I tried to come up with a strong call to action for this edition. Maybe something about pushing for more business excellence – more collaboration, more innovation, or any of the other important “mores” on our list right now. But let’s be honest: you hear these asks every day. And more importantly, you’re delivering on them.

Instead, I just want to take this time today to say: this year has been really tough. Tough in ways we expected and in ways we didn’t. It’s been tough on Monument, tough on our industry, and for many, tough in life outside of work, too. When we ask you to keep pushing, to keep finding ways forward, I want you to know that we see you. We see the challenges you’re facing. We see the effort you’re putting in. And we don’t take it for granted.

So today, I don’t have a big rallying cry – just a simple ask: Let’s keep pushing through together. Because the way we get through this isn’t just by working harder and smarter – it’s by leaning on each other.

That means looking out for the person next to you. Taking a breath before reacting. Finding a little humor where we can. Extending some grace when things don’t go perfectly.

Because here’s the truth: we can’t control the storm we’re in, and we can’t always lighten the load. But we can control how we weather it – how we show up for each other, how we support each other, how we make it through with the people around us.

I don’t know when these tough times will pass, but here’s what I do know…

I know the work you’re doing matters.

I know better days will come – days when we’ll have more room to breathe, more wins to celebrate, and more ease in our days. And when that time comes, I know we’ll look back on these challenges and remember not just what we overcame, but also how we showed up for each other along the way.

I’m grateful for everything you’re doing. And I wouldn’t want to be in all this “tough” with any other team.

Keep going. Keep taking care of each other. And please remember – you matter, and the work you do is making a difference.

Adam

Business Updates

Europe

Business Wins

• Successful commercialization and preparation 2-Me-THF production as important solvent for the European market – Commercial team OP, Process technology, and QA team
• Securing the supply to our European customers by switching to local IPAc and DPMAc production while leveraging site asset utilization – Commercial team OP and Operations team
• Successful implementation and dedicated production of delta-farnasene (Givaudan) on C110 throughout the year – Commercial team CP, Process technology, and Operations team

Key Projects

• Project Bridge to increase plant flexibility and support new business development for high-quality and CMR/odor-sensitive products by connecting stainless steel tanks to the vent gas system
• Integration of coalescer technology into the hydrolysis process to improve ester recovery
• Several energy-saving projects, such as implementation hot standby steam boiler 315 (22 bar), condensate recuperation, energy recuperation K114B, and completion insulation acetic acid tanks

Key Focus

• All key cost drivers and on new cost initiatives (efficiency, flexibility, etc.)
• Mechanical integrity to improve asset reliability
• Swift implementation of new business opportunities to fill spare capacity

Oxides

 Business Wins

• Reduction of water consumption on cooling towers – Jordan Lindsey, Russell Cavanagh, Cody Cole, and Allie Greenwood
• Amination improvements, daily KPIs, catalyst performance, raw material quality – Steven Blackburn, Allie Greenwood, Brian Davis, and Amination team
• Reduction of 74-376 cycle times – Rehani Shalash, Noah Frazier, Allie Greenwood, Alexandra Bledsoe, and Polychem team
• 1st batch of CO2 Polyol – Eathan Peach, Brad Carby, Jarrod Eubank, Russell Cavanagh, Yovanys Hernandez, R&D, Pilot Plant, and Quality Control teams
• 94I reactor startup – Alexandra Bledsoe, Mark Phillips, Noah Frazier, Polychem, and Process Engineering teams

Key Projects

• Ramp up of CO2 Polyol
• Afton Safety Improvements
• 540-555 cycle time reduction

Key Focus

• Disciplined execution on key priorities: Afton, Glycol Ethers, Amination, 74-376, 540-555, Maintenance Excellence, Cost Control, and Sustainability
• Continue attending high customer demand for all areas

Renewables and Fuels

Business Wins

• Successful completion of the ONB campaign. This was well received by the customer, and they are interested in other production capabilities later this year – Ian Quinn, Nathan Minshew, Rainer Potthast, and Tim Prowell
• Substantial unplanned increase for Dowtherm RP in the 1st half of 2025. This stretched the Naphthalene and THN supply chain, as well as the production capabilities of the Baytown plant – Vernon Harris, the Baytown and Houston production teams, Jeff Haug, and James Horton
• Onboarding of HF295 and HF003 from outside terminals to the Baytown plant – Jerry Traylor, Angie Prazak, and Cody Sanders

Key Projects

• DCPD production at Port Arthur
• Transitioning of Baytown to terminal operations

Key Focus

• Hazard awareness in the manufacturing plants – and awareness of your surroundings

Solvents

Business Wins

• Successful trials at Bayport and Houston – Romain Vidal-Michel (Bayport) and Yndalecia Martinez (Houston)
• Opportunity of Acetic Acid streams that could save $1MM – Supply Chain, Ops, and Purchasing teams
• Approval of the Next Level partnership for the Texas sites – Carolina Barrientos

Key Projects

• Continue maximizing acetone streams while Acetone market is challenged
• Debottlenecking reactor capacity of Train 2
• Good progress of Waste water MBR technology in Houston
• Implementation of Trendminer at Bayport  

Key Focus

• Cost reduction at Bayport, executing top 10 projects, several capacity projects, and “Just do” projects
• Sites preparing for Shutdowns at both facilities
• Improving training program at both facilities