MEREDOSIA — Celanese employees have been told the company will close the vinyl acetate/ethylene emulsions plant Dec. 15, company officials told the Journal-Courier on Thursday.

A release from the company’s corporate officials said Celanese’s manufacturing “favors integrated production sites that provide critical economies of scale and the Meredosia facility does not provide sufficient economies of scale compared with other Celanese emulsion production facilities.”

Thirty-six Celanese employees and 10 subcontractors will lose their jobs as a result of the plant’s closing, the company said.

The plant, which Celanese bought in 2005, produces emulsion polymers that are used in paint, adhesives, sealants and coatings.

Although Celanese has cut costs, it is “no longer economically viable for Celanese to operate the Meredosia site,” according to company officials.

Celanese employees in Meredosia will be eligible to receive layoff benefits, including outplacement assistance, severance pay and other help to assist them while seeking new employment.

Celanese will continue to supply its North American emulsions customers through its facilities in Enoree, South Carolina, and Quebec, Canada.

Celanese Corp. is one of the world’s largest producers of acetyl products, which includes acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer and polyacetals, which are used by nearly all major industries, according to a company website. Celanese is also a worldwide producer of polymers used in consumer and industrial products.

The company’s operations are located in North America, Europe and Asia, which include joint ventures in China.

In 2014, Celanese generated sales of about $7 billion and employed nearly 7,500, according to a company spokesman.

Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg.