Dow increasing EPDM rubber production at US site

Midland, Michigan – Dow Inc. plans to ‘restart’ additional production capacity for EPDM rubber at its Plaquemine, Louisiana site, the polymer maker has informed customers.

The move aligns with Dow’s long-term business strategy and will support further growth of elastomers, including its Nordel-branded EPDM, the company said in a 1 July letter.

Extra EPDM capacity is due on stream by the fourth quarter of this year in response to "growing global customer demand," stated Dow – without providing capacity figures.

“We are committed to applications utilising EPDM products and our focus remains on helping our customers innovate and grow with high-quality products and services,” it added.

Dow went on to note that it had "invested significantly" in asset flexibility to bring on 'layers' of Nordel EPDM supply in-line with global growth opportunities.

Asset capabilities will also be used to produce other polymers, said Dow, which aims to focus on R&D and expanding its portfolio of new materials technologies.

The former DuPont-Dow plant in Plaquemine Louisiana had a nominal capacity of 100 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) when it was transferred to Dow.

In 2017, Dow announced the launch of a world-scale EPDM production plant in Plaquemine, with a nameplate capacity of 200ktpa.