Kraton completes expansion projects

ERJ staff report (RPN)

Rubber & Plastics News staff

Houston, Texas -- Kraton Performance Polymers Inc. has completed its multimillion-dollar projects to support the growth of the firm's Cariflex isoprene rubbers.

The producer of styrenic block copolymers said it has converted a plant at its Belpre, Ohio, manufacturing site to provide isoprene rubber capacity, replacing that lost when the company closed its Pernis, Netherlands, facility in 2009. Kraton also completed an IR latex expansion of its factory in Brazil, increasing production there by 30 percent.

Additionally, the company said it plans to add capacity at its facility in Japan in about two years.

“These combined investments represent a very substantial capacity capability which will support the needs of our existing customers as well as our expansion into new markets for this material,” said Kevin Fogarty, Kraton president and CEO.

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Article from Rubber & Plastics News - a Crain publication