Solvay Boosts HMW HALS Capacity at West Virginia Site

Advanced materials and specialty chemicals firm Solvay recently completed an expansion project at its Willow Island, WV site to expand high molecular weight (HMW) hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) capacity, according to a company announcement issued Wednesday.

“We decided to expand our capacity to better meet the needs of our customers,” said Ning Chen, vice president of Polymer Additives for Solvay’s Technology Solutions global business unit, in a statement. “This investment provides peace of mind to our clients, ensuring security of supply and a faster response from Solvay, a technology leader and industry reference in light stabilization. With it, we are well-positioned to continue delivering innovative solutions and growing with our customers.”

The company said the new production assets were designed to incorporate new technology, lower its environmental impacts, and increase the quality and consistency of its HALS products. 

HALS products made at the site are used in CYNERGY and CYXTRA brand polymer additive products, which enable customers to produce advanced polymers for building and construction uses, agricultural films, and a number of consumer and industrial applications.

Solvay revealed plans in late 2019 to double its production of SOLEF brand polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) at its plant in Changshu, China. The firm said the move was in response to increased demand from makers of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.It also announced plans for a project to boost production of Tecnoflon brand FKM peroxide curable fluoroelastomer by about 30% at its Spinetta Marengo, Italy manufacturing plant last year. 

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