Celanese Corporation is doubling down on US innovation with the launch of its expanded Michigan Technology Center, a move designed to accelerate customer collaboration, speed development timelines and power the company’s Engineered Materials 2026 growth strategy.
The newly expanded Michigan Technology Center (MTC) consolidates piloting, application development and advanced engineering prototyping under one roof — creating a centralized hub built to move ideas from concept to commercialization faster and more efficiently. The investment strengthens Celanese’s domestic innovation footprint while positioning the company to engage customers earlier in the design process.
A key component of the expansion includes relocating the Santoprene TPV piloting operation from Houston to Michigan. The move reduces operating costs while establishing a dedicated center for extrusion development, foaming technologies and advanced engineering capabilities.
“The Michigan Technology Center represents a major step forward in our commitment to innovation and the long-term growth of our EM business,” said Todd Elliott, Senior Vice President, Engineered Materials.
“By bringing advanced development capabilities closer to our customers while improving efficiencies, we strengthen our ability to co-create differentiated solutions and drive the next wave of growth with our development partners.”
Purpose-built to mirror how customers design, test, validate and commercialize applications, the center is tailored to key markets including automotive, electrical and electronics, and medical. The facility enables hands-on co-development alongside Celanese experts to accelerate design optimization, streamline problem-solving and fast-track commercialization.
Among the enhanced capabilities: Direct collaboration across application validation and design optimization; A specialized Santoprene TPV pilot line and advanced foaming technologies expanding design flexibility and performance innovation; Faster development cycles supported by local responsiveness and global technical depth; and Stronger supply chain resilience through US-based innovation and development resources
The Troy site has added more than 10,000 square feet of high-bay processing space and 3,000 square feet of upgraded infrastructure, including a new control room and electrical room. Nearby Auburn Hills contributes nearly 4,000 square feet of new and modernized lab and innovation space.
The expansion was completed with zero Tier 1 or Tier 2 safety or environmental incidents. In total, the projects required approximately 60,000 people-hours, with 27 truckloads of equipment relocated to Michigan — from injection molders and extrusion lines to quality control systems and Santoprene compounding operations.
The expanded center supports development across more than 17 Engineered Materials product families, including Zytel PA, Hytrel TPC, Forton PPS and Santoprene TPV. By centralizing advanced engineering, computer-aided engineering, Field Technical Service and application development in Michigan, Celanese is positioning itself to deepen customer partnerships and accelerate next-generation materials innovation.
With streamlined workflows, reduced waste and innovations enabling lighter, more dynamic solutions, the Michigan Technology Center reinforces the company’s commitment to responsible, performance-driven growth.
