Opened in 1999, LANXESS production plant in Newcastle is specialized in the production of chrome chemicals. Situated in the Kwazulu-Natal midlands, it is strategically placed midway between the chrome ore supplier, Rustenburg Chrome Mine, and South Africa’s largest container port Durban for easy export of finished product to customers throughout the world. This plant essentially produces sodium dichromate which is used in the manufacture of chrome tanning salts,  pigment, and a number of other products  The plant also converts some of the dosium dichromate into chromic acid which is used in the metal finishing (electroplating) industry.

The plant is the world’s most modern chrome chemicals plant and employs advanced technologies in the production of sodium dichromate that minimize raw material input and waste streams. At the same time, it is the world’s only facility for the electrolytic production of chromic acid that generates neither liquid nor solid waste products.

LANXESS CISA has the distinction of being the first LANXESS acquisition which was finalized in 2007. The company’s name was changed from Chrome International South Africa (Pty) Ltd to LANXESS CISA (Pty) Ltd.