Zeon plant closure on schedule - report

Sully, UK – Zeon Corps has decommissioned a chemical tank rubber at its production plant in Sully, Wales, as it prepares to close the site in March.

“People in the area surrounding Zeon Chemicals on Sully Moors Road are being warned to not be alarmed if they smell a gas type odour,” said a report by local newspaper, Barry and District News.

The tank, which contained mercaptan rubber chemicals, was opened on 15 Feb and work finished on 19 Feb.

"Mercaptan has an unpleasant smell, which can at times be mistaken for a gas leak at low concentrations,” a spokesman for the Vale of Glamorgan council was quoted as saying by the news report:

"When the tank is opened any smells will be destroyed using a thermal oxidiser, however there is still a small possibility that some smell could cross the plant boundary and be noticeable to residents in the area.

"With this in mind, Zeon would like us to inform residents that there is nothing to worry about should they smell anything unusual in the vicinity of Barry Chemical Complex," he added.

According to the report, Zeon Chemicals Europe Ltd (ZCEL) ceased production at its Sully plant in December ahead of a complete closure next month.

As ERJ has reported, Zeon has cited “changing market conditions” and “uncertainty in the long-term availability and supply of primary raw materials to the UK site” as the reason behind the closure.

The Welsh plant is the Japanese group’s only European manufacturing site. Built in the 1950s, it was bought by Zeon from BP Chemicals in 1989.

The plant employs 80 people and its nameplate production includes about 15,000 tonnes per annum of nitrile rubber, which is mainly exported to Europe.

According to European sales boss Hubert Thimm, the capacity will be taken up by Zeon’s North American and Japanese operations.