24-10-2012

Dow announces plans for a new NORDEL IP hydrocarbon rubber plant

The Dow Chemical Company announced today that it plans to build a new world-scale plant for the production of metallocene ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), sold under the trademark of NORDEL™ IP Hydrocarbon Rubber.

The new facility, when operational in 2016, will help set the standard in cost effectiveness and production efficiencies by incorporating the use of Dow's newest proprietary catalyst technology and leveraging the production advantages of Dow's large-scale, integrated solution process. The manufacturing site will be located on the U.S. Gulf Coast; Dow is currently assessing location options. This production facility will leverage Dow's investment plan to increase ethylene and propylene production in the U.S. Gulf coast and will connect the Company's U.S. operations into feedstock opportunities available from increasing supplies of U.S. shale gas.

"NORDEL IP will continue to be a strategic part of the Dow Elastomers portfolio both now and into the future," said Kim Ann Mink, business president, Dow Elastomers, Electrical and Telecommunications. “The new world-scale facility will position Dow to meet the increasing global demand for EPDM through next generation technology that produces a broader offering including high mooney viscosity products with enhanced quality. From automotive and building and construction to wire and cable markets, we will maintain Dow's cost competitive position through the implementation of technology efficiencies and leveraging large, integrated sites. This new facility demonstrates the Company's commitment to invest in specialty products that bring performance advantages to the marketplace."

Dow is a recognized leader in polymerization catalysis and has harnessed this power to enhance product design and quality. NORDEL™ IP is often specified as a preferred solution due to its consistent structure which lends itself to easy processing and lot-to-lot consistency. Customers using NORDEL™ IP enjoy excellent control, performance, processing advantages and precision that yields minimal blemishes, defects and rejects.

End-use applications for NORDEL IP include automotive weather-stripping, automotive hoses and belts, building profiles, roofing membranes, footwear and general rubber products.