8 May 2009
By David Shaw, ERJ staff
Beaumont, Texas -- DuPont Performance Elastomers has said it is exiting the Hypalon and Acsium businesses. A company spokeswoman confirmed to ERJ that DPE has decided to close its factory in Beaumont Texas. This is the company's only facility for making chlorosulphonated polyethylene, and thus the company will no longer participate in those areas.
The factory will close by the end of June, and customers have been informed, said the spokeswoman.
DPE issued a statement saying, "DuPont Performance Elastomer's Beaumont Plant will cease operation on June 30, 2009. Decommissioning work at the site will continue through August of this year followed by an extended period of dismantlement. "
The company said 86 employees would be affected. DPE said, "Where possible, we hope to find opportunities to redeploy some of those affected to other jobs within the company."
DPE added, "This unit shutdown is necessary due to changing business conditions and reduced market demand. It is not a reflection on the hard work and dedication of the people at this site. "
Hypalon and Acsium are both members of the chlorosulphonated polyethylene family. Acsium was developed as a low-cost alternative to HNBR for timing belts and other applications.
Tosoh Corporation of Japan produces similar materials under the trade names Toso-CSM and extos. Chenguang Fluoro & Silicone Polymer Co., Ltd.  also makes CSM materials.
The IISRP lists the  Beaumont plant as having capacity for around 34 000 tonnes/year. It lists the Tosoh facility as having 2000 tonnes/year. There was no comment as to how customers might fill the hole left by the closure of the Beaumont plant.
A spokesman for Tosoh's CSM unit in Europe said he had heard nothing about DPE's plans to close the Beaumont unit before today, when ERJ ran the story.
This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
Already a subscriber? Log in here
