North Charleston, S.C. – Ingevity is preparing to manufacture caprolactone polyols at its facility in DeRidder, La. It will increase its global production capacity for the polyols, sold under the brand name Capa, by 40 percent.
The company expects construction to begin this summer, with operations slated to start by the first quarter of 2022. The investment will include monomer storage capacity designed to streamline bulk shipments to U.S. customers.
Ingevity acquired the Capa portfolio from Sweden’s Perstorp in 2019. The manufacturing process relies on a ring-opening polymerization reaction. This allows the monomer to be derivatized into a variety of value-added polyols and thermoplastics.
Another investment in Capa, an innovation center in Warrington, United Kingdom, should be operational by the end of this year. It will include equipment and testing capabilities for application development.
“The plant upgrades in DeRidder better position Ingevity to not only meet increased global demand for our Capa technologies, but will improve the supply chain, decrease lead times and enhance overall service for customers across the globe,” said Steve Hulme, the company’s vice president for engineered polymers.
The plant at DeRidder has been in operation since 1977 and employs 187 people. Current production there includes emulsifiers, rosin and tall oil fatty acid. Its currently manufactures polycaprolactone in Warrington.
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