Lummus Technology

Lummus Technology is an American process-technology company whose heritage traces back to the Lummus Company, founded in the early 20th century and long associated with petroleum refining engineering. Today Lummus operates as a technology licensor and catalyst supplier rather than an engineering contractor: it sells proprietary process designs, catalysts, proprietary equipment and lifecycle services to refiners, petrochemical producers, gas processors and, increasingly, renewable-fuel and circular-economy projects around the world. The company's portfolio spans the hydrocarbon value chain. In refining it is known for fluid catalytic cracking, delayed coking, hydroprocessing and alkylation technologies; in petrochemicals for ethylene (steam cracking), propylene, aromatics, phenol and polyolefin-related processes; in gas processing for treating and recovery; and in the energy transition for renewable fuels, hydrogen and plastics-recycling routes. Lummus also supplies catalysts and specialty equipment, and provides digital and aftermarket services that keep licensed units running. Ownership has changed hands several times. Lummus was part of ABB's process automation and engineering business, then became a McDermott International company after McDermott acquired the business in the 2010s. When McDermott restructured, Lummus was separated into a standalone entity owned by McDermott together with HPS Investment Partners and a group of financial investors, and it now operates as an independent technology company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Lummus positions itself as a partner for the energy transition as well as conventional refining and petrochemicals, marketing routes to lower-carbon fuels, hydrogen, and recycled plastics alongside its established process technologies. Its customers are primarily large industrial operators and engineering, procurement and construction contractors who license its designs for grassroots plants and revamps worldwide.

Lummus Technology's roots lie in the Lummus Company, an engineering firm founded in the early 20th century in the United States that became one of the best-known names in petroleum refining and petrochemical process design. Over the decades the Lummus name became attached to widely licensed refinery and petrochemical processes, including fluid catalytic cracking, delayed coking, hydroprocessing and ethylene production, and to the engineering know-how required to build and revamp such units. Through successive corporate owners, the Lummus business passed into ABB, the Swiss-Swedish industrial group, where it sat within ABB's process and engineering activities. In the 2010s the business was acquired by McDermott International, the Houston-based engineering, procurement and construction group, and operated as McDermott's technology arm — licensing process technologies, supplying catalysts and proprietary equipment, and providing aftermarket services to refiners and petrochemical producers worldwide. McDermott's subsequent financial restructuring reshaped the business. Lummus was separated from the EPC operations into a standalone technology company, with ownership shared between McDermott and HPS Investment Partners together with a consortium of financial investors. As an independent company headquartered in Houston, Lummus has continued to build out its technology portfolio, extending from conventional refining and petrochemicals into gas processing, petrochemical derivatives and energy-transition areas such as renewable fuels, hydrogen and plastics recycling, and it markets digital and service offerings alongside its process licenses.

• The Lummus Company is founded in the United States and grows into a leading petroleum refining and petrochemical process engineering firm.

• The Lummus business becomes part of ABB's process and engineering activities.

• McDermott International acquires the Lummus business, operating it as its technology arm.

• Following McDermott's restructuring, Lummus is separated into a standalone technology company owned by McDermott, HPS Investment Partners and a consortium of financial investors.

A global licensor of proprietary refining, petrochemical, gas-processing and energy-transition process technologies, catalysts and services, positioned as a long-term technology partner to industrial operators and EPC contractors.

• Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC)

  Licensed refinery process for converting heavy gas oils into gasoline and other lighter products.

• Delayed coking

  Refinery process for upgrading heavy residues into lighter liquids and petroleum coke.

• Ethylene / steam cracking

  Petrochemical process technology for producing ethylene and other olefins.

• Hydroprocessing

  Technologies for treating refinery streams to remove sulfur and improve product quality.

• Catalysts

  Catalyst products supplied for licensed refining and petrochemical processes.

• Aftermarket services

  Services supporting the operation, revamp and optimization of licensed units.

• Unconfirmed

  Lummus Technology acquires Shell Catalysts & Technologies' Environmental Catalysts and Systems assets[2]Lummus Technology收购Shell Catalysts & Technologies的环境催化剂与系统资产pollutiononline.com

  Lummus Technology announced it has acquired intellectual property assets and experienced personnel from Shell Catalysts & Technologies, originating from Shell's Environmental Catalysts and Systems (ECS) business, which provides emissions-control and industrial air pollution reduction technologies. Shell Catalysts & Technologies will continue to support ECS customers during a transition period.

• 2021.09.13

  Lummus Technology launches Micro-Jet Flex feed injectors[3]Lummus Technology 推出 Micro-Jet Flex 进料喷嘴hydrocarbonprocessing.com

  Lummus Technology announced the launch of its Micro-Jet Flex feed injectors, a new technological upgrade for fluid catalytic cracking systems. The article describes performance benefits including lower pressure drop, smaller droplet size, faster feed vaporization, and a wider operating range.

• 2021.06.08

  Reported2021.06.08

  Lummus and EIC agree to co-develop energy-storage technology[4]Lummus与EIC达成协议共同开发储能技术chemengonline.com

  Lummus Technology and Energy Internet Corp. announced an agreement to collaborate on developing compressed- or liquefied-air technologies for storing and generating electrical power for data centers. Lummus’ Green Circle LLC will serve as EIC’s exclusive process technology and engineering partner.

• 2021.06.01

  Lummus Technology and Synthos begin biobutadiene technology collaboration[5]Lummus Technology与Synthos启动生物丁二烯技术合作hydrocarbonprocessing.com

  Lummus Technology's Green Circle business and Synthos began collaborating to commercialize Synthos' biobutadiene technology. The initial step is a feasibility study for a plant with planned annual production capacity of 20,000 tons.

• 2020.10.02

  Reported2020.10.02

  Lummus Technology receives HP Award for Best Refining Technology[6]Lummus Technology获HP最佳炼油技术奖prnewswire.com

  Lummus Technology announced that its Indmax Fluid Catalytic Cracking Technology received the HP 2020 award for Best Refining Technology.

• 2020.01.23

  Reported2020.01.23

  McDermott announces planned sale of Lummus Technology[7]McDermott宣布计划出售Lummus Technologykhl.com

  McDermott announced plans to sell its petrochemical and refining technology group, Lummus Technology, to The Chatterjee Group and Rhône Group for US$2.7 billion, subject to a court-supervised auction process.

Read more

1. 1Lummus Technology official websitelummustechnology.com
2. 2Lummus Technology收购Shell Catalysts & Technologies的环境催化剂与系统资产pollutiononline.com
3. 3Lummus Technology 推出 Micro-Jet Flex 进料喷嘴hydrocarbonprocessing.com
4. 4Lummus与EIC达成协议共同开发储能技术chemengonline.com
5. 5Lummus Technology与Synthos启动生物丁二烯技术合作hydrocarbonprocessing.com
6. 6Lummus Technology获HP最佳炼油技术奖prnewswire.com
7. 7McDermott宣布计划出售Lummus Technologykhl.com
8. 8McDermott Completes Restructuringrigzone.com
9. 9McDermott Successfully Completes Comprehensive Restructuring Processprnewswire.com