Eastman consolidates operating units

13-Dec-2001

Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced plans for an expansion of its crude tall oil fractionation unit in Franklin, Va., and the shutdown of the company's fractionation and rosin ester units in Savannah, Ga.

Eastman Chemical Resins, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company, owns these two manufacturing units that were acquired from Hercules Incorporated earlier this year. The fractionation process separates tall oil, a byproduct of the wood pulping process, into products used in adhesives, inks, coatings, paper size and other industrial applications.

The expansion of the Franklin facility to approximately 100,000 tons per year and the shutdown of the Savannah site will restructure Eastman's fractionation operations to a more efficient single site. These actions will result in a better product supply/demand balance and will reduce Eastman's overall crude tall oil fractionation capacity.

Scheduled to occur in 2003, these changes will position Eastman as a stronger and more viable long-term supplier to the tall oil rosin and fatty acids markets.

"The economics of these markets makes it more feasible to concentrate our resources at a single facility," said Francois Vleugels, vice president and general manager, coatings, adhesives, specialty polymers and inks. "Our Franklin site is and will continue to be an important manufacturing site for Eastman based on product mix and other manufacturing process capabilities at this facility." Vleugels also serves as president of Eastman Chemical Resins, Inc.

Other news from the department business & finance

Most read news

More news from our other portals

Discover the latest developments in battery technology!