Dow coatings firm to invest S100 million

By Patrick Raleigh, ERJ On-line news editor

Cary, North Carolina-UCAR Emulsion Systems (UES), part of Dow Chemical Co, plans to invest $100 million to construct of a “next-generation” latex facility at St. Charles Operations, Hahnville, Louisiana, and upgrade existing units in Alsip, Illinois and Sarnia, Ontario, UCAR announded 27 Feb.

The capacity will replace existing manufacturing sites in Tucker, Georgia, and Garland, Texas, which will be shut down in 2006, according to a 27 Feb UCAR statement.

“We could not affordably reinvest in the facilities at Tucker, and Garland. We will close these two facilities after transferring production into the new St. Charles plant in 2006,' said Thayne Hansen, UES global business director.

“This investment enables UES to significantly improve productivity and quality to thrive as a business in this environment,” Hansen added in a 27 Feb press statement.

“This investment in UCAR Emulsion Systems and Dow's recent acquisition of the Celanese acrylates business represent a significant commitment to the paint and coatings industry,” commented Phil Cook, Dow's senior vice president for Performance Chemicals and Thermoset Products.

UES supplies acrylic, vinyl acrylic, styrene-acrylic, styrene-butadiene and vinyl ester latices for architectural coatings, adhesives, construction products, industrial coatings, textile, and paper markets. The firm has 14 production facilities worldwide, including six in North America.