003 to Present |
Scientific Design is acquired jointly by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Süd-Chemie AG. SABIC is one of the world's leading producers of chemical and petrochemical products. Süd-Chemie is a recognized leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance catalysts. Under this new ownership, Scientific Design has expanded its personnel and facilities, and continues to operate as an independent entity to license petrochemical process technology, provide process engineering services and develop, manufacture and sell catalysts worldwide.
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