Coudekerque Operations

Our Coudekerque site has operated in the Hauts-de-France region since 1902. Through our subsidiary company, Borax Français, we refine and distribute a number of specialty products here. We have 10 production workshops which include crystal production lines, liquid lines, and packing, palletizing, and loading stations.

Specialty manufacturing

Refined borates are shipped from California to Coudekerque, where they undergo a secondary refining processes to increase purity and produce high value specialty borates for the following sectors:

The pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated and EP/NF/3C grade products manufactured at our Coudekerque facility conform to the current edition of the European Pharmacopoeia (EP), the National Formulary (NF), or the Japanese Pharmacopeia (JP).

Coudekerque Facility Sets the Quality Standard for Specialty Borates
To ensure that manufacturers can trust the quality and consistency of the products they receive, our Coudekerque facility has developed a highly-specialized q... Learn More

Environmental responsibility

At Coudekerque, our commitment to environmental management is one of the foundations of our business. The plant has regularly received awards for its health, safety, and environment management.

We recycle 80% of our production waste. The water used in our production process comes from 75% recycled water. Our facility remains proactive regarding waste reduction from the source and we continually look for ways to improve our environmental impact.

Certifications

 

ISO certification

Coudekerque plant has been certified ISO 9001 and ISO 14 001 certified for many years now (2015 versions currently in force), reflecting its commitment for quality and environment management effectiveness. Regarding health and safety, Rio Tinto has developed its own certification process and follow-up, that includes strict internal standards and local regulations, upon which Borax Français is assessed with regular audits.
 

Pharmaceutical industry

Certificate of Suitability (CEP) certification

Our European Pharmacopoeia products are filed with the European Directorate for Quality of Medicines and Health Care. Our CEP certifications (certification of Suitability to the Monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia) allow our customers to easily administer their Marketing Authorization Applications (MAA) for the medicines that they produce. Access to the Borax Français dossier via the CEP and MAA system provides customers with cost management and control.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification

Our entire process including manufacturing, laboratory, packaging, storage, and distribution is documented to comply with GMP guidelines. Borax Français has been inspected by the French authorities since 2007. Our certificate number is: 15MPP081HF01.
 

Nuclear industry

Nuclear applications also require a specific accreditation process which Borax Français has passed since 2005. For the US market, we are periodically assessed by the Nuclear Procurement Issues Corporation (NUPIC).

New Lab Reinforces Commitment to Customer Assurance
We're excited to announce a new lab building is officially online at Borax Français in Coudekerque. The lab enables better customer support and advances r... Learn More
Female employee wearing safety gear at the U.S. Borax Coudekerque plant

Community involvement

The Coudekerque team sponsors a number of local organizations and activities, including:

Location

89 Rte de Bourbourg
59210 Coudekerque-Branche
France
Coudekerque Map

U.S. Borax, part of Rio Tinto, is a global leader in the supply and science of borates—naturally-occurring minerals containing boron and other elements. We are 1,000 people serving 650 customers with more than 1,800 delivery locations globally. We supply around 30% of the world’s need for refined borates from our world-class mine in Boron, California, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.  Learn more about Rio Tinto.

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