Degussa AG has started polyether manufacturing at its Hopewell, VA site. The new plant, which has a production capacity of 14,000 metric tons per year, strengthens the firm’s activities in the fields of polyurethane additives, industrial specialties, coating and ink additives and personal care. Degussa has invested approximately $30 million in its Hopewell site over the past two years.
“The new facility is the latest in a series of strategic investments at the Hopewell site,” said Degussa management board chairman Utz-Hellmuth Felcht. “Together with the new sales, marketing and technology center, and the new North American polyurethane additives competence center, we are now able to offer our tailor-made system solutions to NAFTA customers more efficiently throughout North America.”
According to Hans-Joachim Kollmeier, division head, performance materials, Degussa now possesses the “full vertical range of manufacturing capabilities” for specialty siloxanes in the NAFTA region and in Europe. “Previously we could offer this only at our Essen, Germany site,” he said.