Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., recently announced plans to expand capacity at its Natrosol™ hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) production facility in Nanjing, China, by 4,000 metric tons, or approximately 40%, over the next 18 months. The additional capacity will reportedly come on line in two phases. The first 2,000 metric tons will be available in early 2015 to support the spring paint season, and the second 2,000 metric tons will be available in late 2015.

“By expanding our production capacity for HEC, we will be positioned to meet increasing demand from our customers and support them in contributing to a sustainable development,” said William Zhao, business head for Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Greater China region. “It also underlines our confidence in the fast-growing industrial and consumer markets in China and the Asia-Pacific region.”

For more information, visit www.ashland.com.