A PERFECT MIX OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY
Oxxynova arose from a previous company, Dynamit Nobel AG, and was Europe’s leading producer of DMT until December 31st, 2022 when production was shut-down. The company name is derived from the most important sub-process of DMT production, the oxidation of paraxylene, and also represented the innovative character of our production and logistics processes.
One of the main reasons for the success of our business model is the optimisation of the logistics processes for our raw materials, paraxylene and methanol, and for the DMT we produce from them. This also includes return transport of the methanol recovered from processes involving our DMT at our customers’ premises.
Oxxynova GmbH site is located in Steyerberg, which is between Hanover and Bremen near to the district town of Nienburg/Weser. Until the shut-down of its Dimethyl Terephthalate production as of December 31st, 2022, the plant was a major employer in the region.
Liquid DMT has been produced here since 1977 and in solid form since 2013 to consistently high quality standards using the Witten-Katzschmann method – also known as the Dynamit Nobel method. From car seatbelts to tarpaulins, DMT (dimethyl terephthalate) is used to make all kinds of everyday items.
| 1958 | DMT production method is patented by E. Katzschmann |
| 1960 – 1980 | DMT business is built up by Dynamit Nobel AG |
| 1968 – 1972 | First and second DMT plants in Lülsdorf are completed |
| 1977 | DMT plant in Steyerberg is completed |
| 1988 | Acquired by Hüls AG |
| 1998 | Degussa AG and Hüls AG merge to become Degussa-Hüls AG |
| 2001 | Degussa-Hüls AG and SKW AG merge to become the new company Degussa AG Founding of Oxxynova GmbH & Co KG and insertion of the entire Degussa AG DMT business in the new corporation including the sites of Lülsdorf and Steyerberg |
| Nov. 2006 | Oxxynova is sold to a financial investor |
| Dez. 2007 | Production of liquid DMT is discontinued in Lülsdorf due to further market consolidation |
| Jan. 2008 | Oxxynova GmbH & Co. KG starts trading under the name Oxxynova GmbH |
| Jan. 2009 | Company headquarters relocate from Marl to Steyerberg |
| Feb. 2011 | Majority sale of Oxxynova GmbH to StS Equity Holding (UG) |
| 2013 | Company re-enters the DMT-solid business to serve the European market |
| 2014 | Launch and expansion of second area of business: Chemical industry 4.0 circular economy |
| 2015/2016 | First module of a tank for the second business field is constructed |
| Feb. 2016 | New shareholder: Omega One Holding GmbH |
| 2016/2017 | Old DMT plant in Lülsdorf dismantled |
| 2017 | Significant expansion of the second area of Business Construction of a state-of-the art, large-volume DMT-solid production plant for DMT-solid in flake and briquette form with an annual production capacity of 25.000 tons |
| since 2021 | Implementation of a continuous decarbonisation program |
| Dez. 2021 | Certification according to the requirements of the Ordinance of Specialized Waste Management Companies (Entsorgungsfachbetriebeverordnung) |
| Sept. 2022 | Debottleneck THF Distillation capacities |
| Dec. 31st, 2022 | Shut-down DMT production |
