Huntsman Corp. recently announced the opening of its new polyurethanes systems house in Dubai. Situated within the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone (JAFZA), the purpose-built facility reportedly strengthens Huntsman’s downstream capabilities in the Middle East and North Africa, increasing its capacity to produce polyurethane systems and polyester polyols for customers across the region.

According to Huntsman, the new systems house comprises a production area equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, plus blenders, reactors, filling stations, a control room, offices, and quality control laboratories. The facility will manufacture polyurethane foams for construction, insulation, appliances, bedding, and furniture applications. It will also produce systems for the footwear industry, as well as prepolymers for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers applications.

Huntsman reports that the site will also serve as the regional base for its Demilec spray polyurethane foam (SPF) business. The new systems house is equipped with a dedicated spray foam application and training center and will provide customers in the region with local technical and training assistance, fully supported by the global Demilec organization.

“This investment is the latest step in the expansion of our worldwide systems house capabilities, which underpin our downstream growth strategy,” said Tony Hankins, president of Huntsman’s Polyurethanes division. “Constructing the new systems house at JAFZA brings us closer to our customers and gives us everything we need to expand our business in the Middle East and North Africa, including manufacturing competitiveness, infrastructure links and speed of response."

“With a fast-growing population that is 90% urbanized, the UAE is a big importer of polyurethane for use in construction and building projects and the production of consumer goods,” said Steen Weien Hansen, Huntsman’s vice president for Europe, Africa, Middle East and India. “With the much-awaited EXPO 2020 Dubai just a year away, the booming construction sector will increase the import of polyurethane in the market, directly contributing to the growth of Huntsman’s business in the UAE.”

For more information, visit www.huntsman.com.