Kuraray resumes production at Texas plants

Houston, Texas – Kuraray America Inc. has resumed production at its plants in Texas after a cold wave in mid-February disrupted the supply of raw materials and services. 

In a statement 2 April, the Japanese materials supplier said production had resumed for all products, although operations remain suspended at certain lines.

The group’s production of thermoplastic elastomers in Pasadena, Texas, which was also impacted by the cold spell, has returned to normal, Kuraray said in a 9 April statement to ERJ.

“The production facility in Pasadena... has been functioning normally at full capacity since mid-March, following the resumption of supply of necessary utilities and repairs of equipment damaged by the freeze in mid-February," said the statement. 

Kuraray noted that there are still some delays in the supply chain of raw materials, but said it did not expect them to substantially affect production.

The manufacturing slate at the Pasadena unit includes 25 kilotonnes per annum capacity for Septon-branded hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC).