The global chemical company Oxea has received Halal certification for its Carboxylic Acids product line from its production plant in Bay City, Texas, USA. In September 2017, the company began shipping bulk quantities of its new product “Pelargonic Acid Halal”. At its Bay City plant, Oxea follows rigorous guidelines to ensure that along the entire value chain its raw materials, manufacturing processes, handling, and logistics strictly comply with Islamic religious requirements. The production plant and the logistics terminal were audited and certified by Islamic Services of America (ISA) without any issues. Oxea’s Pelargonic Acid, chemically known as n-Nonanoic Acid, is an economical industrial alternative to the native fatty acids Caprylic Acid (C8) and Capric Acid (C10). Among other uses, it serves as an intermediate for the production of high-performance synthetic lubricant esters.
“With our new Pelargonic Acid Halal, we address the growing needs of our Islamic customers for Halal certified alternatives to C8/C10 fatty acids. Through our initiative, we make it easier for them to certify their manufacturing processes. This is important because the concept of Halal (“pure”) applies not just to the food consumed by Muslims but also to the entire production process – down to even remotely associated suppliers and components,” said Dr. Christoph Balzarek, Commercial Business Director Carboxylic Acids at Oxea. “As one of the largest manufacturer of Synthetic Carboxylic Acids world-wide, we respond flexibly to our customer’s religious needs and support them in their growth,” he added.
“Halal certification is complex. Therefore I would like to thank all Oxea employees involved for their commitment to make this certification a success,” said Dr. Günther Becker, Director of Product Stewardship and Quality Management at Oxea. “Thanks to the efficient co-operation between our dedicated, cross-functional teams from quality management, production, supply chain, and logistics, the integration of the new procedures into Oxea’s existing quality management system went smoothly and succeeded within a very short timeframe. For the certification, we established a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) system, just as we would have needed it for a foodstuff approval. We reviewed all related processes along the complete value chain and adapted our Management of Change processes because the smallest of details can lead to the process being no longer certifiable, such as the use of alcohol or the wrong type of water in cleaning operations. The Halal certificate shows the robustness of Oxea’s production, quality control, and management processes. We can prove to our customers that our products have the right quality for their applications in a formally certified manner,” he concluded.
About Oxea
Oxea is a global manufacturer of oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. These products are used for the production of high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, flavorings and fragrances, printing inks and plastics. Oxea employs more than 1,400 people worldwide. Oxea is part of the Oman Oil Company S.A.O.C. (OOC), a commercial company wholly owned by the Government of Oman. Established in 1996, it pursues investment opportunities in the wider energy sector both inside and outside Oman. OOC plays an important role in the Sultanate’s efforts to diversify the economy and to promote domestic and foreign investments. For more information about Oxea, visit www.oxea-chemicals.com.
Customer contact
OXEA GmbH, Rheinpromenade 4a, D-40789 Monheim am Rhein
Dr. Christoph Balzarek, Commercial Business Director, Carboxylic Acids and Esters Value Chain
Tel.: +49 (0)2173 9993-2984, marketing@oxea-chemicals.com