Kemira Adds New Production Units to US Manufacturing Site

Chemicals firm Kemira announced the completion of a €70 million (about $83.3 million) expansion project at its Mobile, AL plant Thursday. New production units for emulsion polymers and bio acrylamide are expected to become fully operational by this summer.

“The capacity expansion in Mobile will strengthen Kemira’s position in the energy market in the Americas and supports our growth in the region going forward. The market demand is recovering after the 2020 slowdown and we’re in a good position and excited to meet the growing demand of our customers for high quality emulsion polymers,” said Pedro Materan, senior vice president of Global Oil & Gas for Kemira, in a release.

Emulsion polymers are often used in water intensive applications like friction reducers for the oil and gas industry.

The company said backward integration into bio acrylamide production will increase the sustainability of the operation, improves quality and increases its competitiveness.

Powder & Bulk Solids reported that Kemira started up its new dry polymer manufacturing site in Ulsan, South Korea this May, expanding its ability to serve paper and board industry customers and water treatment growth initiatives in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.