Berwyn, Pennsylvania – Trinseo has ceased manufacturing at its latex binders business at Livorno, Italy, the company announced.
The previously announced closure which completed on 6 Oct, is in response to Styrene-butadiene (SB) latex market conditions within Europe, said Trinseo.
The European paper coatings industry, according to the company, is now seeing a significant decline in demand ultimately impacting the SB latex market.
“As the paper market continues to decline in Italy and across Europe, rationalisation of SB latex assets is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of our latex binders business,” said Jan Muller, global business director for latex binders.
“This change will bring our production capacity more closely into balance with demand for SB latex in paper coating applications.”
Trinseo reduced European latex capacity by 80,000 dry tonnes in 2013 through asset changes at its sites in Hamina, Finland; Rheinmunster, Germany; and Terneuzen, The Netherlands.
Trinseo, however, said that it would continue to invest in the latex binders business particularly applications related to adhesives and construction.
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