With annual expenditures approaching almost $400 million, Texas Eastman has made an impact on East Texas that has grown by leaps and bounds through the years. The company is dedicated to safety and quality in its daily manufacturing of chemicals and plastics.
Texas Eastman's original owner was Eastman Kodak, and it is currently owned by Eastman Chemical Company. Its corporate offices are located in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eastman Chemical Company has divisions worldwide.
Eastman Chemical Company (facts)
· Eastman Chemical Company manufactures
and markets more than 400 chemical, fiber and plastic products. Sales in 1998 were $4.48
billion.
· Eastman Chemical Company is the 10th
largest chemical producer in the United States.
Texas Eastman Divisions (facts)
· Longview, Texas was selected as the
locations for Texas Eastman in 1949. Plant construction began in 1950 and product
shipments started in 1952.
· Texas Eastman employs over 2,100
people, making it one of the largest employers in East Texas.
· According t economist Dr. Ray Perryman,
the total direct, indirect, and induced impact of Texas Eastman accounts for 20 percent of
the total economy for the Longview-Marshall region.
· 1998 expenditures by Texas Eastman in
East Texas were $367 million, which included: payroll and benefits, $167 M; Goods and
services, $142 M; and Freight, $58 M.
· Eastman purchases an additional $419
million in goods and services elsewhere in the state of Texas, for a total of $786 M.
· Texas Eastman's economic activity
results in more than 21,000 full-time equivalent jobs in East Texas.
· Employees holding degrees at Texas
Eastman; 676 hold bachelor's degrees; 107 hold master's degrees; and 42 hold doctor's
degrees; and 2 hold MD degrees.
· Texas Eastman manufactures over 40
major chemical and plastic products that are sold to customers worldwide.
· Texas Eastman shipped 3.8 billion
pounds of products in 1998 which is approximately 10.4 million pounds per day.
· The tallest structure at Texas Eastman
is the Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant No. 4 flare which is 350 feet tall.
· Texas Eastman's products are
manufactures from two primary raw materials-propane and ethane, referred to as feedstock.
The company uses approximately 55,000 barrels per day of these feedstocks.
· Texas Eastman owns and operates 8
pipelines, three of which run 200 miles to the Gulf Coast.
· Texas Eastman purchases all of its
electricity from Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) and is SWEPCO's largest
single customer.
Texas Eastman Division
1949
· Eastman Kodak Company announced plant
site in Longview, Texas.
1950
· Construction of facilities began;
1952
· No.1 Steam Power Center put into
operation;
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant 1 put into
operation;
· Ethyl Alcohol Plant put into operation;
· Oxo Aldehydes Department produced first
aidehydes
· Aldehyde Reduction Department
established to produce 2-ethyhexanal;
· Texas Eastman shipped its first pound
of product in March.
1954
· Polyethylene production unit placed
into operation.
1957
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant 2 started
production.
1959
· Epolene Department Plants 1 and 2 began
production.
1960
· Plastics lab organized;
1961
· Polypropylene plant started production;
· Texanol plant put into operation;
· Epolene plant 3 began operation.
1962
· No.2 Steam Power Center began
operation;
· Texas Eastman completed construction of
a 250 mile-long pipeline from the Gulf Coast area south of Houston to Tyler.
1964
· Texas Eastman acquired an underground
salt dome storage facility on a 330-acre site in Tyler.
1965
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant 3 started
operation.
1966
· Acetaldehyde Plant 1 and Tehylene
Glycol Plant 1 started production.
1968
· Ethyl Acetate Plant began operation;
· Epolene Plant 4 began operation.
1969
· Glycol Ether Plant 1 placed into
service;
· Acetaldehyde Plant 2 put into
operation.
1970
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant 3A started
operations;
· Mixed Esterns Plant and Clycol Ether
Ester Plant put into operation.
1971
· Resin H Department and Epolene Plant 5
began operation.
1972
· Isobutyric Acid Plant put into
operation.
