FOCUS ON: Cray Valley Expands Texas Polyols Plant
The Hydrocarbon Specialty Chemical division of Cray Valley recently announced it has obtained approval for a 40% capacity increase for its plant at Channelview, Texas. The company is expanding the plant to supply additional quantities of the company’s Poly bd® hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene materials.
Polybutadiene polyols typically react with isocyanates to produce high-performance urethanes that are used in adhesive and sealants, encapsulants, coatings, and other specialty applications. Polybutadiene polyols provide low-temperature flexibility, resistance to strong acids and bases, superior electrical properties, and a low moisture transmission rate.
According to the company, demand has increased in all regions of the world from the depressed levels of 2009. Despite many competing technologies, the company expects continued growth for systems based on Poly bd due to the material’s unique performance capabilities. Poly bd is a core business for the Hydrocarbon Specialty Chemical Division of Cray Valley, which focuses on the adhesive and sealant market. In addition to making the Poly bd resins in Channelview, Texas, Cray Valley also makes these materials in a plant in Europe and has a joint venture producing these resins with Idemitsu in Japan. In addition, Cray Valley offers Wingtack® and Norsolene® hydrocarbon tackifying resins for hot-melt and label adhesives, pressure-sensitive tapes, and mastics. The Poly bd expansion is important to supply customers who frequently purchase multiple products from Cray Valley, according to the company.
The additional capacity is expected to be online by September 2011. “The expansion of the Poly bd plant, which makes hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene, is proceeding on schedule so we expect to begin production by September 2011,” says Charles-Henri Robert, president, Cray Valley U.S. “Cray Valley ordered the major equipment and applied for the permits.“
About the Company
Globally based in Exton, PA, Cray Valley USA LLC is part of Total’s Resins Division, one of the largest resin manufacturers in the world with sales of @1.9 billion (~ $2.6 billion) and 3,800 employees worldwide. The Hydrocarbon Specialty Chemical division of Cray Valley provides hydrocarbon resins, Norsolene and Wingtack tackifying resins, along with Poly bd, Ricon®, Krasol®, SMA® resins, and Saret® rubber coagents.For more information, visit www.crayvalley.com.
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