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.

“Building on our decades of experience, the state-of-the-art production technology at Ulsan ensures high, consistent product quality and performance. The manufacturing capabilities are supported by full backward integration to key raw materials, ensuring cost-effective production,” Maria Sederholm, director, Global Product Lines, Polymers for Kemira, said in a company release. “The project has been executed smoothly in schedule with our partner.”

The joint venture opened the facility in response to the rapid growth of APAC’s paper and board industry, according to Kemira. Opening the asset supports the firm’s Pulp & Paper and Industry & Water business segments in the region’s markets.

Kemira also said it has commenced the pre-engineering phase for a multimillion project to expand the capacity for alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) sizing agents at its plant in Nanjing, China. The products are used to boost the water resistance of paper and board like packaging.

“The investment to a third production line in the modern and highly automated Nanjing site will further strengthen our leading position and enable us to even better supply the increasing demand for high quality sizing products,” said Andrew Wahl, director, Global Product Line, Sizing at Kemira, in a statement. “ASA is the most effective and cost-efficient sizing agent for packaging and board grades. Investment project will take approximately two years after pre-engineering phase is completed.”