The business was established to service the emerging local titanium dioxide pigment industry as dedicated suppliers of bulk Chlorine and Caustic Soda feedstock.

Our first plant commenced production in 1988 supplying a new, greenfield, titanium dioxide pigment plant, located in the Kemerton Industrial Park, near Bunbury. The chlor alkali plant uses German designed Lurgi monopolar membrane cells to produce Chlorine and Caustic Soda by the electrolysis of pure brine, and has given very reliable service for over 30 years.

A second identical sister plant, located in the Kwinana Industrial Area, was started up in 1991 to supply feedstock for the local pigment plant. The production capacity of the Kwinana plant was expanded with the commissioning, in early 2010, of a second Chlorine production train and an upgrade of common site infrastructure servicing both the old and new cell rooms. Both sites also supply Caustic Soda, Hydrochloric Acid and Sodium Hypochlorite to a wide range of industries from mining to water treatment. The original West Australian plants remain the longest running chlor alkali plants in Australia.

In 2012, Coogee expanded its chlor alkali operations to the East Coast with the acquisition of a third plant, Ionics Australasia (Elite Chemicals) in Brisbane from GE.

Utilising over 27 years of experience, in 2015 Coogee undertook a significant upgrade and expansion of the Brisbane facility. This provided increased supply and future capacity of Sodium Hypochlorite, Hydrochloric Acid and Caustic Soda to the east coast market. It also provided greater flexibility and redundancy within the operation. In 2018 Ionics Australasia Pty Ltd, trading as Elite Chemicals, rebranded as Coogee QCA.

Coogee has recently entered the market in the supply of drummed, liquefied Chlorine, allowing us to now provide a wider portfolio, making Coogee one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of chlor alkali products.