1974
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant 3B started
operation.
1975
· Ethylene Glycol Plant 2 began
production.
1976
· No.3 Steam Power Center put into
operation;
1979
· An Eastman Credit Union Service Center
was opened;
· First coal train was unloaded;
· Clycol Ether Plant 2 started
production;
· Eastabond Plant 7 put into operation.
1980
· Eastman Kodak Company celebrated its
100th anniversary;
· Operation of No.3 Steam Power Center
using coal began.
1982
· Epolene Plant 8 started operation.
1983
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plant 4 and
Polyethylene Plant 2 put into operation;
· Hydrocarbon Cracking Plants 1 and 2
shut down and dismantled.
1984
· Rotary Klin Incherotor put into
operation.
1985
· Eastman Kodak Company held its annual
Shareowners' meeting in Longview;
· First production of EASTOBOND MO5H
Amporphous Polypropylene.
1986
· Isobufyric Acid Plant 2 put into
operation.
1987
· Low-pressure Oxo Phase I Conversion
successfully completed.
1988
· Amorphous Polyolefins production was
commercialized with the APO semi-works plant;
· Construction completed on 240 miles of
new pipeline from Tyler to Mont Belvieu, Texas (northeast of Houston).
1989
· Texas Eastman announces a major
$300-million expansion program;
· Polypropylene Plant No.2, Line 1, put
into operation;
· Low pressure Oxo Phase II Conversion
successfully completed.
1990
· New $45-million activated sludge
wastewater treatment system completed;
· Texas Eastman Community Advisory Board
formed;
1991
1997
· Texas Eastman receives "Best In
Texas" safety award from the Texas Chemical Council;
· Construction completed on a 10-inch,
197-mile pipeline from Mont Belvieu, Texas (northeast of Houston) to the Texas Eastman
facility in Longview;
· Texas Eastman completes a 150,000
metric ton expansion for oxo aidehydes and a 41,000 metric ton expansion of
2-ethylhexanol;
1998
· Introduced 3 new families of high
performance polyethylene resins: HIFOR, MXSTEN, and MXSITE;
· Texas Eastman received the Energy
Efficiency Award from the Chemical Manufacturers Association;
· Texas Eastman received the Quality
First Gold Award from Kodak for polyethylene product performance and consistency;
· Texas Eastman received the "Caring
for Texas" award from the Chemical Manufacturers Association for community awareness
and emergency response.
The Company has shown concern for the environment and its employees over the years in ways that directly impact Panola County.
Sabine River Quality Studies:
Texas Eastman has engaged the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia to conduct studies on the biological conditions and ecosystem of the Sabine River.
These studies help the Company make certain its wastewater discharges are not negatively impacting the river. According to the latest study conducted in 1995, the Sabine River near and around the Texas Eastman plant site supports a healthy ecosystem with a good diversity of plant and animal life.
Wildlife Habitat:
Texas Eastman facilities utilize 750 acres of the company's 6,000-acre plant site in Longview. The unused acreage supports a rich ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of birds, plants and animals. Texas Eastman hosts an annual Christmas bird count on its property sponsored by the National Audubon Society and Lelca Optics.
Texas Eastman also has entered into partnerships with state and national organizations to create a Wildlife Habitat program to protect and enhance plant and wildlife species on the company's property.
Eastman Employees Live Longer, Healthier Texas Eastman's extensive safety and wellness programs have been successful in promoting a healthy lifestyle among employees and the use of safe practices on and off the job.
A 1998 morality report shows that Texas Eastman employees and retirees have a 37 percent lower average death rate from all causes-from accidents and violence to infectious diseases.
"Best In Texas" Award
Texas Eastman received the "Best In Texas" award in 1997 from the Texas Chemical Council for meeting stringent safety performance standards and for actively participating in a local emergency planning committee administering a proactive substance abuse program, coordinating a pro-active contractor safety program, and promoting off-the-job safety.
(Thanks to The Panola Watchman insert for this information.)
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04/02/2008