Grace Expands Plant and Other Chemical Industry News

Specialty chemicals and materials firm W.R. Grace & Co. has completed an expansion project at its specialty silica solutions manufacturing plant in Kuantan, Malaysia, the firm announce din a release Thursday. 

“The Kuantan expansion is part of our ongoing commitment to support sustained market strength and global customer demand,” Sandra Wisniewski, president of Grace Materials Technologies, said in a statement. “With the expansion of our Worms, Germany facility in June 2020, Grace continues to showcase our customer commitment in both EMEA and Asia Pacific, and I am confident that we are successfully positioning ourselves for ongoing growth.”

Grace initiated the project in response to increased demand for its branded silica gel solutions, which is used in a range of applications, including biofuel and edible oil purification, stabilization and selective absorption of haze-forming proteins in beverages, anti-blocking in plastic films and bags, and matting furniture, coils, textile and leather.

Here are some other chemical industry developments that captured headlines over the last week:

Kemira Starts Operations at New Dry Polymer Plant

Chemical solutions supplier Kemira announced the startup of its new dry polymer manufacturing site in Ulsan, South Korea this Thursday, expanding its ability to serve paper and board industry customers and water treatment growth initiatives in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The facility, owned by a joint venture between Kemira and Yongsan Chemicals, produces high quality dry polyacrylamide (DPAM) products, which are mainly used in retention and drainage applications in fast paper and board production.

Olin to Cut Diaphragm-Grade Chlor Alkali Capacity at US Facility

Chemicals manufacturer and distributor Olin Corporation announced Wednesday that it will permanently cut 20% of its chlor alkali capacity at its location in Plaquemine, LA. The company will reduce production at the plant by 225,000 ECU tn by June 1, 2021. The company is also shutting down of 230,000 diaphragm ECU tons of capacity at its Freeport, TX facility this year.

Saint-Gobain to Buy Construction Chemicals firm Duraziv

Materials and chemicals supplier Saint-Gobain entered into a deal to purchase the Romanian group Duraziv, a producer of adhesives and value-added construction chemicals solutions. Saint-Gobain said its purchase of Duraziv fits in with its strategy of improving the sustainability and performance of its offerings and allows it to bolster its presence in the construction chemicals space. The sale must clear anti-trust regulators before it closes. Saint-Gobain’s announcement comes on the heels of the firm’s recent acquisition of Russia-based Scientific and Production Company Adhesive LLC, which focuses on polyurethane and epoxy products.

DuPont Launches $5M Project to Expand Adhesives Capacity

DuPont’s transportation and industrial business DuPont Mobility & Materials (M&M) is committing $5 million to expand its capacity for high-performance automotive adhesives at its manufacturing plants in Germany and Switzerland. The company announced in a release Monday that equipment has been delivered and installed at the sites.

Arkema-Owned Bostik Buys US Adhesives Firm

Bostik, the adhesive technologies business of specialty chemicals and materials firm Arkema, revealed plans Monday to acquire Edge Adhesives Texas, a US-based supplier of hot-melt adhesives and pressure sensitive adhesive tapes to the residential construction industry. Arkema said the transaction will expand its range of adhesives offerings in the US market and is in line with its strategy of bolt-on- acquisitions to boost its foothold in the adhesives space and enter new product categories.

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